Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 3/8/2010

Question
I really enjoyed your article on Calvinism or Armenianism and found it really helpful.  I got hammered on that exact topic by a brother who could defend salvation through election better than I could defend choice because of my spiritual maturity level.  It was good though, because it gave me an even stronger hunger to learn God's Word.  What does the bible mean in John about those Given to Jesus by his Father.  I believe I understand how most of it fits in to God's Love and Righteousness and Sovereignty but to be more specific, I am confused on what Jesus is saying in John 10: 25-30. Not the eternal security, but when he says, "you do not believe because you are not of my sheep", and "My Father who has given them to me."  It's kind of confusing they don't believe because they are not his sheep, and not being his sheep because they don't believe.  Help!!

Answer
Hi Scott,
   Thank you for your questions.   I am sorry to be so slow in responsing, but I have been very busy and traveling.   
   Jesus was talking to Jews.  There were two kinds of Jews.  One was those such as the scribes, Pharisees, lawyers who Jesus strongly condemned because they were hypocrites and they used Judaism as a platform for their pride and status in the community. Further it was financially advantageous to be a religious leader.

   The other group of Jews were those who were sincere, faithful and loved God.  These believed God and served Him.

   So when Jesus was talking to the scribes and Pharisees he told them they were not of His sheep.  They were religious, but lost and unbelieving.

   Jesus addressed this in John 3 when He talked with Nicodemus:

   "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:18-21)

   John 10 does not support the false teaching of the Calvinists.  Their using this passage is a clear indication of their false hermetic which takes verse such as this and gives them a different meaning.   Clearly, the context of Jesus' statement is clear and He is not talking about electing anyone or rejecting them from receiving His mercy and Grace.

   Good question. If you have further questions or comments please write.

Cooper P Abrams III
Romans 12:1-2
http://bible-truth.org
     "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity"  (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 )