Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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Lynda Hickman
One must never consider the weight of Scripture based on a single verse or two.
There was no mention of Abraham's Bosom in the original Q, it was simply, "Who are the "other sheep" mentioned in Jn 10.
Look carefully at the entire chapter (Jn 10) and see to whom Jesus was speaking. There is the key.
In fact, in Jn 9:19-21, we learn that there was a division amongst the Jews Jesus was speaking to and in vs 40, we can also see that there were Pharisees there as well.
At no time did Jesus speak disdainfully or in anger regarding those "other sheep." In fact, to the contrary, He spoke of all of His sheep with these gracious words, "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are One." Jn 10:28-30
Christ came as Messiah to the Jew first, then to the Gentiles. The first of His flock are believing Jews, and those "other sheep" are those of us who are not Jewish. But once a part of His sheepfold, we are safe forever more.
Lynda Hickman
Ooops!!
Forgot to mention what Paul said in Galatians 6:15, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision [as a Jew] nor uncircumcision [as a Gentile] avails anything, but a new creation." (brackets mine)
Once we are "in Christ" whether Jew or Gentile, the relationship we have with Christ is His covenant, His new covenant of grace and by and through that covenant we are His sheep and He is our Shepherd.