I am beyond just grateful for the knowledge that I am secure in Christ Jesus. Describing the assurance of salvation seems impossible. In Scripture, however, Christ Jesus explains how His obedience to His Father brings to those of us who believe a place in God’s “Keep.” Remember a “keep” is a safe place where treasures are made safe from any outside threats. In God’s “Keep” no marauder, neither spiritual nor physical can separate us from the love of our Father.

We Are Kept In His Name…

John 17:12

While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

Only one of Christ’s Disciples was lost. Every other Disciple was kept safe by Christ’s presence by His love. Christ’s ability to protect His own comes not from a power intrinsic to Himself. Rather, His power comes from His Father. “I kept them in your Name….”

We don’t have the ability within us to comprehend the extent of God’s love and the lengths only He can take to protect us from the world.

His power is so complete that He allows us free will to reject Him. He had the power to create people who would fall to their knees in worship at the simple mention of His Name. But, that is not our God’s way. He blesses us with freedom to choose Him. He blesses us with the freedom to build a relationship with Him.

We are in His “keep” because we seek to be. Once there He protects us from all evil.

We Are Kept In Joyfulness…

John 17:13

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Our lives are fulfilled in Christ’s joy.

Jesus told His Disciples of His death, His time on the cross and of His resurrection. The things He told them must have been very difficult to process. In fact, Peter said he would never turn away from his Lord. We know from Scripture that all Christ’s Disciples abandoned Him that fateful night in Gethsemane.

Jesus also told them of His Resurrection. On the day Christ Jesus was accused through the time He was hung on the cross I imagine the followers of The Way to have been very frightened men and women. Their Lord was being accused and abused by the rabbinical leaders of their synagogues. He was being marched from palace to palace to be spat upon, mocked, and beaten. Eventually, Christ Jesus was marched to Calvary.

We all know this testimony of our Lord. He was hung on the cross and there He died. His lifeless body was taken down before the end of the day and buried in a rich man’s tomb. After three days He rose again.

His Disciples had his “…joy fulfilled in themselves.” Can any of us imagine the elation in Peter or John as they raced to the tomb? Were they breathless when they entered and found His Body gone?

We Are Kept From The Evil One….Kept From The Ways Of The World…

John 17:14, 15

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Christians are hated across the world. In some places the hatred for what we believe is so profound that murder rests in the hearts of evil men. The evil one causes one man to hate another man. Christ causes one man to love the man who hates him.

The ways of the world are bound in flesh and in the desire for sinful things; for worldly pleasure. Our Christ asks His Father to protect us from the evil one; to protect us from the desires of the world; to lead us to joy that is ever lasting.

The “world” listens to the evil one. Christians hear the Spirit of Christ in their hearts.

The evil one hates Christ and will do anything He can to keep us from Him.

Remember, Christ Jesus is praying for His Disciples and He is praying to God for us. His Words will not be returned to Him void. Our Father honors the Son and His prayer for our keeping is a blessed assurance.

We are not of the world….

John 17:16

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Our belief in Christ Jesus and The Father’s mercy; His grace, separates us. He begins the new work in our hearts. He takes us from fleshly to spiritual. He takes us from desiring our own way to seeking His Way.

We are witnesses of God’s mercy and grace. Our testimony is our freedom from sin in the world.

We praise Him, honor Him, and bring glory to Him. We are “kept” in His presence.