The Sheep

Q: What does the Bible say about God's sheep?

The Bible describes God's sheep as chosen, redeemed, straying, and known, illustrating their special relationship with the Good Shepherd, Christ. The Word of God reveals profound truths about God's sheep, highlighting that they are chosen by Him from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5). In John 10, Christ declares, 'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me' (John 10:27). This indicates a personal, intimate relationship between the Shepherd and His sheep. They are chosen, redeemed, known, and sealed by perfect grace, affirming the assurance of their security and belonging in the fold of God. Furthermore, all of the Lord's sheep stray by nature, as stated in Isaiah 53:6, 'All we like sheep have gone astray.' Their straying does not sever their relationship with the Shepherd but highlights the Shepherd's role in seeking and restoring them (Ezekiel 34:11-12). Therefore, the identity of God's sheep emphasizes God's sovereign grace in choosing, saving, and keeping each one, ensuring none will be lost in the end.

Q: How do we know God's election is true?

We know God's election is true through Scripture that affirms God chooses specific individuals for salvation, such as seen in Ephesians 1:4-5. The doctrine of election is scripturally rooted, with passages that clearly outline God's sovereign choice. In Ephesians 1:4-5, we are taught that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, emphasizing that our election is based on His will rather than any foreseen merit on our part. This truth is celebrated by God's sheep who recognize that without His electing grace, salvation would not be possible. John 15:16 states, 'You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,' further exemplifying the active role God plays in selecting His people. The joy of the sheep lies in knowing they are recipients of divine love and grace.

Q: Why is the doctrine of total depravity important for Christians?

The doctrine of total depravity is important because it underscores our need for grace, as all humans are born sinful and in need of redemption. Understanding the doctrine of total depravity is essential for Christians because it reveals the stark reality of our spiritual condition apart from Christ. Romans 3:23 states, 'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,' illustrating that every person is inherently sinful due to Adam’s fall, needing redemption through Christ. Without acknowledging the depth of our depravity, we fail to grasp the magnitude of God's grace offered through the Good Shepherd. Recognizing total depravity allows believers to appreciate the necessity of God's sovereign grace in salvation (Ephesians 2:1-5). It fuels the understanding that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, not dependent upon our works or efforts. This foundational truth leads to a profound gratitude for the redemptive work of Christ, who rescues and transforms His sheep, enabling them to follow Him faithfully.

Q: How does Christ redeem His sheep according to Scripture?

Christ redeems His sheep by paying the penalty for their sins with His blood, ensuring they are justified and secure in Him. According to Scripture, Christ redeems His sheep through His sacrificial death, fulfilling the requirement of divine justice. John 10:11 states, 'The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep,' emphasizing His role as the substitute for His people. The cost of redemption was His own blood, as portrayed in 1 Peter 1:18-19, which declares that we were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish. This act of redemption guarantees that those for whom He died are justified and secured eternally. Romans 8:1 proclaims, 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,' underscoring that, because of His sacrifice, His sheep have full assurance of their salvation. The reality of Christ’s redeeming work fosters profound hope and confidence in His promises.

Let's turn once again to 1 Peter 2 and verse 25. 1 Peter 2, verse 25. You were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

Now this morning, I tried to show you three pictures of Christ our shepherd. We saw him described in the word of God as the good shepherd in the accomplishment of our redemption, the great shepherd in his resurrection glory, and the chief shepherd in his glorious return at his second advent. Tonight, I want to show you some of what the word of God has to say concerning the sheep.

Our text speaks of both the shepherd and the sheep. Ye were, that is what we were by nature, where we were when God found us by his grace, ye were as sheep, dumb, ignorant, helpless, sickly, defenseless sheep, as sheep going astray, ever going astray from God, but are now by the work of his free grace, by his almighty call, because the shepherd sought us out, because the shepherd laid hold of us, because the shepherd brought us back, you are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

Now let me observe two or three things by way of introduction. First, it is obvious in the word of God that the whole human race is divided into two categories of people. There are those who are sheep and there are those who are goats. And the goats never become sheep. The sheep never become goats. When a man is born again by God's Spirit, he does not somehow another experience a transformation from a goat to a sheep, but rather he is a sheep that has been found. Goats never become sheep. Sheep never become goats.

Our Lord plainly tells us that some men and women are his sheep and some are not his sheep. He spoke in John chapter 10 to those Pharisees, and he said, you believe not because you are not of my sheep. As I said unto you, my sheep hear my voice. In other words, if you were one of my sheep, when I speak to you, you'd pay attention. If you were one of my sheep, when you hear me speak, you'd hearken to my voice and you'd follow me. My sheep hear my voice, but you're not my sheep. Because you're not of my sheep, you believe not.

And then in the last day, our Lord will stand in judgment and gathered before him all the nations of the earth, the sheep he will gather on his right hand, the goat nations, all the goats of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue he will gather on his left hand in the day of judgment. This division of the race was made in God's eternal election. This division of the race is manifest in time so that you and I do not know who the goats are or who the sheep are except they make themselves manifest and God makes them manifest by his almighty grace.

