John 10:24-27 Then came the Jews round about him, and said to him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said to you.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

If you belong to Jesus, you hear His voice and follow Him.  If you are not one of His own, then you don't hear His voice and you don't follow Him.  You do your own thing or follow something else. Jesus has no independent sheep. Those who love Him hear His voice and obey His voice. This is not figurative. This is real.