“There is none who can deliver from my hand;

I work, and who can turn it back?” vs13

No one will stop God from saving His people. It is an impossible task and utterly futile. He shall not fail.

First, Satan vainly attempts to turn it back! He tries to stop God from saving by blinding the mind of the ungodly, “lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them [2 Cor 4:4].” He sets up roadblocks and obstacles, even persecuting the saints. In frustration, however, he’s defeated over and over, until he’s cast into the lake of fire. He can only deceive those who are not in the Book of Life. Rev 13:8, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him [the Beast], whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” His delusions cannot destroy the elect. God has a plan, and He will fulfill it [Eph 1:11].

Secondly, believers try to hinder God’s plan. We do it unwillingly, but it is sin that dwells in us [Rom 7:17]. We backslide, dwell in carnality, and look almost like non-Christians. We send sinners away who are begging for mercy, like the disciples, who said, “Send her away, for she cries out after us [Matt 15:23].” We are irresponsible and withhold the gospel. We proudly bicker and quarrel. We close doors to argue about culture and politics. We live selfishly, even after knowing the gospel, but God recovers us and uses us still!

He uses our failures to make us better servants. Peter runs away and is greatly humbled. Paul disobeys and goes to Jerusalem, where he is imprisoned and writes half of the new testament [Acts 21:4; Acts 22:17-21]. All things work together to bring many sons to glory [Rom 8:28-29]. God has not left salvation in our hands. He’s not depending on the church, but He is using us.

Thirdly, sinners try to destroy God’s plan! They refuse to hear the gospel and believe every imaginable lie. If it is obviously false, then they receive it. They regard the truth as God’s opinion! They mock at mercy, fear not, and would squander their eternity over temporary pleasure.

God, however, won’t allow it! He intervenes. He comes to seek and to save the lost [Luke 19:10]. He gives us a new will, a new heart, and a new spirit. He’s saved us before time began, and He gets us to Christ in time. Paul writes, “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preaching, an apostles,and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

Fourthly, the blood of Christ demands our salvation! The payment has been made, and the Great Shepherd MUST COLLECT His sheep. He cannot be defrauded. He has paid the penalty for specific people - the elect - and they cannot perish. He is the Surety or the Guarantor of the covenant. Heb 7:22, “By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.” He made Himself responsible for our salvation, saying, “For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever [Gen 44:32].’”

He has fulfilled the terms and conditions, because justice required His blood for our sins. Now, justice is satisfied and mercy says, “Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom [Job 33:24].” Just as surely as Christ is risen, everyone that He died for will be saved.

Fifthly, the Spirit will accomplish our salvation. He is the Mighty God and has supernatural power. No one can hinder His hand. Dan 4:35, “All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” His will cannot be resisted!

He does not take “No” for an answer. He whittles us down into nothingness and makes us tremble. We see that hell is hot, and we deserve it. We are shaken from our pride. Desperate and filthy, we come to Jesus and cast ourselves upon Him. We trust His righteousness and escape the guilty conscience. We are free, because the Spirit cleanses within: He does His job as the Helper that Jesus promised [John 16:7]. Men are swept into the kingdom when God arises.

Finally, this is the confidence that we need: God is almighty and nothing can stop Him. We preach successfully, whether men hear us or not, but they will hear whenever He pleases. It is not man’s natural willingness. How willing was Paul, when he was Saul of Tarsus? No, it is the willingness of God who says, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”

Therefore, boldly seize open doors. Go through them preaching the gospel without fear of man and in gentleness and love. Speak the truth clearly, knowing that as we please God, we please the only One that matters. The sheep will hear His voice, so put your confidence there.