Christ’s Concern for the Lost

Luke 15:1-10

GOLDEN TEXT: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”—Luke 19:10

THE term “lost” as used in the Scriptures in connection with mankind has quite a different meaning from that commonly given it in modern theology. The latter uses the term in connection with reprobates, for whom it is alleged there is no hope. It implies, according to traditional theology, hopeless, endless torment.

From the Scriptural standpoint however, the word lost is used to describe the condition of the whole world of mankind under condemnation to death, which condemnation came. as a result of the transgression of our first parents back in Eden. With this condemnation came death, and with death came the loss of an earthly paradise, and earthly dominion—all the blessings in fact which God had provided for His human creation here upon the earth.

The parable of the true shepherd who, loving his sheep and caring for them, left the ninety and nine well cared for by under shepherds and went into the wilds after the one lost sheep until he found it, gives us an illustration of divine care. It reveals clearly that God is specially interested in those who stray from the fold of full fellowship and communion with Him. It shows that God’s care for such is so genuine that He considers it well worth while to make great and self-sacrificing efforts to reach and rescue the erring ones.

The principle taught in the parable should be of great value as a practical lesson to all the followers of the Master. It is so easy at times to content ourselves with the thought that we are enjoying the divine blessings, and to look down upon those who in our own estimation have not been as faithful as we imagine ourselves to have been. The lesson teaches however, that no true follower of the Master can be thoroughly content so long as he knows there is an opportunity for helping those who for one reason or another may be outside the fold.

We can see, however, that the parable may be applied in a more general way to illustrate features of the divine plan of salvation. Thus the one sheep that was lost represented Adam and the entire human family, and the ninety and nine never lost but remaining under the shepherd’s care, were the angels and other spirit beings who never wandered into sin and away from God. In this view, the shepherd going after the straying sheep would represent our Lord Jesus, leaving the glory which He had with the Father before the world was, and coming into human conditions in the interests of mankind.

Viewing the one sheep as representing the whole of humanity, fallen in Adam and straying far from the paths of righteousness, and viewing Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the representative of the Father, we see that the work of going after the lost sheep began at our Lord’s first advent. We see that at great cost to our Savior He there began the work for the recovery of the sheep. Already the sheep is found, in the sense of being located; indeed, in that sense of the word it was not lost. But as it was lost in the sense of having wandered from God into sin and degradation, in the same sense of the word it must be recovered or brought back, by processes of restitution. (Acts 3:19-21) It will require the entire Millennial age to bring back the sheep in the full, complete sense of the parable.

Meanwhile, our Lord assures us that every step in this great plan for human salvation is viewed with interest by the Heavenly Father and by all the heavenly hosts who strayed not from the Father’s fold. Jesus indicates that there is great joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, and we can well imagine what wondrous joy will be brought to all the heavenly hosts when they fully realize that the estranged world of mankind has at long last been restored to harmony and fellowship with the Creator.

The parable of the lost coin is another representation of the fore expressed thought. The ten pieces of silver were evidently those ordinarily attached to a bracelet which was used as a marriage token. According to Eastern custom, a failure to display all ten pieces of silver in connection with this marriage token would indicate the woman’s unfaithfulness to her husband, and hence would signify that she was properly under condemnation. The whole world of mankind is under condemnation today and would forever remain so, but for the glorious provision of restitution which the Heavenly Father has made possible through the gift of His beloved Son.

The great time of rejoicing both in heaven and in earth will come at the close of the Millennial age, when all things in heaven and in earth will he heard praising Him that sitteth upon the throne and the Lamb. But now, in advance of the complete rejoicing, our Lord assures us that all the heavenly host rejoice in every evidence of the accomplishment of the great work of reconciliation. If the angels in heaven rejoice, all who truly are God’s people on earth will rejoice in the recovery of fellow creatures out of the snare and blindness of sin and Satan.

QUESTIONS:

What is signified by the term “lost,” as used in the Bible?

What divine quality is represented in the parable of the lost sheep?

What is illustrated by the parable of the lost coin?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |