Why did Les call Jesus' hand illustration a 'simplistic understatement'?
Jesus' hand illustration was called a simplistic understatement because His promise that no one can pluck believers out of His hand only hints at the greater reality taught in Colossians 3:3: believers are hidden with Christ in God, wrapped up in the Godhead, where nothing can touch them.
Les explains that Jesus put the keeping of the believer in a very simple form when He said, “No one can pluck them out of my hand.” Les calls that almost a simplistic understatement compared to Colossians 3:3, where believers are dead to the old Adamic state and their life is hid with Christ in God. Because God and Christ are one and the same in reality, the believer is in Christ and therefore hid in God, wrapped up in the Godhead, and nothing can touch them. Les says this is the full ramification for those who have truly entered the salvation experience by faith without any merit of their own. They can stand on the promise that they are dead to the old Adam, Christ is now their whole life, and when He shall appear, they will appear with Him in glory. Les contrasts that future prospect with present blessings, saying the glorious part is still to come.
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.