My Sheep Hear My Voice, and I Know Them Michael Edwards
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 ESV
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep John 10:14-15 ESVHere is an important key to understanding these verses. How does the Bible tell us God knows a person? They love God.
But if ANYONE loves God, he is known by God. 1 Cor 8:3 ESV (EMPHASIS MINE)
When a person believes the gospel, they believe God does love them.
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8 ESV
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10 ESV
So, in response, they love God and are known by God.
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 ESV
It makes perfect sense that God would know who would love Him before they do. God predestined those whom He foreknew would love Him, to be conformed to the image of His Son.
For those whom he foreknew (known by God) he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Rom 8:29 ESV
Therefore, those who God does not know, are those who do not believe the gospel and thus do not love God.
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matt 7:23 ESV
Does God know you? Contact Michael