In John 10:16, who are the OTHER SHEEP in Jesus fold?
STATEMENT:
Jesus also said that he has sheep of another fold but during his ministry it was not yet time to be fulfilled to the Jew first and then to the Gentiles and Cornelius and his entire family received the Holy Ghost.
ANSWER:
Cornelius and his family were saved under the Kingdom program because they received and believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, Act 10:36,42–43. The focus of Peter’s message and the offer of salvation pertained to the identity of Christ, not to the significance of the cross and justification by faith (aka: the Grace program). Furthermore, this Gentile household received the Holy Spirit and got water baptized, which is not conditions required in the Garce gospel. So, the point I make here is that we are still in the Kingdom program here, not in the Grace program, and Cornelius and his family were added to Israel’s kingdom and to the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd.
Now, concerning the “Other Sheep”. Who are they? Let’s see what the bible says about it.
Christ said, "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 10:16).
"The fold" pertains to Judah—the Jewish people residing in Judea. Christ came to His own—the Jews—and they did not accept Him (John 1:11). Born into the tribe of Judah, Christ was nonetheless rejected by the Jews who declared, "We will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14).
The term "other sheep" signifies the remaining tribes of Israel. Israel, also known as Jacob, had twelve sons in total. Thus, the "other sheep" are the progeny of Jacob's other sons. Christ alludes to these tribes as "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 10:6).
During the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon's son, Israel and Judah separated as two distinct nations (refer to 1 Kings 12). The northern kingdom, comprising ten tribes known as the nation of Israel, fell to Assyrian conquest in 721 BC. Many were exiled to regions near the Caspian Sea. Over time, these tribes migrated into northwestern Europe. Consequently, these 'other sheep,' the lost tribes of Israel, were absent from Judea during the ministry of Christ.
Christ's declaration, "And there shall be one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:16), raises the question: When will the house of Judah and the house of Israel unite under one king, one shepherd? The prophet Ezekiel provides an answer (Ezekiel 37:21-28), indicating that David will reign as king alongside Christ, the chief shepherd (verses 24-25). According to Ezekiel 34:23-24 and Jeremiah 30:9, David is to be resurrected and crowned king. This resurrection is prophesied to occur at Christ's second coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-15; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 50-52), at which time Christ will establish a new covenant with both the house of Israel and the house of Judah (Hebrews 8:8-10; Jeremiah 31:31-33; 50:4-5).
It is often mistaken that Gentiles are the "other flock", but a thorough examination of the numerous passages about sheep and shepherds in scripture shows that the sheep metaphor represents God's nation of Israel. As God guided Israel out of Egypt through Moses, they became His sheep, whom He led to water and sustenance in the wilderness.
“You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” – Psalm 77:20
“But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.”– Psalm 78:52
Jesus arrived at a time when Israel had strayed spiritually from the Lord, with many dispersed across the ancient world. He declared himself as Israel's good shepherd, stating, "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." – John 10:11. Though Israel was astray, they were always considered God's sheep. Jesus' mission was to reunite them and lead them to greener pastures, symbolizing the kingdom.
We know that Jesus was not sent to minister to Gentiles from his statements in Matthew:
“…Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:” – Matthew 10:5
“…I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” – Matt 15:24
Gentiles are not considered lost sheep. Only Israel has been referred to as lost sheep. They were deemed found if they responded to the voice of the shepherd King, Christ Jesus.
Gentiles were not given promises of a land with green pastures. They were not assured of physical protection and blessings. Gentiles are dispersed worldwide and do not require gathering into a single place like sheep.
Similarly, Paul does not refer to the church, the new creation that is the Body of Christ, as sheep, nor does he call Christ our Shepherd.
In the current dispensation of grace, with Israel's fall, there is not one lost individual within the Body of Christ. Being lost today means being unaware of the gospel that brings salvation. If one is not saved, they are not part of the singular Body of Christ.
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:” – 2 Corinthians 4:3
Being saved means you are not lost. Being a member of the Body of Christ means you are not a sheep. The lost sheep referred to in the Bible were the people of Israel, and their shepherd was the Messiah.
Israel will not fulfill its divine purpose until it is ushered into its kingdom by the Shepherd.
When the church identifies as sheep, it may be seen as the helpless target of persecution and affliction, awaiting a Shepherd. However, when the church embraces its true identity as members of Christ's body, it becomes more than conquerors, prevailing in all things through Christ (Rom 8:34-39).
Concluding lesson:
These scenarios concerning the topics above can be clarified and demystified when one studies the bible rightly divided, separation Kingdom and Prophecy from Grace and Mystery. These are two primary programs that together will restore creation and redeem humanity. There are two programs because there are two realms in creation: heaven and earth. Through design, Israel under kingdom and prophecy will used by God to restore earth, the physical realm. Similarly, the Body of Christ under grace and mystery will used by God to restore the heavens, the spiritual realm. Two realms, two agencies, two doctrines, two destinations. When you interpret scripture with this division, everything falls into its proper context.
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