John 10:27 “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.”
Our Beloved Lord, “Good Shepherd”, declared “I give unto” “My sheep” “eternal life”. To “give” is to endow, to bestow upon, and to convey to. He gave His “sheep” “eternal life” even before they had the understanding or the desire to ask for it. Those who have the sincere desire to ask for Salvation to “eternal life”, already have it. Paul explains two aspects of our Salvation. First, “before the foundation of the world” our Heavenly Father chose his people (“sheep”) and sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to secure their “eternal life” in Heaven with Him by Sacrificing Himself to pay their sin-debt; thus, rendering them “holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians Chapter One). Second, He graciously saves His “sheep” from Spiritual Death; for, He “hath” “quickened” (made alive) His “sheep” because they “were dead in trespasses and sins”; thus, giving them Spiritual Life to know and love and follow Him. Then, Paul sums up the gracious and merciful Salvation of His Sheep by telling us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians Chapter Two). Therefore, we understand that our Lord has given us “eternal life” and the pleasant desire to worship and serve Him in this present life. It is no wonder that John Newton poured out His soul and wrote, “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me”!