TODAY’S VERSE:

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

In Prep School we have begun a study on eternal security. What is eternal security, you ask? Let’s define the terms: eternal means forever- without beginning or end and security means freedom from danger, fear, and anxiety. Therefore, eternal security means to spend forever free from danger, fear, and anxiety. How do we get this freedom? Eternal security is a result of living in our “oh so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3). Once we have repented from our sinful existence and accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are given eternal life and are destined to spend our eternity with God in Heaven.

1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Did you notice the phrase “without beginning or end” in the definition of eternal? God created you and your eternal security before you were even born. It was always there. You started living in it once you were born again and saved. This means you are able to live without fear and anxiety right now! We experience this as peace. Peace is defined as freedom from disturbance, violence, war; quiet and tranquility. That sounds great, doesn’t it? That is how we experience our eternal security right now. As believers in Jesus Christ we have nothing to fear, except God. He is omnipresent (everywhere all the time), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipotent (all-powerful), and deserves respect and awe from us.

Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

We just talked about how God is everywhere, knows everything, and has the power to do anything, including destroying both body and soul. We understand that we should have a healthy fear of Him. How is that supposed to bring us peace?

Isaiah 43:1-3 Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

WOW!!! The same God who has the power to destroy is the God who has saved us from our sin and promises to always be with us, in good times and bad. He loves us and wants to be with us, so He gave of Himself in order to spend all of eternity with us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the truth of our salvation and eternal security, is what brings us peace. What is there to fear when we know that we are saved from our sin and going to live with God in Heaven forever? God wants you to understand that once you are born again and saved, you are His forever. You belong to Him and you are going to spend all of eternity with Him. Remember, He is omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all powerful), so what He says will happen… well, that is what is going to happen!

John 10:28-29 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

So, we are confident in our future with Him and we know that we can have peace while on earth because of this. But, what about when life feels scary and out of control? God knows all things, remember? He understands that life can be painful, that people aren’t always nice, and that sometimes it seems impossible to have a good attitude. We need to learn the promises in His Word and pray to Him. When we do this, we learn to trust in Him, what His Word says, and understand that He has our back. The smartest, most powerful being in the entire universe loves you, will protect you, and can’t wait to spend the rest of eternity with you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.