GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #522
DOES GOD DISCRIMINATE? John
10:28
Pastor
Don Fortner
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville,
Kentucky 40422-9438
Here is a divine discrimination. The Lord
Jesus calls his elect, “My
Sheep”. To all others he says, “Ye believe not because ye are not of MY SHEEP” (v.
26). Let men denounce it as they may, the God of the Bible does distinguish
between men. He chooses some and passes by others. He redeems some and leaves
others under the curse. He calls some and rejects others. He saves some and
does not save others. Grace is God’s prerogative. He has mercy on whom he will
have mercy (Rom. 9:16; Heb. 2:16). Our Lord clearly teaches his sovereignty in
salvation in this chapter. He said to the unbelieving Jews, who refused to
believe his word, “Ye are not of my
sheep.” And he told them that the reason for their unbelief was the fact
that they were not his sheep (v. 26). The gift of faith and all other grace is
reserved for God’s elect. Catch these words and let them sink into your heart.
God our Savior says of you and I who believe - These people are “My sheep.” In everlasting love, by sovereign
grace, the Son of God has distinguished us from all other people, and made us
to be his own sheep, his own peculiar possession. We who believe are Christ’s
sheep by a distinct election, a distinct purchase, and a distinct call.
A Distinct Election
We became his sheep by his own eternal
choice. In the covenant of grace, God branded his sheep and set a hedge about
them, securing their eternal salvation (v. 16). The Lord Jesus says, “I know them.” And his knowledge is the
peculiar knowledge of his own elective, omniscient love. When the Son of God
says, concerning his sheep, “I know
them,” his meaning is - I know who they are, where they are, what they are,
all that they have done and all that they have been. I know what I will make of
them, when I will be gracious to them, and how to bring them home. They are my
sheep, the distinct, special objects of my love and care.
A distinct purchase
Christ
laid down his life in the place of his sheep, as our Substitute, in our room
and stead. He states emphatically that he did not die to redeem the goats (the
reprobate), but that he specifically laid down his life for the sheep (God’s
elect). Read verses 11, 15 and 26. The good Shepherd “obtained eternal redemption” for his sheep. The Son of God
distinctly purchased his sheep out of the hands of God’s offended justice (Gal.
3:13).
A distinct call
“He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” “My sheep
hear my voice, and they follow me.” These words describe that special irresistible call
that Christ issues to his sheep alone by the power of his Spirit. It is always
effectual. It always accomplishes salvation. It always brings the sheep to the
Shepherd. Observe the language of Inspiration. The good Shepherd calls his own
sheep (v. 3). He calls his sheep by name. He leads them out - Out of darkness
into light! Out of bondage into liberty! Out of death into life! They follow
him - “These are they that follow the
Lamb withersoever he goeth.” Then the Son of God says, concerning his
called sheep, “a stranger will they not
follow” (v. 5). Christ’s sheep will not follow a stranger. They know truth
from error (1 John 2:20, 27). You do not find Christ’s saved sheep grazing in
the goat yards of free will, works
religion. AMEN.