Bible Truth #28 - John 10:25-29, 3-5

This is another “tsunami” to the idea that a man who is lost can choose Christ. It simply obliterates the view of a “sheep” changing flocks - and that’s what we are in this illustration, SHEEP. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. (Isaiah 53:6)

John 10:25-29, 3-5

25  Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me,

26  but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

27  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

28  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

29  My Father, who has given them to me, ...

3  The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

5  But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

You’ve got to fully understand the context of the parable. In Jesus’ day, during most of the year the shepherds would bring their flocks in each night to the sheepfold, a pen usually very near or in the village or town which would make the flocks easier to guard at night. There would be a number of different flocks together. [Like people together in the world, saved and lost] The shepherd would then lay down with the rest of the shepherds for a good night’s rest (of course taking turns staying awake for guard duty). In the morning the shepherd would call his sheep BY NAME (v3) and then lead them out for grazing and water and whatever else they needed to do. But ONLY the sheep that belonged to THAT shepherd would follow him. To the rest, that shepherd was a stranger and the sheep would NOT follow. ALL the sheep hear the shepherd’s voice but to most, he is a stranger and they will not follow, BUT his sheep hear his voice and follow because they know his voice.

Spiritual application: Since the sheep are called by name, this proves there is no general call to salvation.

This is a PERFECT illustration of salvation and God’s sovereignty. It’s perfect because Jesus is perfect. In verse 25 Jesus said He told them He was the Christ but they did not believe, and then in verse 26 He tells them (and us) WHY they don’t believe. They don’t believe because they don’t belong to Jesus, they are NOT His sheep, He didn’t choose them, “you are NOT my sheep.” This is the same thing Jesus told the Pharisees earlier, they do not hear (understand) because they are not of God (John 8:47).

It can’t be emphasized too strongly the order Jesus spoke of in verse 26.  It is NOT “they aren’t His sheep because they don’t believe” as those who believe in decisional salvation would claim. Rather, it IS “they don’t believe because they are not His sheep.” Arminians and anyone else who believes in decisional salvation have the cart before the horse. (Isaiah 29:15-16)

The unbelief of the Jews was not based on the theory that they didn’t want to believe, it was based on the FACT that they COULDN’T believe! Their hearts were hard, their spirits were dead, and MOST importantly God had NOT done a work in them to MAKE them believe (John 6:29). They were doing what every lost person does and that is what is natural - NOT BELIEVING. Only when God works in a lost man by quickening his dead spirit and giving him belief (Philippians 1:29) will the man believe in Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.

Then Jesus said in v29 that the Father has GIVEN them to Him. Who is the “them” in this verse? His sheep! Now consider again what Jesus said in John 6:37 - All the Father has given to me WILL come to me, no ifs, ands, buts, or excepts. (That is the “I” in T.U.L.I.P., Irresistible grace.) And those are the ONLY ones who will go to Him - the ones GIVEN to Him by the Father.

Verses 3-5 confirm that the sheep will follow only THEIR shepherd. Every human being ever born was conceived and born into sin and belonging to the flock of Satan. That is why Jesus said you do not believe because you are not MY sheep. Well, if they aren’t Jesus’ sheep, whose sheep are they? Sheep do NOT, and can not, go from one flock to another, they are born INTO the flock, or they are purchased out of the marketplace by the shepherd.

Do sheep have the ability to choose which flock they are born into? NO! Do sheep have the ability to up and follow another shepherd? NO! When the shepherd has brought out all his own, and ONLY his own, He goes on ahead of them and HIS sheep follow Him because they know His voice, the other sheep DON’T know His voice and hence DON’T follow Him. Sheep will NOT follow a stranger’s voice which completely explains why the Devil’s sheep follow only him and CAN’T follow (believe/accept) Jesus. Once called, Jesus’ sheep [those chosen in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4)] WILL follow Him and will NOT follow the devil’s flock or the voice of the devil.

Again, more proof that a lost man can NOT come to Christ on his own. God has to quicken his spirit first and draw him, and when God draws, His chosen WILL come. (Follow the hyperlink attached to “draws” to the Greek Word and look at the definitions. There is no implication of a choice in the Greek. The same word is translated drag in James 2:6)

Also, please consider why there is NO parable or illustration of salvation ever taught by Jesus where the object of salvation was given a choice much less the ability to be saved.

Bottom Line: His sheep and only His sheep listen to His voice. The devil’s sheep (all those God did NOT choose) do NOT listen to Jesus because He is a stranger.