The goats manifest themselves in their rebellion, in their obstinance, in their manner of life, in their resistance to the word, in their unbelief. The sheep make themselves manifest in their faith, in their obedience, in their following of Christ. They are distinguished by the shepherd's call, and when the shepherd calls, it's obvious who the sheep are and who the goats are. And this division of the human race is immutable and permanent. In the last day, the sheep will enter into the fold, the goats will be shut out. In the last day, the sheep will stand before God, excepted the goats will be cast away forever.

But also, according to our text, Christ's sheep are divided into two categories. There are straying sheep and returned sheep, lost sheep and saved sheep, wandering sheep and folded sheep. Whenever I preach the gospel, I have in my mind's eye and my heart is set upon Christ's sheep. I have nothing for the goats. I am not very much interested in the goats, and I'm not much disturbed by the goats and their behavior and their response to what I have to say. My interest is in the sheep. I'm an under-shepherd. I'm called of God to serve under the shepherd, Christ Jesus, as a shepherd in his family, and my business and my interest is with sheep. My concern is seeking the sheep. My concern is feeding the sheep. My concern is directing the sheep. My concern is giving the sheep a path of wisdom and a path of direction under the guidance of God, the Holy Spirit.

So what I'm doing here tonight is seeking some lost sheep. I pray that God may be pleased tonight, according to the promise we've read in Ezekiel, to gather some of those sheep who have been scattered abroad in the fall of Adam, to gather some of those sheep who have all their days been straying from him. May he be pleased tonight to gather some of his sheep to life and faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

I'm here, however, also to feed those sheep who are gathered. It is the responsibility of the shepherd to feed the sheep. I'm here to protect the sheep. I'm here to guide the sheep. Now that's my responsibility as a shepherd. I trust that God will graciously give me wisdom and that he will cause his word to go forth to your hearts effectually for your comfort, for the feeding and strength of your soul, and for your protection in the midst of the many dangers that we face in this world.

Now, having my mind and my heart upon the sheep, I have them in a good place, because the shepherd's mind and the shepherd's heart is always upon his sheep. His glory as the shepherd is wrapped up in those sheep. The Lord Jesus Christ will receive no glory, but rather shame. He will receive no honor but rather reproach. He will receive no praise but rather blame if even one of his sheep were to fail to enter into everlasting glory. If even one of those sheep given to him in the everlasting covenant should fail to attain everlasting glory, the shepherd must forever bear the blame, not the sheep. You see, the responsibility for the sheep is not on their back. The responsibility for the welfare of the sheep is on the shepherd's back. So that our salvation and our responsibility in this matter of salvation, principally and primarily, is not ours, but Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ assumed all responsibility for us, and He must bear all blame if even one of His sheep should perish in the end.

Another thing that I find to be of some measure of interest, and I think maybe will be beneficial for us to observe, is the way in which men obtain sheep. Now, I've studied this subject to a good bit over the years, and I can only find four ways in which a man can become the possessor of sheep. I know that God created all things and God owns all things. By right of creation, our Lord Jesus owns all the sheep. But as a man, as the shepherd, how can a man gain the possession of sheep? There are four ways. One, he can get them by gift. Sheep can be given to them. If I have a flock of sheep and I want to give Wes one of them, I can give you one. If I want to give you all of them, I can give them all to you. And that's exactly how the Lord Jesus obtained his sheep. You read in John chapter 6, all that the Father hath given me shall come unto me. That is, those that the Father loved and chose, he gave to Christ as his sheep. He gave them into the hands of his Son, so that the Son of God becomes our shepherd and takes the responsibility for saving those sheep. And in the last day, he's going to number the sheep again. He'll bring them into the fold and say, Father, now here they are. Here are the sheep that you gave me before the world began.

Sheep can also be obtained by purchase. If you want some sheep, I don't know whether they sell them here in Danville or not. I've only been to the stockyard once or twice. That's enough for me. But if they sell sheep down at the stockyards here, you can go down, pay a price, and the sheep are yours. They belong to you because you paid the price for them. And if you paid the price for them, you pick them up, load them in your truck, and you take them back home with you.

The Lord Jesus Christ, our good shepherd, purchased his sheep. He purchased his sheep out from under the hands of divine justice. No, Christ did not pay a ransom price to Satan. Satan did not hold us hostage. Christ did not pay a ransom price to the Prince of Darkness. Jesus Christ paid the ransom price to God our Father, satisfying divine justice in our stead. And so by paying the price, he has obtained the sheep. They're his.

Another way you can get possession of sheep is by birth. If a man owns a flock of sheep, and he has so many ewes, and those ewes give birth to so many lambs, the newborn lambs belong to the one who owned the ewes to begin with. Brother Bailey back here owns his cattle, and when one of those cattle give birth, that newborn calf is your calf. No question about that. It's his calf. And that's exactly how the Lord Jesus gets his sheep.

