Does John 10:26 Teach Unconditional Election?

I learned in my public debates with the Primitive Baptists that their form of Calvinism (God chooses names who will be saved; we have no choice in the matter) is that a person is saved first and then he believes in Christ. That one can’t believe until they are regenerated. They like to use John 10:26 (“But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.”) to make their point, and at first glance you might think the verse establishes their position …

Does this mean people are sheep (saved or chosen) first, then believe because of that? That they can’t believe until they are regenerated first?

No, Jesus is saying here that if you were a true Jew (a true Old Testament saint, truly in the current “fold” – verse 16), then you would believe in me.

It is the same consistency argument Jesus has been making all through this part of the book of John (“as I said unto you”) – if you were truly already of God (according to the Old Testament), you would have believed in me):

· 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

· 5:37-38 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

· 5:46 . had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

Conclusion:  Jesus is equating “my sheep” in John 10 with those who have an “honest and good heart” he mentions in Luke 8:15.  When they hear the word, they will “keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

hear Bible Crossfire Sunday nights at 8:00 central on SiriusXM radio Family Talk 131 or at http://www.BibleCrossfire.com