Who are the sheep in John 10?

zoidar said:

It just struck me! I can't believe I missed it! The sheep in John 10 are all those that know Jesus. He is saying it straight out in:

V. 14
I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,

"I know my sheep and my sheep know me."

V. 27
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me

"My sheep hear my voice since they know me"

What then about v. 26
But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.

"But you do not believe because you don't know me."

V. 37-38
If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.

"believe my works so that you may know Me and be my sheep."

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The sheep are those Christ died for. Contrasted with the Pharisees in the audience who could not believe because Jesus didn't die for them.

zoidar said:

I don't know if I understand you correct. Do you mean Jesus tells the Jews to believe in him and then he tells them they don't believe in him because they aren't chosen to do so, since they are not his sheep?

He tells them to believe so that they can be judged for not believing. Is that it?

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Where does Jesus implore them to believe in Him? Jesus states their disbelief.

"My sheep hear my voice". It's a reference to his teachings/spirit. Jesus' sheep are those who practice his teachings. They "hear" his voice, (i.e. the voice of God's spirit communicating with their own spirit), encouraging them to love God and love their neighbor.

God is the source of all love, which means no one can show love without tapping in to his spirit even if temporarily or partially. The more we learn to hear (and act on) his voice, the more we become his sheep.

He expresses this thought in a few different ways. When Jesus' mother and brothers tried to use their familial influence to get Jesus' attention while he was busy with the crowds, his disciples came to him saying, "your mother and brothers want to see you". He responded by saying, "who are my mother and brothers? Those who hear my words and do them are my mother and brothers".

In another place he didn't bother to use a parable or analogy at all; he just straight up said, "Why do you call me Lord, but do not obey me"? Plugging this in to the sheep analogy it would be, "Why do you claim to be my sheep, but do not hear my voice"?

Dave L said:

The sheep are those Christ died for. Contrasted with the Pharisees in the audience who could not believe because Jesus didn't die for them.

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Jesus died for the whole world's sins. There is nothing in Scripture that says that Jesus died for some people and not others.

pescador said:

Jesus died for the whole world's sins. There is nothing in Scripture that says that Jesus died for some people and not others.

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John 10 says the Pharisees did not believe and were not his sheep because he didn't die for them.

Dave L said:

John 10 says the Pharisees did not believe and were not his sheep because he didn't die for them.

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Can you be more specific? My Bible says that Jesus died for the sins of the entire world.

pescador said:

Can you be more specific? My Bible says that Jesus died for the sins of the entire world.

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World = gentiles too. Not just Jews. God promised Abraham the whole world would be blessed in him. But most are lost.

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28 (KJV 1900)

Most don't go to church.

Dave L said:

World = gentiles too. Not just Jews. God promised Abraham the whole world would be blessed in him. But most are lost.

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28 (KJV 1900)

Most don't go to church.

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I'm not sure what you're trying to say with your single, out-of-context verse. Jesus died for the sins of the entire world.

Your quote from Acts has Paul saying farewell to the leaders of the church in Ephesus. What does that have to do with the subject of the thread?

pescador said:

I'm not sure what you're trying to say with your single, out-of-context verse. Jesus died for the sins of the entire world.

Your quote from Acts has Paul saying farewell to the leaders of the church in Ephesus. What does that have to do with the subject of the thread?

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Why aren't all saved if Jesus paid for everyone's sins?

Dave L said:

Why aren't all saved if Jesus paid for everyone's sins?

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Because they haven't accepted Jesus as their atoning sacrifice. Next question...

pescador said:

Because they haven't accepted Jesus as their atoning sacrifice. Next question...

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That makes them the savior, not Jesus.

Dave L said:

That makes them the savior, not Jesus.

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I don't see how you came up with that conclusion. If I pay a debt or you, that doesn't mean that you paid the debt. Jesus paid the debt for all sin; He is the Savior.

pescador said:

I don't see how you came up with that conclusion. If I pay a debt or you, that doesn't mean that you paid the debt. Jesus paid the debt for all sin; He is the Savior.

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But what if you don't accept it?

pescador said:

Because they haven't accepted Jesus as their atoning sacrifice. Next question...

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Good Day, Pescador

His sacrifice was not make to be accepted by people, it was made to the Father to to redeem people.

Are you suggesting the complete work of Jesus as the High Priest and redeemer, was unacceptable in some way to the Father on behalf of his people?

In Him,

Bill

pescador said:

Jesus died for the whole world's sins. There is nothing in Scripture that says that Jesus died for some people and not others.

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Good Day, Pescador

Jesus did in fact die for the sins of the whole world, but not for every sinner.

He died to save his people... not every one. For if that was true than his purpose ( save everyone) in dying has failed unless of course you are a universalist.

Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

In Him,

Bill