Wrong Verses Right: John 10:28 KJV

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ~John 10:28 KJV

Wrong Interpretation:

Many Christians think this means that Christians cannot forfeit their salvation. Moreover, if any falls away from Christ, they were never born again.

Right Interpretation:

Let’s start with this scripture found early in the passage, which can be confusing.

[7] Then said Jesus unto them again, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. [9] I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. [10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” ~John 10:7-10 KJV

It is absolutely true that anyone who enters the door of Christ shall be saved. However, notice that Jesus uses the phrases “might have life” and “might have it more abundantly.” Everyone entering into Christ gets salvation, but not everyone will continue in righteousness and keep their salvation. Being “saved” does not mean you are free and clear of work. Everyone who gets salvation must work it out with “fear and trembling.”

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ~Philippians 2:12 KJV

Now let’s look at the latter scripture:

[27] My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. [29] My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. ~John 10:27-29 KJV

The context is toward the Jewish hypocrite who did not accept Him as Messiah.

However, it is clear at the beginning of this segment that Jesus gives eternal life to the ones who follow Him and hear Him. Also, they shall never perish and no man can pluck the shepherds out of His Father’s hand. This means that no one can come along and take someone else’s salvation of their own will. Therefore, Jesus was telling the Jewish unbeliever that they could not take salvation from men who believed and followed Him.

This does not mean that certain, once-saved shepherds won’t sin on their own. These sinful shepherds, who have salvation, fail to work it out because they do not continue to follow Christ. We cannot ignore that the New Testament reveals to us that blasphemers, backsliders, and apostates do exist who were born again.

Let’s examine Jude.

[3] Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. [4] For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [5] I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. ~Jude 1:3-5 KJV

Jude is one chapter. It is right before the last book of the Bible. The key ideas to pull from this segment are:

• Contend for the faith
• Ungodly men will creep into the church and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness. Read about that here.
• Remember, after saving the Israelites, God afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

Jude continues to explain the pattern of the apostate through warnings and examples:

Jude reminds us about the angels that God put in chains for judgment day. They had no sacrifice for their sins.

Then, Jude reminds us of Sodom and Gomorrah, which shows a fiery judgment.

Then, Jude explains that the end-time, ungodly men in the church who defile the flesh, despise dominion (authority), and speak evil of dignities (governing authorities.)

Even Michael the archangel did not accuse the devil when they disputed over the body of Moses, but said, “The Lord rebuke thee.”

These ungodly men speak evil of things they don’t know and what they do know naturally, they corrupt themselves.

Jude explains the way of Cain, the error of Balaam, and the gainsaying of Core. This means these ungodly men kill their own brethren, curse the Israelite (or born-again) for gain, and they oppose and deny the truth.

They do not fear God. God’s Word is not in them. They are carried about with false doctrines. They are planted trees who fruit is withered or without fruit.

Jesus confirms this,

If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. ~John 15:6 KJV

A person could say, these were never saved. However, Jude tells us they are twice dead. This means they were twice-born. Yes, born again. Now they are plucked up by the roots.

[12] These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; [13] Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. ~Jude 1:12-13 KJV

And another warning exists in Hebrews:

[4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. [7] For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: [8] But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. ~Hebrews 6:4-8 KJV

Many Christians use the scripture “…no man can pluck them..,” to justify that salvation cannot be lost. However, they would have to completely ignore Hebrews, Jude, Revelation, warnings, and scriptures like the seed that fell among the rocks and thorns to draw that conclusion. Cite this article: Please update the Accessed or Retrieved date (September 13, 2015).