The church of Jesus Christ, the church is called Jerusalem, which is above the mother of us all. Our Lord tells us by the prophet Isaiah, when Zion prevailed, she brought forth her children. And the church of the living God is the means by which God and his good purpose of grace has ordained to give birth to his sheep. I tonight stand to preach the gospel If the Lord Jesus should speak by me to the hearts of some dead sinners and cause those dead sinners to live, he causes them to be begotten again unto a lively hope by the word that we preach unto them. And those sheep that are born into the fold tonight are likewise the property of the shepherd.

But there's another way that sheep can be obtained. You can obtain sheep by inheritance. If a man owns sheep and he wills them to his son or wills them to his neighbor, the sheep become the son's or the neighbor's sheep by inheritance. And so we are also the sheep of our Lord Jesus Christ by the inheritance that he has received from his father, the inheritance he has received as the result of his obedience. the inheritance he has received as the result of all that he's done on our behalf as the good shepherd.

We are described in the scriptures, you can turn over there if you want, 1 Peter 5, 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 4, as God's heritage, verse 3 rather, neither being lords over God's heritage. Imagine that now, we're the heritage of God. We particularly, peculiarly, unlike anyone else, God's elect are the heritage of God. And being the heritage of God, we are the inheritance of the Son of God. And he tells us as much in Ephesians 1 and verse 18. And so you see these things about the way sheep can be obtained. Our Lord has us as his sheep by a gift from the Father in the covenant of grace. By a lawful purchase when he shed his blood to redeem us. He has his sheep by the birth of his spirit in regeneration as the sheep are called one by one. And he has his sheep as his inheritance from the Father.

But what does God tell us in his word about the sheep? I can't, in the few minutes we have this evening, tell you everything that God teaches us about his sheep. But I've searched the scriptures and I've found ten things, ten things, plainly revealed in the word of God about the sheep of Christ.

Now, I'm going to move kind of quickly, but I hope you can follow along and receive benefits from what's about to be said.

Number one, all who belong to Christ as his sheep are chosen sheep. All of them are chosen sheep. Our Lord speaks of my sheep. Throughout the 10th chapter of John, he says, my sheep, my sheep. In the parable of the good shepherd and Luke chapter 15, we see the Lord Jesus Christ going after his one lost sheep. It belongs to him, though the sheep doesn't know it, it belongs to him because he has chosen the sheep.

In the scriptures, we read frequently of the Lord's gracious choice of his people. He said to the apostles, you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth much fruit. We give thanks to God. We bless the Lord God who has blessed us according as he has chosen us in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world. We give thanks to God always, brethren beloved, because he has from the beginning chosen you unto salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth.

Now, sheep love the doctrine of election. They just do. I'm sorry if you don't like election. I'm quite confident because you are not one of Christ's sheep, or at least have not yet been called into the fold. I'm telling you that God's sheep love election. They know that had there been no election of grace, there would have been no salvation. They know that had the Lord not chosen them in his grace, he would never have saved them by his grace. Election is the sheep's friend and the sheep are all friends of election. We rejoice to declare and rejoice to know that the Lord God from old eternity set his heart upon us and chose us as the objects of his grace in Christ Jesus before the world began. God has chosen us, his sheep, and he has determined that we shall follow him and that we shall be with him forever.

That passage we read in Ezekiel 34, the Lord gave the prophecy. He said, he said, the shepherds have scattered my sheep. The shepherds have devoured my sheep. The shepherds, false prophets, false preachers, and we've got an abundance of them. They fleece the sheep. They clothe themselves with the sheep's wool. They feed themselves on the sheep's meat. But I will deliver my sheep out of the hands of those shepherds. I will seek and search out my sheep. I will gather my sheep. I will hold my sheep. Throughout the scriptures he speaks of his everlasting purpose of grace and our great joy is this. The Lord God having chosen his sheep will have his sheep. Not all hell can stop him. Not all of hell can stop him. My sheep hear my voice our Lord said.

But there's a second thing. All of the Lord's sheep by nature are straying sheep. Ye were as sheep going astray. All we like sheep have gone astray. We've turned everyone to his own way. In our father Adam, we went astray from God. When we came forth from the womb, how did we come forth? We came forth from the womb speaking lies. I told our ladies this morning in the Bible class, don't ever speak of innocent children. There are no such thing as innocent children. When a child dies, somebody says, well, he's innocent. We know he's in heaven. That's no basis of anything. Children are not innocent at all. Children are born depraved. Children are born guilty of Adam's transgression. And as soon as they come forth from the womb, they come forth speaking lies.

