So you're saying that Christ died for a group that we know exists just because they are not mentioned? This is what you consider to be scholarly debate?
I asked where the mention of "goats" is found in Jn 10? Please don't dodge my question. The mention of goats is in a DIFFERENT context. Let's not mash together different contexts in order to try to defend your view.
Nope! It is YOU who made the distinctions.
In fact, it was Jesus Himself who used the words, and therefore, MADE the distinction. Which would rather be ignored, it seems.
What's the benefit to ignoring the words that Jesus chose to make His points?
The cultists employ your same method.
Do you breathe on a regular basis? Gee, so do cultists.
However, to stay on focus; Jesus used His words carefully, not carelessly as is being insinuated.
Thanks for the opinion. Which is wrong of course. There are SOOOOO many places in Scripture that could have really made clear if Christ had not died for everyone. And one of them is in Jn 10. Jesus would have easily said that He would lay down His life for HIS sheep. But He didn't, and you don't like that.
Yes, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life."
Yes. His sheep are believers. That's who He gives eternal life to.
John 3:15-16
15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:36
36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John 5:24
24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 6:40
40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
John 6:47 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
1 Tim 1:16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Gal 3:22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
1 John 5:13
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Therefore, those who enter through the door are His sheep.
Correct!! But He specifically said He would lay down His life for THE sheep.
The attempt to force "THE" to mean "HIS" is remarkable.
The entire context of Jn 10 is sheep. Nothing else.
They enter the door because they hear His voice. They hear His voice because they are His sheep.
Sure. All believers have heard His voice. No argument.
Again, here are the sheep that Jesus specifically mentioned:
#1 THE sheep, for which He died
#2 HIS sheep, which hear His voice (Jews)
#3 OTHER sheep, which hear His voice (Gentiles)
#4 NOT OF HIS sheep, which do not hear his voice (unbelievers)
Please notice that He made no mention of goats in this analogy. ONLY sheep.
The term "not of My sheep" is included in "THE" sheep, for which He would die.
Consider these passages that makes reference to humanity in general as sheep.
Matthew 9:36
Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:37
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Matthew 9:38
“Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
And the parallel passage in Mark 6:34.
The context of these passages is clear. Jesus was speaking about humanity, not believers without a shepherd, which would make no sense.