The good Shepard guards His sheep.
But sheep can stray from the Shepard.
The Sheperd is always faithful to His word.
But the sheep can stray from the Sheperd's word.
John 10:27-29 (W.E.B.)
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
The sheep never perish because they hear the Shepherd voice(His word) they follow His word.
If the sheep stray from His word, they will perish.
Jesus teaches His sheep stray.
Jesus teaches when they do only through repentance are the sheep brought back into the fold of saftey.
Luke 15:4-7,
- What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he loose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost, until he find it
- and when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing
- and when he cometh home he calleth together His friends and neighbors saying unto them, rejoice with me for I have found my sheep
which was lost
- I say unto you likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that
repenteth more than over ninety nine just persons which need no repentance
Yes the Bible teaches Gods sheep wander away from the good Sheperd and can only be restored by repentance of their sin.
2Peter 2:20-21,
- for if they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
they are again entangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning
- for it had been better for them not to known the way of righteousness than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them
Peter describes people who have escaped the world's pollutions through the knowledge of Jesus Christ(gospel) but turned back against Jesus' gospel commandment that they had already heard.
Going back into the world entangled again in sin(pollutions).
Jesus taught when sheep stray from the Sheperd they must repent.
Just as John teaches the Christian must do to be restored.
1John 1:7-10,
- but
if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanseth us from all sin
- we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves ourselves and the truth is not in us
-
if we confess our sins(repentance) He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
- If we say that we have not sinned we make Him a liar and the truth is not in us
Calvinism teaches the born again christian cannot fall away from the good Sheperd.
Jesus ,Peter and John teach they can.
Dont forget Paul,
Galatians 5:4,
- Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law,
ye are fallen from grace
Some argue these are not saved, whom Paul speaks of.
Listen to Paul in the first verse in the same chapter.
Galatians 5:1-4,
- Standfast therefore
in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and be not entangled AGAIN with the yoke of bondage
Exact same language as Peter!!!
2Peter 2:20-21- entangled again
Paul,
Galatians 5:1 - entangled again
Jesus, Peter, John, Paul, all teach the Sheperds sheep can stray from the Sheperd.
Only through repentance can they be restored to the flock.
John Calvin teaches they cannot stray, they cannot be lost.
Because they have no free will.