Christ Came To Save The Lost

LUKE 19:10; ROMANS 3:10-12, 19, 23-26

SUBJECT: SALVATION

THEME: all of mankind is spiritually lost and severed from God because of our natural bent toward sinfulness. This lost condition will result in eternal damnation in Hell unless we repent receiving Christ as our personal Savior. Christ came to save you and me from the eternal consequences of our sin; trust him today to be rescued from an eternal nightmare in Hell.  

INTRODUCTION:

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)

1.  We must Begin by Asking What We Mean by “Lost” and “Saved.”

By “lost” we mean that our relationship with God is broken by our sin, and when we die, we will go to Hell. By “saved,” we mean that our relationship with God has been restored through faith in Jesus Christ and we are forgiven for our sins, redeemed by Jesus Christ, adopted into God’s family, and we will go to Heaven.

For the last two thousand years, one of the foundation stones of the Christian faith is that there is a holy God, humanity is lost, and everyone needs to be saved. Because we are guilty before God we cannot save ourselves.

2.  We must Also Understand That Everyone is Guilty of Acting Sinful Before God.

If we do not trust Christ as our very own personal Savior, we will be cast into the Lake of fire forever. This is fair punishment for those who die guilty of practicing sin before a perfect God.

Romans 3:10-12, As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 3:19, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Rev. 21:8, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Therefore, being lost is not a light or trivial matter; it is of great importance to everyone. If mankind was basically good and everyone will go to Heaven automatically, then Jesus Christ never would have come into this world seeking sinners. He would never have endeavored to die for our sin in order to save us through faith in Him as the God-Man Savior. 

3.  Consider Sin and the Cross of Christ to Understand the Importance of Being Saved. 

In Acts 4:12 we read, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Clearly, it is through, on the basis of, Jesus Christ and His cross, burial, and resurrection alone that God forgives and saves sinners.

In fact, the cross is proof of both the immense love of God and the profound wickedness of sin. Do you want to see God’s love at its highest and sin’s vileness at its worse?

     A.  Look at the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. See Him hanging on the cross—the sinless, spotless, Lamb of God, bearing the sins of the world (Jn. 1:29). Hear Him cry in agony, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” —that is, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46). 

       B.  Realize That Nothing Short of the Shed Blood of the Eternal, Beloved Son of God Himself Could Have Atoned for our Sin. The weight of our guilt must have been infinitely heavy and the heinousness of our sin indescribably ugly to require such a sacrifice! And God’s love must have been inexpressibly rich to allow it!

The Following Are the Fundamental Reasons Why Mankind Is Spiritually Lost:

MESSAGE:

I.  Consider Solid Proof That Mankind Is Lost And Needs To Be Saved.

Man is unquestionably spiritually lost and desperately needs to be saved from his sin. God, motivated by His love and grace, exerted great effort and expense to convey to mankind our lost condition so that we can choose to be saved. Note the following reasons why humanity is lost:

A.  HUMANITY IS LOST BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS SO.

   1. What Does the Bible Say about Humanity's Lostness?

The Bible declares that all of us have committed sins, and every one of us comes short of the glorious perfection of God. In addition, the wages (what we have earned as a result of serving sinfulness) of our sin is eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire.

        A.  We All Stand in Desperate Need of Salvation Because of Our Sinfulness.

Since we take the Bible at face value, we simply cannot avoid the fact that humanity is lost and in need of personal salvation. In Romans, two verses combine with particular force: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Rom. 3:23) and “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom.  6:23).

        B.  We All Presently Stand Before God Condemned Until We Believe On Christ for Salvation.

John 3:16-18, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.   [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.     

B.  HUMANITY IS LOST BECAUSE WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES.

   1.  As Sinners, We Cannot Improve Our Own Condition in the Eyes of a Perfect God.

Jeremiah 13:23, Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. The obvious answer is NO!

        A. We Love Darkness Rather than Light (Jn. 3:19).

Sin is so much a part of our nature and we love it so much that we are unable to break away from its domination over our lives. We literally look forward to sin and actually make plans to sin!

