"the Word is very near to you" ... in your heart, and in your soul...
Isn't that "Word" the same Word that became flesh and talked to people in the gospels?
Joh 8:43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
Joh 8:47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
Joh 10:26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.
Above, Jesus is giving a cause and effect logical argument.
cause: Not being of God or a sheep.
effect: does not hear/believe.
Then who is able to hear?
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
And no, the Bible does not teach that goats turn into sheep when they believe. They have to be sheep to hear/believe in the first place. Goats stay goats.
Joh 10:16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
From the non-Calvinist
Believers Bible Commentary:
The other sheep to whom the Lord referred here were the Gentiles. His coming into the world was especially in connection with the sheep of Israel, but He also had in mind the salvation of Gentiles. The Gentile sheep were not of the Jewish fold.
Notice, these Gentiles who had not heard the gospel yet were still called sheep. Jesus says "they will listen to His voice."