It is not a private opinion, and I understand that you may not change your mind. What matters is what Jesus Himself said and is the truth as always.
In John 10, Jesus shows that belonging to Him is not a label, but a living relationship. The sheep are not chosen because they claim His name, but because they
hear His voice and
follow Him. This is how He defines His flock.
Jesus says,
“The sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3). The shepherd leads, and the sheep move. A sheep that stops following is no longer walking with the shepherd.
He also says,
“The sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:4). Following is active. It is not something that happened once in the past. It is something that continues.
Jesus then gives a warning.
“They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him” (John 10:5). This means His sheep are careful. They do not listen to other voices that go against His teaching.
When Jesus says,
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9), He is not saying the door removes the path. A door is the entrance. After entering, the sheep must still walk with the shepherd.
Jesus explains what false security looks like by contrast. The hireling runs when danger comes because he does not care for the sheep (John 10:12–13). This shows that danger is real, and remaining with the shepherd matters.
Then Jesus says something very important.
“I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:14). Knowing goes both ways. The sheep know Him, not just facts about Him, but His voice and His ways.
Finally, Jesus shows that obedience and listening are central.
“They will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Hearing His voice is what unites the flock.
This matches everything else Jesus taught. He said,
“If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). He said,
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). And He warned,
“He who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
So John 10 does not teach careless security. It teaches closeness, listening, following, and staying with the shepherd. The safety of the sheep is found in staying near His voice.
If you do follow Jesus voice and only his voice and obey his instruction you will be fine.
JOHN 10:1-18 (NKJV)
I Am the Good Shepherd
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.”
“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”
“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
Blessings.
