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3rd October 2025
FridayReflection
'Ron Graham'
author of simplybible.com - an Australian Bible
study resource.
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'Does John 10:28 Allow Sin? - Eternal life and sinful life'
Jesus said that he gives eternal life to his sheep and they shall never perish, nor will anyone snatch them from his hand (John 10:28).
Is this promise a guarantee of eternal life regardless of conduct?
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never die. No one can snatch them away from me. What my Father has given me is greater than everything, and no one can snatch them away from the Father's care. The Father and I are one."
John 10:27-30 GNT
In view of that promise, some people have reasoned that it makes no difference if we sin.
They appear to see this verse as guaranteeing eternal life without any conditions of conduct.
Even mere common sense should make one suspicious of people who claim to be saved by God yet believe it's okay to offend God.
People who love God will surely keep his commandments.
"This is God's love, that we keep his commandments which are not burdensome."
So people "must not grieve the Spirit of God" by failing to keep those commandments
1 John 5:3,
Ephesians 4:30
Now let me bring proof to the question by examining three propositions:
No Promise of God is a Licence to Sin
"Do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies... [or use them as] instruments of unrighteousness"
Romans 6:12-13
"Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?
Certainly not!" (Romans 6:15-16).
Does Jesus call us to walk in paths of sin?
Of course not! David says, "He leads me in the paths of righteousness" (Psalm 23:3).
The promise does not say, 'My sheep cannot leave my hand'.
Instead, it says, "No one shall snatch them from my hand" (John 10:28).
It's one thing to stop an abduction. It's another thing to stop a departure.
If we want to remain with Christ, his hand will hold us against any foe who tries to snatch us from him.
But if we want to depart from him, his hand will not force us to stay.
Yet what about your will?
Is Jesus saying that God snatches your freewill out of your hands?
No. John 10:28 and John 6:39 assure us that God's will is sovereign.
If your will is to do God's will, then your security is absolute.
But if your will is to do Satan's will, your security is declared forfeit.
"If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but an expectation of certain judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the enemies" (Hebrews 10:26-27)
God works in us "to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).
However God does not do this perforce. Your will and work must be genuinely yours, not imposed on you by God without your consent.
If you wish to sin, then sin you will - and suffer the consequences.
The promises of God are qualified with an "IF".
This doesn't mean they are "iffy" or unreliable.
We can be totally sure that all God's promises will be fulfilled.
However God's promises don't say that God will act regardless of what you think and do.
Rather, God will do what he promises if you do what he commands.
That is the nature of God's promises.
They are conditional.
If you don't do what God commands, you will be denied what he promised.
We have seen that the promise in John 10:28 does not cancel its conditions stated elsewhere in scripture.
Nor does it cancel freewill. The promise is not a licence to sin.
The promise holds true for those who hear and obey the Shepherd's voice.
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This is an edited version.
The full article is avaiable on request
Ron Graham
the sixty-year ministry of Ron Graham, the author of simplybible.com -
an Australian Bible study resource.
It's just a humble history, nothing to boast of, and many men have done greater things by far.
However, it may interest you for this very reason, that it is the ministry of an ordinary "Aussie Battler"
whom God called to preach the word in many small corners.
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