What is the analogy of the ten men on death row?
The analogy describes ten murderers equally guilty on death row. A governor pardons three at random, freeing them by grace, while the other seven remain deserving of their sentence and cannot demand release. It illustrates that salvation comes by unmerited pardon, not by human merit or entitlement.
Les explains the analogy of ten men sitting on death row for almost identical murders, all found guilty and awaiting the death sentence. The governor sends a decree pardoning three of them, chosen at random, and they are sent home free. The other seven have no right to demand release, because they are still guilty murderers who deserve death. The three did not deserve freedom either; they were just as guilty as the other seven. What set them free was the grace of the governor. This illustrates the believer's security in the body of Christ because God chose them, which is a point of assurance and rejoicing.