Children are as much in need of mercy as adults are. They're as much in need of redemption as adults are. They're as much in need of forgiveness as adults are. Thank God we have evidence in His Word concerning a basis of comfort for those elect people whom God takes out of this world in their infancy. But don't ever think that because a child dies he's innocent and therefore he enters into glory. Children are born in this world depraved, with corrupt, vile hearts, and go astray as soon as they're born speaking lies. I wish we'd learn to get our theology from the Word of God rather than from silly old men and silly old women. The Word of God says the wicked are estranged from the womb. They go astray as soon as they are born speaking lies.

Now every parent here knows exactly what David talks about. Those little children, we pick them up, love them, and talk about the little angels and the little darlings. You cuddle them, and your mothers, you say, now say mama, mama. And if they gurgle something at you, say mama, I said mama. First thing they say, mine, no. They show their depravity, their corruption. And before they can even utter a word, they'll lie to you. Manipulate you and control you. I was talking to a friend of mine over in Lexington, came by earlier this week, got a 10-month-old baby. He said that baby controls me and controls his mama. He manipulates us. He manipulates us with his squalling and his hollering and his crying. And you know, you don't really know until you get to him and start to pick him up whether he's lying or not. But when you pick him up, And that baby, he's just squalling like he was dying. I mean, just like he was dying. You pick him up and he quits. He's lying. He's lying. You take the children, they learn to walk. As they're walking along, that child falls down and he'll look around. If you don't look at him, he can get up and walk on. If you look at him, he'll sit there and squall and holler. You come pick him up and cuddle him a little bit. He's lying to you. He's manipulating you because that's the nature of children. That's the nature of sheep. Do you follow what I'm saying? Those are trite, silly, insignificant things, but they reveal the true character of man is sin.

We go astray from birth, but that's not all. We all go astray all the days of our lives by willful, deliberate, voluntary choice. It's just the nature of men to stray, just like so does she. Even after experiencing the grace of God in salvation. Even after being born again by God's Spirit. Even after being renewed by His grace. Hear me now. Hear me and be aware of it. It is still the nature of our evil hearts to go astray from the Lord our God. It's still our nature. It's not the new nature, but it's still the nature of our evil hearts. We sing it frequently. Do you pay attention to what we sing? Prone to wonder, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart. Oh, take and seal it. Seal it for thy courts above. I hear people talk about men and women, and I know that God's grace graciously sustains his elect. I'm aware of that. But God also wisely and graciously has given us example after example to teach us the nothingness of the flesh and to teach us our own insignificance, our own weakness, our own infirmity.

People say, well, if he was a believer, he couldn't do that. I don't know about that. I don't know about that. You look at old Lot. You say, well, I don't understand how Lot could do that. I don't understand how Lot could behave like he did. I do. It's the nature of sheep to stray. How could Noah get off of that ark and get drunk? That's the nature of sheep. How could Abraham possibly tell his wife to go sleep with that heathen king? It's the nature of sheep to stray. How could Peter possibly deny the Lord, curse and swear he never knew him? It's the nature of sheep to stray. And Merle, that's your nature and mine. That's our nature.

Now I'm sorry to have to inform you, it is the nature of sheep ever to stray, even after we're born again by God's grace, that old nature is still the same. It's exactly like it was in the beginning, in regenerating grace. In the new birth, God does not change the old nature. He does not change the old nature. He subdues the old nature. He rules the old nature and he puts a new nature within. But the old nature is exactly like it always was. Exactly like it always was.

None of the Lord's sheep have any quarrel with the doctrine of total depravity. None of them do. People tell me I don't like depravity. I don't like total depravity. I don't like it either. I don't like it at all, but I'm happy to quarrel with it because it's the bitter experience of day-by-day life in my soul.

But thirdly, I rejoice to read in the word of God that all of the Lord's sheep are redeemed sheep. Turn over to John 10. Let's look at a couple of scriptures. John chapter 10. All of the Lord's sheep are redeemed sheep. He bought them. a word redeemed. That means the Lord Jesus went into the marketplace and he laid down the required price for the sheep of his love and he paid the price. Not only did he pay the price, but he delivered the sheep out of the marketplace. So that there's no longer any possibility of sale. So that there's no longer any possibility of condemnation.

The Lord Jesus, with his blood, went into the courtyard of divine justice. He asked, what is the price? The price is blood. And he said, I'll pay the price. And he paid the price and took his sheep out. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Look at John chapter 10 and verse 11. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. He gives his life to obtain the sheep. He gives his life to justify the sheep. He gives his life to save the sheep. He gives his life to deliver the sheep. He gives his life to give life to the sheep. He gives his life in the place of the sheep.

Verse 15, as the father knoweth me, even so know I the father, and I lay down my life. I pour out my life unto death for the sheep. Now what he's telling us is that we are redeemed particularly. The Lord Jesus Christ loved the sheep. The Lord Jesus redeemed the sheep. The Lord Jesus died for the sheep. No one else. No one else. Now if the Lord ever causes you to know you're one of the sheep, he died for you. If the Lord calls you, He died for you. If the Lord gives you faith, He died for you. If you hear His voice, He died for you. But I will not dishonor His name to give you the satisfaction of speaking as though you are God and He's nothing by telling you that Christ died for you, though you perish in your sins. Oh, no. No, no, no, no. A thousand times no. No, sir, if you die in your sins, Jesus Christ did not die for you.

