READ: John 10:16–21: … one flock and one shepherd …
When the Lord speaks of “other sheep that are not of this fold,” He refers to the fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham: that salvation would also come to the Gentiles. The dividing line between Israel and the nations will disappear: the light of His redemption will shine over the whole world (Is. 42:6; 49:6).
This becomes a reality from Pentecost onward. Through the work of the apostles, missions, and evangelism by the church, the call of Christ will reach the entire earth. This work of Jesus is part of the task, the will, the good pleasure of the Father, based on election: “them also I must bring.”
Jesus does not say, I will eventually have the sheep, but rather: I already have them. That’s how certain it is that God’s promises will be fulfilled. In Jesus Christ, they are Yes and Amen (2 Cor. 1:20)!
Jesus knows for whom He will suffer on the cross and whom He will save—worldwide. It is also clear how all these other sheep are brought in: “they will hear My voice.” The pure gospel must be preached worldwide with the call to faith and repentance. But when there is faith and repentance, there must also be the unity
Jesus speaks of: “and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” We must not overlook that. The Lord Jesus desires true church unity among His sheep. We confess this in our creeds. The Nicene Creed: “We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church” (see also Art. 27 and 28 BC). In His high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed “that they all may be one.”
Pluriformity in which true churches exist side by side without uniting, goes against this rule of Christ as the Good Shepherd and Head of His church. It is also noteworthy that Jesus does not speak of two or more sheepfolds.
There was and is one sheepfold in which Christ gathers His disciples. Believers from both Jews and Gentiles are added, so that there becomes one flock, one body (Eph. 4:3–6; Ps. 87; Rom. 11:24).
How are you contributing to the unity Christ intends?
Sing: Ps. 23:2