Sheep and Non-Sheep - John

The sermon titled “Sheep and Non-Sheep” explores Jesus’ final public dialogue with the religious leaders in John 10:22–30, where they demand that He tell them plainly whether He is the Christ. Set during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), Jesus contrasts those who believe in Him (His sheep) with those who persist in unbelief. The setting is both tense and symbolic—Jesus walking in Solomon’s Colonnade, a place of teaching and later the site of early church gatherings. In this rich exchange, the Lord reveals the true nature of belief and unbelief, rooted in divine election, human responsibility, and eternal security.

1. Jesus Reveals the Identity of Those Who Reject Him (vv. 24–26)

The religious leaders encircle Jesus, not seeking truth but aiming to trap Him. Though they ask, “Are you the Christ?” their unbelief betrays their intentions. Four characteristics define those who ultimately reject Christ:

They do not truly seek truth (John 3:19; Rom 3:11) — they love darkness because their deeds are evil.
They do not truly listen to God’s Word (John 8:47) — despite clear teaching, they remain deaf to the gospel.
They reject overwhelming evidence — miracles and signs, like the healing of the blind man, were ignored.
They are not part of His sheep — their unbelief ultimately shows they were not chosen (John 6:37, 6:44, Acts 13:48).

Importantly, God's sovereignty does not remove human responsibility, nor does it remove the call to evangelize all people.

2. Jesus Reveals the Identity of Those Who Follow Him (vv. 27–30)

Jesus describes His sheep in three ways:

They hear His voice — a personal, effectual call through the gospel (John 5:25; 10:3–5).
He knows them — a sovereign, intimate, covenantal knowledge (John 10:14).
They follow Him — obedience flows from faith and relationship, even though sheep may sometimes wander.

This relationship is personal, secure, and initiated by Christ.

3. Jesus Assures the Security of His Sheep (vv. 28–30)

This passage contains one of the clearest affirmations of the eternal security of believers:
Eternal life is a gift — it begins at salvation and never ends.
They will never perish — a double negative emphasizes the certainty.
No one can snatch them — neither the world, Satan, nor sin can remove a believer from Christ’s hand or the Father’s.
The security of the believer rests not in their grip on God but in His grip on them (Rom. 8:38–39).

Applications and Implications

Rest in the sovereignty of God in salvation — Election assures us that our salvation is not based on our ability but on God’s mercy and purpose.

Do not presume on eternal security without fruit — True sheep follow Jesus. If someone lives in rebellion, they may have never been truly saved (1 John 2:19).

Assurance breeds love, not license — Knowing we are secure in Christ motivates love, worship, and obedience, not complacency.

True believers—those who hear, are known by, and follow Christ—are eternally secure in the grip of the Good Shepherd and His Father.