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How Can Anyone Be Saved? by Pastor Charlie Handren

By Anonymous
     As Jesus interacted with some of the leading shepherds of Israel, it became apparent that they did not believe in Jesus because they did not belong to him. But if spiritual leaders like them can seem to know God but don’t, then how can anyone be saved. Jesus offers a compact and compelling answer in John 10:27, namely, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” I see four aspects of salvation here.
     First, notice that Jesus calls them “my sheep.” This means that before one receives Christ, he or she already belongs to Christ, and from what Jesus has already said, we can infer that they belong to him because they have been given to him by the Father (for example, John 10:7-18).
     Second, somewhere in the course of their life, the sheep that already belong to Jesus hear his voice. Perhaps they hear it through reading the Bible, or the preaching of the gospel, or the testimony of a friend, or some type of media outlet, or a dream or vision. Whatever the details, at some point, Jesus’ sheep hear specific speech about who he is and what he’s done and what he commands of his sheep. While they may not understand all that they’ve heard, something in them awakens and they feel compelled to listen. Some of them are drawn right away, and others take more time to process what they’ve heard. But the thing that all of Jesus’ sheep have in common is that somewhere along the way they hear the voice of Jesus and their spirit awakens.
     Third, Jesus says that he knows his sheep. Before a person comes to know Christ, they are already fully known by Christ, and this is the key to our salvation. Before they even hear his name, Jesus knows them thoroughly and eternally, and on the basis of this knowledge he draws them into the knowledge of him.
     Fourth, Jesus says that his sheep follow him. Some people seem to believe in Jesus. They speak well of him and they encourage others to learn more about him, and they might even do various things in his name. However, unless such people turn from their own ways and follow Jesus, they do not belong to him. Jesus did not come to provide goods and services for those who admire and speak well of him, rather, he came to save and enter into an everlasting relationship with those who belong to him. And the proof that his sheep have actually entered into this kind of relationship is that they listen to him and follow him in the daily details of life. True sheep follow Jesus. 
     Beloved, according to Jesus’ words in John 10:27, this is how a person is saved: they are given by the Father to the Son, they hear the voice of their Shepherd and awaken, they are known by their Shepherd, and they turn from their ways to follow him. Next week we will consider this question: if this is how a person is saved, then what happens once they’re saved? For now, let’s give thanks and praise to God for his saving knowledge of and call upon us. 

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