Here you go:
[Jhn 10:2-4, 11, 14-16, 26-30 NASB]
2 "But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.
- Jesus is the “shepherd” and God’s chosen are the “sheep” (see below).
3 "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
- The shepherd (Jesus) leads only his sheep (God’s Chosen).
4 "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ...
- Jesus leads all of God’s Chosen and God’s Chosen follow of there own free will.
11 "
I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. ...
- Jesus makes it 100% clear that He is the shepherd.
- A shepherd guards his own flock. Remember that the sheep will only follow THEIR shepherd and not a stranger.
- Jesus lays down his life for his sheep ... God’s Chosen.
Of course all of the above is true.
This is the problem as I see it.
To arrive at your belief system, one has to take scripture and change it to mean things it is not even speaking to.
There are many verses that explain HOW one comes to be a sheep,,,,and very palinly.
There is NO VERSE that says that Jesus died for only a select few,,,but that He died for anyone who wishes to BELIEVE IN HIM.
So HOW does one get to be a sheep? Where in the bible does it state that GOD ONLY chooses who will become saved? No where.
THIS is HOW one becomes a sheep of Jesus and His death was to forgive their sins...
1. REPENT
Luke 13:3 Jesus said:
3“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
Matthew 4:17 Jesus said:
17From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Mark 1:15 Jesus said.
15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 6:12
12They went out and preached that men should repent.
Acts 2:38
38Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
As you can see, we are exhorted to REPENT.
We are not told to wait around and wait till GOD MAKES US REPENT.
It is an ACTION WE TAKE.
No where in scripture does it state that GOD CAUSES this repentance except in the sense that it is the Holy Spirit that convicts the world...
But is the whole world saved? No. Because the Holy Spirit can SHOW MAN HIS SIN...but He will NOT force upon any man to accept God.
We choose to accept or reject God.
Hebrews 11:25 We CHOOSE to serve God.
2. RECEIVE GOD
Mark 4:20 Jesus said:
20“And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
James 1:21
21Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
1 John 2:14
14I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Again, the above state that WE HEAR THE WORD AND ACCEPT IT.
WE put aside wickedness and RECEIVE THE WORD.
The word abides and WE HAVE OVERCOME the evil one.
3. REGENERATION
John 1:12-13
12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Titus 3:5
5He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit
John 3:5 Jesus said:
5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
14 "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
- Jesus repeats that he is the shepherd.
- Jesus repeats that he knows his sheep (God’s Chosen).
- Jesus repeats that God’s Chosen know Him.
15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
- The relationship between God the Father and God the Son is the same as the relationship between Jesus and His sheep (God’s Chosen).
16 "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock [with] one shepherd. ...
- Jesus speaks of bringing the Gentiles into the Jewish Christian fold of God’s Chosen.
- Jesus must BRING THEM (not their free will decision to come).
- These sheep (God’s Chosen) WILL hear (no maybe).
- These sheep (God’s Chosen) WILL become one flock (no maybe).
26 "But you do not believe because
you are not of My sheep.
- THE PEOPLE THAT JESUS WAS SPEAKING TO, THAT HEARD HIS WORDS, WERE NOT HIS SHEEP ( God’s Chosen).
- So not everyone is one of Jesus’ sheep.
27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
- The characteristics if Jesus’ sheep (God’s Chosen) are
- They hear Jesus
- Jesus knows them
- They follow Jesus
28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
- The promises for Jesus’ sheep (God’s Chosen):
- Eternal life
- Never perish
- Security in Jesus’ hand
29 "My Father, who has given [them] to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand.
- God’s Chosen: Jesus’ sheep belong to Jesus because God the Father GAVE those particular sheep to Jesus. Those that are not Jesus’ sheep must not have been given to Jesus by the Father or else they would be Jesus’ sheep.
- Jesus sheep are all God’s Chosen and God’s Chosen are
30 "I and the Father are one."
- Complete unity with this plan.
To recap:
God gave some sheep (people), but not all, to Jesus. Jesus is the Good Shepherd that died for His sheep (people) and gives eternal life to His sheep (people) and protects His sheep (people). Those people that are not His sheep (people) do not believe BECAUSE they are not His sheep.[/QUOTE]
No disagreement on the above.
To recap:
HOW does one BECOME a sheep of Jesus?
Here is where we disagree.
The jailer in Acts was told:
BELIEVE and you will be saved.
NOT...
Be saved and you will believe.
You have it backwards....