"Sheep To Be Slaughtered"/But Also Perfectly Protected

 "Sheep To Be Slaughtered"/But Also Perfectly Protected

 

The elect and redeemed members of the body of Christ, the church of the Living God, are, without doubt, a unique and fascinating company of souls.  At once, we are the beloved of God the Holy Trinity; while, at the same time, we are the target of the rage and fury of all God's enemies: be they demons or unredeemed humans.

 

Our loving Heavenly Father Himself affirms that we, His children, are, [quoting from Rom. 8:36, which itself is citing Ps. 44:22], "Sheep to be slaughtered."  And yet, at the same time, all of the promises of God, which are all "Yes," and "Amen" in our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:20), are also ours (who are in Christ Jesus).  Among those promises, are those numerous sweet ones found in Psalm 91.  There, we discover that, though others fall and die, the saints stand and live.

 

. . . What are we to make of these seeming inconsistencies and/or conundrums?  First of all, we have to confirm that they are not actually "inconsistencies" at all.  God's ways and dealings with His church are beyond our complete comprehension, (though we do know much about them--since our Father has told us about many of them in His Holy Word).

 

Why is it, then, that some saints (even today) are murdered through martyrdom; and other saints (of the same mystical body of Christ) are preserved--even for decades--seeming to be completely impervious to the fatal slings, darts, and arrows of Satan and his human and demonic horde?  This is a question, in the particular, that I just do not think we can answer.

 

One thing we know for sure, is this: it is not that God loves some saints more, and, because of this, He keeps them alive; while "less-loved" saints are put to death--even with the price of their own blood as martyrs.  God has different intentions for different saints; and, so long as we all bring Him as much glory in Jesus and His gospel as we can while we are on earth--be it in living or in dying--we have fulfilled our destinies in our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

In reality, I think that both expressions (that make up our title for this article), apply to all the regenerate members of the true church. . . . We are all, "Sheep to be Slaughtered"; and yet, we are all also, "Perfectly Protected" (in our Lord Jesus Christ).

 

The Christian life is really a walk of faith and trust.  We who are in Christ Jesus have already given up and over all claims on our lives.  We have entrusted them to our Divine Redeemer; and we are willing and ready to receive from Him whatever He has for us; we are willing to do what He commands, and suffer (or prosper) according to His will.

 

Unregenerate people, of course, know nothing about any of this.  They are only concerned to "save" their "own skins"; and they have no interest in living for, or suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ. . . . But this is not the case with the true saints.

 

Therefore, the question for us is not, "Am I going to have to suffer with and for Jesus Christ?"  We already know that the answer to this, is, "Yes."  The only proper query for us is this: how may I do it in such a way as to bring my Lord Jesus Christ the most glory?"  In this light, we may say with the Apostle Paul, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," (Php. 1:21/ESV).

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #147

29 October 2026

 

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com

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