Studies In Christianity

Christian Love #7 Love For the Lost

We are in the midst of a series of survey studies about Christian love. I John 4: 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

We started with the foremest of all commands … Love God. 1. The Importance of loving God. 2. Learning How to Love God. 3. Love God By Sharing Him. 4. How Do I Know I Love God ?

We moved on to the second most important command, love our neighbor as ourself. 1. Love Is a Debt That One Cannot Repay . 2. We Continually Pay Interest on That Debt.

This lesson will observed God’s love for lost people. 1. Parable of the lost sheep. 2. Parable of the lost coin. 3. Parable of the lost son.

Luke 8: 9 His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.10 And He said, " To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that “seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.”

I. Some general thoughts about Luke 24.

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Mark 10:45 … whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Man Jesus . Sheep … Shepherd Woman … Coin Prodigal … Father

II. Let us consider the parable of the lost sheep.

Context : Luke 15: 1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

Premise : John 17:14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world 17 sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Isaiah 53: 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him

Luke 15: 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

III. The lost coin is a different situation from the lost sheep.

Much more meaningful to a first century audience.

Be Strong ! The coin was lost all of a sudden as a result of the actions of another. I Peter 2: 2 Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

Ephesians 2: 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

I Corinthians 6: 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

IV. The prodigal openly rebelled against the Father.

The prodigal was irrational and acted in a hurtful way. The Father did not want him To go, but he was patient.

Hebrews 6: 4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

These three parable define The proper attitude toward Conclusion : These three parable define The proper attitude toward Those who are lost ... SEEK

No matter how or why they became lost God wants all of His lambs secure in his sheep fold.

Are you satisfied with our / your efforts to seek and save the lost ? Can we love someone and allow them to go to Hell ?

Everyone on earth is either a missionary or a mission field. Which are you ?

His Body was broken for us. His Blood was shed for us.