Saturday, May 5, 2007
John 10:16 "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."
ONLY ONE TRUE RELIGION
Our Lord's saying of other sheep -- which He is also to lead, so that there be one Shepherd and one flock -- began to be fulfilled after Pentecost, when the Gospel was preached by the apostles in all the world, and it goes on to the end of the world. Not indeed that all people will be converted and accept the Gospel, for this will never happen. The devil does not let it come to this. But aside from this fact, the world is hostile to the Word and does not want to be rebuked. That is why many kinds of faiths and religions will always be found in the world. Rather the prediction of one Shepherd and one fold means that for Christ's sake God intends to receive as children all who accept the Gospel, no matter whether they are Jews or Gentiles. For the true and only religion consists in following this Shepherd and His voice. May the faithful Shepherd of our souls grant us so to follow, through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Closing remarks of a sermon preached
by Martin Luther, circa 1533
