What Does it Mean to be Lost?

January 7, 2007

Introduction

In Luke 19:9-10, we read that “Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; {10} "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." That was His mission: “to seek and to save that which was lost."

This morning to want to look for answers to some questions: What does it mean to be lost? How serious is it? How are we to be affected by the lost? How was Jesus affected by the lost?

Body

I. What does it mean to be lost?

A. I got lost in San Antonio in 1980, and I still remember it well.

B. Carolyn gets lost, and can’t get back home.

C. To be lost means that you may soon become in danger.

1. You cannot get home.

2. You are without family and support.

3. You are without the comforts of home.

II. What was Jesus view of the lost?

He viewed the lost as sheep without a shepherd.

(Mat 9:36 NKJV) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

(Mat 9:36 NASB) And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd.

(Mat 9:36 NIV) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

In Luke 15, He gives three pictures of the lost.

1. The parable of the lost sheep.

a. We’ve discussed the lost sheep already.

b. He is willing to leave the 99 for the safety of the one.

(Luke 15:4 NKJV) "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

2. The parable of the lost coin.

a. The loss is to the owner.

b. God is concerned over His children that are lost.

3. The parable of the lost boy – the most real of all.

(Luke 15:13-14 NKJV) "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. {14} "But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

a. “Journeyed to a far country” – far from God and restraints.

b. “Wasted his possessions with prodigal living” – too true of the waste of youth in sinful living.

c. "But when he had spent all” – the years pass, and youth is lost.

d. ”He began to be in want.– later in life, some come to realize that somewhere they made a wrong turn on the road of life.

e. It is a story that touched a young Russian boy who literally gave up everything just to be free and serve the Lord.

III. How are we affected by the lost?

Jesus was moved with compassion, are we?

1. Many of us have a problem—we’ve been raised in Christian homes.

(Luke 7:39-43 NKJV) Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner." {40} And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it." {41} "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. {42} "And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?" {43} Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."

2. Many of us do not know what it is like to be lost.

IV.. How should we be affected by the lost?

A. Remember how Jesus was affected by the lost.

In Luke 10, “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

B. The record states He was moved with compassion for the lost.

(Mat 9:36 NKJV) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd

C. We need to be moved with compassion to help those who are lost.

1. We are moved with compassion for those who are physically ill because we sense their pain.

2. We need to understand the loss of those who are out of Christ.

Conclusion

I. I hope I’ve encouraged all who are Christians to think of ways of seeking and saving those who are lost.

II. If you are out of Christ, you can become a Christian today.

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