Thanks Jerry.
Yet Jesus said not one sheep given Him by the Father would be plucked away.
So based on your quote above, and the Truth Christ teaches about the sheep, a wayward sheep will be confronted and repent. Maybe even dragged back.
However, we are mixing a Truth that Christ will not lose one sheep with your hypothetical of a backslider who never repents.
See the problem?
redleghunter,
1. If you go back to John 8:31, Jesus says to those who believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.
The word (if) is a word of condition. This implies if we don't continue we won't be his disciples.
This is conditional eternal security not unconditional eternal security or OSAS.
In verse 33 they thought they were in bondage to no one and thought they were free because they were Abraham's physical seed.
Jesus said whoever commits sin is is the servant of sin.
V35; and the servant abideth not in the house forever but the son abideth forever.
He is talking to the Jews who believed on him and the reason that believer can't abide in the house forever is because he commits sin and is the servant of sin.
2. Go to John 10 about the sheep and the door of the sheep which is Jesus John 10:7.
The sheep didn't hear thieves and robbers.
If any man enters the door and enters in shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pastures v9.
The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but Christ comes that they might have life and have it more abundantly v10.
The hireling comes along who is not the shepherd and the sheep don't belong to it sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and the wolf catches them and scatters the sheep.
The hireling don't care for the sheep so that is why they leave vs 12-13.
The good shepherd knows his sheep and they know his voice.
The shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.
The other sheep that Christ had were not of that fold but they willl hear his voice and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.
Historically, the house of Israel were the other sheep.
So this is about Christ death and resurrection and the two sticks of Ezekiel 37 being united as one. This caused a division among the Jews.
John 10:22 they go to the Feast of dedication. The Jews then wanted to know if he was the Christ.
V25 is talking to the unbelieving Jews.
They believe not because they are not his sheep v26.
His sheep hear his voice and he knows them and they follow him. These are the ones that believe.
He will give them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my Father's hand.
My Father which gave me them is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of the father's hand.
In this we have eternal security on the conditions of hearing his voice and following him.
When a believer is stays faithful to God no man can pluck him out of the father's hand.
At the same time a person themselves who believes can reject Christ and leave him.
God will not violate a person's free will choice to cooperate wth him.
3. As far as the apostasy issue you don't seem to understand.
We know believers can backslide from James for they err from the truth and he who converts that backslider will save a soul from death.
What happens in apostasy is a hardening of the heart till one justifies sin and thinks it's alright until they won't heed to God's called anymore.
Or another example is Matthew 12 which talks about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit which has no forgiveness. It can be by words of condemnationjust like the Pharisees who called him a devil. And John says there is a sin unto death and one that is not unto death.
Christ will never lose a sheep if a person is faithful.
At the same time he will not violate man's freewill cooperation with him.
Galatians names the things of the flesh that those who commit them will inherit the Kingdom of God. Galataians 5:19-21. This was a warning to believers.
Galatians 6:7-8; a man reaps what he sows either to the Spirit or to the flesh. Flesh reaps corruption and the Spirit reaps life everlasting
This is why Paul said in verse 9 to those who believed: and let us not be weary in welldoing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.
One either yields themselves to satan or God.
Galatians 5:5-7 be not partakers with the wicked or else they could suffer the same fate as them. Jerry Kelso