Now you can just mark that down. You can just mark that down. God's sheep are particularly redeemed and we are eternally redeemed. That is the Lord Jesus before the world began was the Lamb of God slain for the sheep. The scripture tells us plainly that we are justly redeemed. The Lord Jesus paid a just price for our salvation. He paid the price demanded by justice and we're vicariously redeemed. Christ Jesus died in our place. He died as our substitute. Here we stood, condemned before the law of God. The Son of God comes, He says, step out of the way, I'll take your place. And He died in our stead.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. But then also, we are effectually redeemed by His own blood, the Son of God, the Good Shepherd. Entered in once into the holy place and now he's the great shepherd and there he obtained eternal redemption for us. He did it. It's effectual. He did not offer it. He did not provide it. He did not make it possible. He did not say, now here I've done my part, you do yours. The Lord Jesus, by his blood, obtained redemption, eternal redemption. And he did it for somebody in particular. He did it for us. For us who believe. For us who are his sheep.

Talk to sheep about limited atonement and they'll rejoice. Goats will butt. Tell them about effectual blood and the sheep will sing. Goats will butt. Proclaim to the sheep particular redemption, and they will honor you as the messenger of God to their souls. Goat so but. Sheep honor the shepherd's precious blood. Sheep delight in the shepherd's precious blood.

Fourthly, in God's appointed time, all those chosen, redeemed, straying sheep are called sheep. Look in John 10 verse 2. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. That is, he that enters in by the door of divine prophecy, he that enters in by the door of the word, that one, he's the shepherd of the sheep. The one who measures up to the scripture, he's the shepherd. All that came before me and said, I'm the shepherd, they're thieves and liars, they're hirelings, they're false shepherds. I came according to the door of divine truth. And the porter opens to him and the sheep hear his voice And he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them. And the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

The good shepherd always seeks his sheep till he find it. And when he finds it, he always fetches it home by his almighty irresistible call. And let's look at what John says here, or what our Lord says by the Apostle John in these few verses we've read. The Lord Jesus says that he calls his own sheep. I reckon why he said that, to let you know he calls them particular man. Let you know, he calls those sheep who were chosen by him, predestinated by him, and redeemed by him. He calls those sheep who belong to him. He doesn't call somebody else's, he calls his sheep. He doesn't call some goats, he calls his sheep. He calleth his own sheep. Those are the only ones he calls. Now I stand here tonight and I call men. I call women. I call you to come to Christ. I call all of you. Come to Christ. Come on and follow Christ. Come on and follow the Son of God. Come into the fold. Come to the Savior. I call you indiscriminately because I don't know who his sheep are. But he knows who his sheep are. And Lindsay, he calls them. He calls his own sheep. And he does it through this instrument. He does it through the preaching of the gospel.

And when he calls his sheep, look at it. When he calls his sheep, they hear his voice. They always do. Always. There are no exceptions. Son of God never calls in vain. His call is always effectual. The sheep hear his voice. He sings to it, they hear his voice. And then we're told that he calleth his own sheep by name. So they know who he's speaking to. He calleth his own sheep by name. He comes to the graveyard and he does not say, come forth. He says, Lazarus, come forth. He comes to the sycamore tree and he looks up in the tree and he says, Zacchaeus, come down. He calls his sheep by name. He always does.

In the European countries, they still have open range in most places and shepherds will take their sheep out and they'll graze them all day long in the fields and they're at perfect liberty to graze in anybody's vineyard as long as they don't do any damage. They just let the sheep graze and at night they'll gather in different places and several shepherds will come together in appointed places and they'll fold their sheep and they'll all spend the night there. And you'd look at them, and all the sheep look the same. They don't have any markings on them. They're not branded. They don't have anything on them to identify them. But in the mornings, those shepherds will get up, and they'll call their sheep. They'll call them one by one. And the sheep know exactly who the shepherd is, and they know exactly what their name is. And when the shepherd calls his sheep, the sheep come out. So suppose there are two sheep there named Don. Well, one of them belongs to this shepherd, one of them belongs to that one. They both know their shepherd. They know the shepherd's voice. And when the shepherd says dawn, the sheep that belongs to him follows him out.

That's exactly the call of God's Spirit. When the Spirit of God speaks, the person to whom he speaks knows that God speaks. He knows it. When God called you, you knew he was calling you. When the Lord God speaks to you, you know he's speaking to you. You know the difference between his voice and mine, don't you, Bob? You know when he speaks, don't you? He speaks and his sheep know his voice. He calls them by name.

