Why is believing in Christ essential for being called one of His sheep?

In John 10, Jesus emphasizes that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him; this signifies that true belief in Him is essential to identifying oneself as part of His flock. This belief is not merely intellectual acknowledgment but involves trusting in Him as the sole ground of salvation. The assurance of being a sheep comes from believing the gospel, which means relying on Christ's redemptive work rather than any works of our own. This theological understanding clarifies how faith in Christ confirms one's identity within the elect, the true sheep of His pasture.