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This is part of a series of posts based on the Churches Together in England publication one light: one world. If you click on the link you will find the biblical texts. This post of the same name covers the purpose of this series.
John 10: 14 - 16
This is a similar message to the last post. The difference is a matter of emphasis. You can read this passage as a vision of unity; all the different traditions will in time be united.
Or else you are invited to understand there are others, not counted by the existing churches because they are peripheral. They are people who Jesus died for (John is writing from after the passion) and are not a part of the recognised Christian traditions.
There is a lot of debate these days about Universalism, the belief that ultimately all people will be saved. One argument against Universalism assumes those who are saved must accept Jesus Christ as saviour.
What is rarely discussed is, the identity of the saved. It is easy to discount those who are on the margins. It is very easy to condemn those who are peripheral to social norms, for example gays; people who are already oppressed because they are despised.
If the anti-Universalists are right, and the axe will fall, cutting some off from God, the question is where the axe will fall. I suspect it will fall in unexpected places.
But it seems many are only too keen to leap to conclusions on God's behalf. Those who are saved in this passage are those who listen to God's voice. The key is not their goodness, you do not have to be good to qualify. It is by entering into a relationship with God that we learn to be good. It is those who 'listen to my voice' who are part of the flock.
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