And then we're told that the Son of God calls his sheep. And when he calls them, he always leads them out. His call is always almighty. His call is always effectual. His call is always irresistible. His call is always saving. Always. The Lord God does not try to save sinners. He does not try to get men to come to him. The Lord God saves whom he will. He brings whom he will to himself. He calls his sheep and leads them out. He leads them out. God's sheep rejoice in the knowledge of his almighty irresistible grace. Every one of them do. Every one of them do. You find me a man or a woman who doesn't like the teachings of scripture concerning God's irresistible, free, sovereign, almighty, effectual grace, I'll show you a lost man. I'll show you a lost woman. I'm just telling you exactly what I know to be so. What sane man will quarrel with irresistible love? It takes insanity to quarrel with irresistible love. I'm talking about love that your heart can't resist. I'm talking about grace your heart cannot resist.

What woman, what woman would meet a man, a man who so loves her, who's so good to her, who's so kind to her, that she cannot resist his love? She just can't resist it. First time she saw him, she said, well, He's all right, but I think I have other interests. First time he said, I'd like to take you out, well, call me some other time. But he shows us such love, and such persistent kindness, and such persistent goodness, and such persistent generosity, such persistent thoughtfulness, that after a while, she says, oh, I wonder if he'll call tonight, I won't resist him again. If he'll speak to me tonight, I'll not turn a deaf ear to him. I never met a man like that in my life.

Now, any woman who rejects that kind of love needs to be checked in the funny farm. I'm telling you, you find a fellow loves you like that, you better latch on to him. And I'm telling you that Jesus Christ loves his sheep just that way, so that his love and his grace is irresistible, compelling our hearts to come to him. He calls his sheep irresistibly.

But fifthly, every one of the Lord's sheep are specially known sheep. Look in verse 27. My sheep hear my voice. John 10, 27. I'm sorry. John 10, 27. My sheep hear my voice and I know them. Now, if I were an Arminian, I'd say so what? He knows everything. He knows everything. If I were a freewheeler, I said, well, what's so great about that? I know my sheep. I know my sheep. But he knows the stars of the sky. He knows the sands by the seashore. He knows the particles of dust in the air. He knows everything. So what?

Well, you know what he's talking about, don't you? I know my sheep. I know them. I know them like I don't know anybody else. I know them like I don't know anything else. I know my sheep. I know my sheep lovingly. I know my sheep eternally. I know my sheep distinctively. I know my sheep universally. I know everything about them. I know every one of them. I know them in all the details of their being. I know my sheep savingly.

The Lord's sheep rejoice in his distinguishing love and the knowledge he has of them. They rest in his knowledge. Let me show you a scripture. Turn over to Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53. Tell you something about this distinguishing knowledge of Christ. Isaiah 53 and verse 10. If the Lord Jesus knows me, Oscar, that's good enough. That's all out. If he knows me. If he just knows me, I don't need anything else in this world. If he knows me, I don't have any other concern. If he knows me, I'm talking about knows me. If he knows me, they say in the biblical sense, that's exactly what I'm talking about. If he knows me so as to love me, I have no other concern. For his knowledge of me is the source, the cause, and the guarantee of my salvation.

Look at Isaiah 53 in verse 10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. Now look at this, by his knowledge. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. If he knows me, Joe, that's all I need. I know my sheep. Oh, glory. He knows his sheep. He knows them so as to save them. He knows them so as to justify them. He knows them so as to bring them safe to glory.

But notice also in John 10 and verse 14, that all of the Lord's sheep are knowing sheep. He says, I am the good shepherd and know my sheep and am known of mine. In John chapter 10 and verse 4, we are told that they know his voice. Not only does Christ say, I know my sheep, he says, I'm known of mine. And they know his voice.

Goats. don't know the shepherd's voice. They don't know it. Goats will come in here this morning and hear the message of God's free grace. They're either confused or they're mad. They just don't care. and go uptown this evening and hear a message about free will, works, or nothing, and they go, well, that's pretty good. That's pretty good. Or they'll hear some baboon come along and say the Lord Jesus is coming at 730 on October the 9th, 1988. Better get ready. What are we going to do? What are we going to do? What are we going to do? What are we going to do? What are we going to do? All the goats in the world are confused. All the goats in the world are tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. All the goats in the world are unstable as water. All the goats in the world, they don't know what they believe. They don't know what, they're confused. They have no ear for the shepherd's voice, but oh, blessed are your ears for they hear. They understand things that differ. They know the difference between truth and error. They may not be able to sit down and write it out in the theology book, but they know the difference between truth and error.

The sheep hear the shepherd's voice. I am not the least bit concerned. I'm honest with you. I'm not the least bit concerned about any of God's sheep here being deluded with Jerry Falwell's theology. or his ministry. I'm not concerned about it. I'm not concerned about it. I'm concerned that some of you may be deceived, but if you are, you're not his sheep. That's right. I'm not concerned about it.

