(kriss;22948)
John 17:9 "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine."If you understood John at all you know Jesus is praying for each of those that see and believe that He is the sent one, because He is their advocate before the Father. Jesus became their advocate the moment they saw and believed on Him, and repented to Him of their sins.
They are given to Christ by the Father: Joh 17:6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.Christ prays for them, not the world:Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.Jer 50:6 My people says it all. They are already God's people.You quote:
Luk 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?Luk 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together [his] friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.What do you think he is talking about here livestock????
Then asked:
What do you think he is talking about here livestock????
John 10 does a great job of explaining further:Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.Joh 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.Joh 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.Christ died for His sheep, not the world, and they follow Him because they know His voice. Those who believe not are not Christ's sheep and He didn't die for them.They are the elect and no one can remove them from the saving hand of God.