I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:14-16 NKJV
Jesus said: “I am the Good Shepherd. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. They will hear My voice and there will be one flock and one Shepherd.” Jesus was Jewish and salvation was offered first to the Jews, but ultimately it was intended for ALL people – ALL tribes and ALL nations. “This fold” refers to the Jews and those “not of this fold” are the Gentiles. Jesus laid down His life and died for Jews AND Gentiles – He died for the sins of the world! People are always trying to restrict God’s salvation to their own little group, but Jesus said that anyone who hears His voice is included in His flock. There is ONE flock and ONE Shepherd!
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. John 17:20-23 NKJV
Jesus loved us before we were born! He prayed to the Father for His disciples and also for each one of us, in succeeding generations, who would believe in Him through the testimony of His disciples and His Word. The glory of God in our lives makes us all ONE in Him. The Father’s plan was for us to be made perfect together, as ONE body. The Father’s plan is for the whole world to know that He sent Jesus and that He loves each one of us as much as He loves Jesus!
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh — who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands — 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:11-22 NKJV
Jesus came and preached peace to you who were afar off (Gentiles) and to those who were near (Jews)! We can ALL belong to Jesus’ flock through faith. We don’t need to be born into the “right” family; we don’t need to belong to a particular nation or a particular denomination; we don’t need to do certain works or rituals; we just need to believe in Him. Jesus is our Peace! He broke down any and all walls of separation between man and God – and man and man. He reconciled all of us to God in one body through the cross. We ALL have access to the Father through the Spirit of God. Jesus is our Good Shepherd and our Chief Cornerstone! We are no longer strangers and foreigners, but we are citizens of God’s Kingdom and also members of the household of God! We are brothers and sisters of the same Family!
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:11-13 NKJV
WHOSOEVER calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved – whether Jew or Greek (Gentile)! The same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him!
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 NKJV
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 NKJV
By ONE Spirit we are baptized into ONE body! Your station in life has no bearing on your salvation – Jew or Greek; slave or free; male or female – we are ALL His flock; we are ALL His children. Every man, woman, or child who ever lived, has the same privilege and opportunity to become God’s child. God’s Kingdom is the great equalizer!