Somebody says, what do you think about these churches going around trying to get folks come from one church to another and let them have all they can get? They'll have all they can get. I'm not concerned about that. I guarantee you get it. You sit around here for a year or two, no church in town wants you. They just assume you stay away, go somewhere else. But if they can get you, they can have you. They can have you. And if they can get you, they will get you. They will. I don't have any question about that. Because goats, goats can easily be driven one place or another. But sheep, they got to have the food of the word. Sheep, they understand the difference between truth and error.

Some fella gets up here and spouts off about free will, or spouts off about works, or spouts off about degrees of reward, or spouts off about earning crowns in heaven. You know better. You know better. Why? Not because you're better than anybody else, but you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things. That's what John said, 1 John chapter 2, read your Bible.

They who went out from us went out from us because they never were of us. If they had been of us, they would have remained with us. They would have stayed right here. They'd have stayed right here. Why'd they go out? They're goats, not sheep. But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things.

But then, seventhly, the word of God tells us that all of the Lord's sheep, as soon as they are called, are folded sheep. The folded sheep. I found this interesting when I read that passage in Ezekiel 34 this week. Ezekiel chapter 34. Verse 11.

Thus saith the Lord God, behold I, even I will both search my sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep, his sheep that are scattered. So will I seek out my sheep and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people. You see that? I will bring them out from the people and gather them. I'll bring them out of the world and gather them together. I'll gather them to their own land and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers and all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be. And there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God."

When the Lord calls His sheep, He brings them into His fold. Now, it seems to me That our Lord is telling us that he brings his sheep into the church that he has called, the church that he has chosen. He gathers them into a fold. They're there in the church of God. He feeds them with good pasture. There he refreshes them with living water. There he causes them to lie down in peace and to dwell safely in a good fold. In a good fold. Oh, if God puts you in the church of his people, if God puts you in the church of his love, if God puts you in an assembly of his sheep, you're in a good fold, a good fold.

Many people make light of believers' baptism and church membership, but I can't find in the word of God any evidence of the Lord's sheep outside the Lord's fold once they're called. I just don't find them. I don't find them. People around here accuse us of not believing the local church. I believe in it heapsight more than most landmarkers do. Heapsight more. The Lord God brings his sheep into his fold. Now he does. I don't bring them in, he brings them in. He brings his sheep into his fold. All of Christ's sheep follow him into the waters of baptism. All of them dwell with him and with his sheep in his home. You see, sheep need each other. Sheep are never found alone unless they're lost. The only time you find a sheep out by itself alone, one of two things is wrong. Either that sheep is sick or that sheep is just plumb lost. One of the two. Sheep are social creatures. Sheep got to have each other. Sheep live for one another. Sheep can't exist apart from one another. And that's the way the Lord does his sheep. He brings them into a fold. They've been scattered. Now he brings them in. He brings them and folds them together in a good pasture.

Eighth thing, all of Christ's sheep are following sheep. Look back in John chapter 10 again. John the 10th chapter and verse 27. My sheep hear my voice. I know them. And they follow me. Now, wait a minute, pastor. The second point of your message tonight was that the sheep are straying sheep. And now you tell us the sheep are following sheep, which is right, which is right. Both are right. Both are right. The sheep by nature stray. They never do anything but stray. But the shepherd's there to see to it that the sheep follow. Now he's going to see to it that the sheep follow. My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. He entices his sheep to follow him by his goodness. You read the word. You come here to the house of God. You sit down and you You hear the songs, and you read the word, and you hear the gospel preached, and your soul is refreshed, and strengthened, and comforted, and challenged, and rebuked, and sent forth to follow the shepherd. You say, well, I'll come back Tuesday, see if I can get some more of that. And the goodness of the Lord entices you to follow him. He entices you to follow him with his promises of grace. He entices you to follow him with his promises of goodness and mercy and peace and everlasting strength. He entices you to follow him.

But that's not your nature, Wes. That's not your nature. It's not my nature. And sometimes the shepherd gets sheep who just won't follow. They just won't follow. They will not be enticed. No matter what, how good the grass is, they're going to go over there and eat. They just will not follow.

You know what a shepherd does? You ever see pictures of them, they have that long staff with a crook on it? Sheep gets out of line, he takes that crook, pulls him in. Takes that crook and pulls him in. But after a while, that sheep keeps on straying, keeps on straying. You know what that shepherd does with that stick? He'll walk over there, take that stick and break one of those lamb's legs. He'll just break his legs. Smash it in two.

So that's cruel. No, it's not. No, it's not. After he broke that lamb's leg, then he'll put a splint on it, and he'll pick it up and carry it in his arms. Everywhere he goes, he'll carry that lamb, until that lamb depends on that shepherd for everything. That lamb depends on that shepherd to eat, depends on that shepherd to move from one place to the next. That lamb depends on that shepherd for everything.

He'll carry his lambs in his bosom. Read Isaiah 40, verse 11. He'll carry his lambs in his bosom. And he carries them, and he carries them. After a while, after a while, the leg quits hurting. And he sets that lamb back down. And he can't keep it off his heels. Follows him everywhere.

That's the way of our Lord. That's his chastening rod. My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. I see to it they follow me. I see to it they follow me. That's his grace. That's his goodness. The sheep follow the shepherd.

But notice ninth thing. Our Lord assures us in verse 28 of John 10 that all his sheep are secure sheep. I give unto them eternal life. and they shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand. I and my father are one. Now I often wondered, I have for years wondered, Never could find any commentator to tell me or any preacher to tell me why the Lord said in this context, I and my father are one. That just seems to be out of place. It just seems like it's out of place, but it's not. I think I found the answer. I understand the Lord says the sheep are in my hands and I'm in my father's hand and no man can pluck me out of my father's hand or my sheep out of my father's hand. I understand that. But why did he say I and my father are one? He said it to let us know that the whole divine being, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are wrapped up in this thing of the security of his sheep, all of them. All of his sheep are sealed and kept by the Father's purpose. They're sealed and kept by the Savior's blood, and they're sealed and kept by the seal of the Spirit so that none of his sheep shall ever perish, none of them. The Lord God has his sheep. Some of them are in the fold. Some of them aren't yet in the fold.

Some of you here tonight, I rather suspect, are his sheep. And you don't know it yet. You don't know it yet. But if you're his sheep, if you're his sheep, I don't care where you are. I don't care what you do. I don't care where you go. I don't care how wild you run or how far you stray. If you're his sheep, He's going to get you. He's going to get you. One way or another, he's going to get you. He's going to do it. He's going to do it.

I'm not worried about his sheep. No, no. I'm worried about some of my friends, worried about some of my relatives, kin. But I'm not worried about his sheep. No, sir. No, sir. His sheep, his sheep, his sheep down over the cliff, slipping in the mighty quicksand. slipping into the very jaws of hell. That sheep whose wool is singed off his back with the fires of hell is just as safe as the sheep sitting next to the throne right now. Just as safe. They're in his hands. They're in his hands. And not one of his sheep are going to die. Not one of his sheep are going to be lost. Not one of his sheep are going to perish. He's going to call his sheep. He's going to call his sheep. They're safe and secure in his hands. The wolves shall not devour them. Satan shall not snare them. The world shall not entrap them. His sheep are safe for they're his sheep.

But then one last thing, look in John 10 again. The word of God speaks of some sheep in a very singular way. In John chapter 10 and verse 16, look at this, and other sheep. I couldn't think of any way to describe this except just say other sheep. Some of them are other sheep, just other sheep. Chosen sheep, redeemed sheep, straying sheep, called sheep, known sheep, knowing sheep, so on. But here's some other sheep, other sheep. Other sheep I have which are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

Oh, I pray that there are some of these other sheep here tonight. And may this be the day of your calling. These other sheep belong to Christ as surely as the folded sheep. These other sheep are redeemed by Christ as surely as the called sheep. These other sheep are safe and secure in the hands of Christ as surely as the sanctified sheep. These other sheep shall be called by Christ. He will have his own.

Now, if you're one of these other sheep, And tonight the Lord has called you. If he's called you, you don't need me to point you out. If he's called you, you've heard his voice. And if he's called you, you're going to do exactly what I'm fixing to tell you to do. I guarantee you will. If the Lord's called, come into the fold. Come on into the fold. Come join up with your sheep. Come into the fold. He'll bring you into the fold.

Now with all these things in mind, I wonder if we can read this 23rd Psalm a little differently than we've ever read it before. Look here in Psalm 23. Sometime back, a theatrical performer was called upon for some reason at a gathering of people to read the 23rd Psalm. And after much persuasion, he said, all right, I'll read the Psalm. And he stood to his feet and read Psalm 23. And he read it with perfect diction, with perfect enunciation, with perfect clauses. And the people appreciated it. He sat down and went on about their business. A little while later, he and one of his friends were at that particular gathering, were in another place, in the house of God, where the saints of God were meeting to worship. An old man got up and read the psalm deliberately, purposefully. As he read the psalm, the hearts of God's people began to break and to rejoice. and their cheeks burned with tears while their faces lit up with joy.

After it was over, started out the door, this performer and his friend going out, friend said to him, said, I don't understand. He said, you read that psalm the other night and you read it so perfectly. Just didn't have any effect on anybody really. It's good, but nobody had any effect. Here this old farmer got up and read that psalm tonight And he couldn't pronounce any words properly. But as he read that psalm, the whole congregation was affected. What's the difference?

And that performer said, the difference is just this. I know the psalm. He knows the shepherd. He knows the shepherd.

I believe I know this shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not walk. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his namesake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely, surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

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The Sheep

What does the Bible say about God's sheep?

How do we know God's election is true?

Why is the doctrine of total depravity important for Christians?

How does Christ redeem His sheep according to Scripture?

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About Don Fortner

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