        B.  We Are Naturally Hostile Toward God (Rom. 8:7–8).

The unregenerate mind/heart is naturally hostile toward God and it refuses to submit itself to the law of God.  In reality, it is not even able to do so; those who are still in the fallen fleshly lost condition cannot ever please God.  We are born in this condition and, therefore completely hopeless without God’s intervention.

        C.  We as Unredeemed Sinners Are Slaves of Our Sin (Jn. 8:34; Rom. 6:20).

As Job asked, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. ” (Job 14:4).  Remember the corrupt and bad tree will bear bad fruit and such a tree cannot produce good fruit (Matt. 7:17–18).

   2.  As Sinners, Even Our Best Efforts Cannot Save Us from Hell.

Rom. 3:12, . . . there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

         A.  No Amount of Tears Can Atone for Sin.

         B.  No Number of Good Deeds. These cannot make amends for wrongs we have committed against God. While we can do good things, we cannot only do good acts.

         C.  No Quantity of Prayer or Personal Devotion. These cannot remove our guilt or cover it in any way either.

         D.  No Amount of Suffering in Hell. Even everlasting burning in Hell will not purify the soul from sin. In the human realm there is nothing in time or eternity that can free us from the guilt of our sin. Those who seek a do-it-yourself solution to the problem of sin only shackle themselves all the more securely to their guilt.

    3.  Even One Small Sin is Extremely Offensive to God.

Rom. 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Moreover, the smallest sin is so exceedingly vile that God—despite His infinite mercy, grace, and forgiveness—will not and cannot overlook even one sin without exacting its full penalty. 

Think of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and the size of their sin. They simply ate what was forbidden, but yet it was an act of disobedience and rebellion! They did not murder anyone nor did they lie, they disobeyed God. That is serious sin! God held them responsible for their actions.

C.  HUMANITY IS LOST BECAUSE WE DISOBEY OUR OWN CONSCIENCE.

    1.  We All Have Been Guilty of Ignoring Our Conscience.

Notice the clear biblical teaching about our guilty conscience. Romans 2:14-16,   For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: [15]  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)  [16]  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

    2.  How Does Our Conscience Show That We Are Lost?

Our conscience shows that we are lost since we are unable to live up to our own standards, let alone God's.

(Anders)

        A.  What Does Our Own Conscience Tell Us about Our Goodness?

Do you sometimes do things even though you know they are wrong? Do you sometimes fail to do things, even though you know they are right? Are you a perfect human being, even by your own standards, let alone God's?

The Christian teaching of the depravity of humanity does not hold that humanity is incapable of doing any good. Obviously, humanity is capable of doing great good. Look at the hospitals, look at the orphanages, and look at the disaster relief that do good for humanity all around the world. Yes, humanity is capable of doing well. But at the same time, we are incapable of not doing evil. It was Anders who observed,

The same person, who administrates an orphanage, doing good for hundreds of children, may go home and physically abuse his own child. The politician who is responsible for getting a hospital built for disadvantaged rural people may take a bribe from a construction company. Even the preacher who proclaims the gospel on Sunday morning may be hard and insensitive toward his wife. (Anders)

        B.  Have You Ever Tried to Be Perfect?

Have you ever tried to live up to your own standards, let alone God's standard of perfection? Have you ever said, “From this day on, I will do all the good I am able, and I will refrain from doing wrong.” (Anders)

If you have, then you know that you are incapable of living perfectly. If you have not tried it, try it. It will not be long before you go down in defeat.

I came to the conclusion, early in my Christian experience, as I tried to be perfect, that I could make myself do almost anything I wanted to except desire to do only good all the time. My “wanter” is basically flawed. And even if it were not, I still do not believe I could perform perfectly. It simply is not in me. It is not in anyone. (Anders)

        C. Do You Think Heaven Is a Perfect Place?

If you do, and if you are not perfect, how will you get there? How can the imperfect be joined to the perfect?

Either the imperfect cannot be joined to the perfect, or else the perfect becomes corrupted or contaminated by being united with the imperfect. Neither one can be true if Heaven is to be a perfect place where we can live with God forever (Rev. 21:22-27).

        D.  So What Is the Solution? There is only one. We must become spiritually perfect. We must admit that we are lost and in need of the salvation God offers, and ask Him to forgive our sins and makes us spiritually perfect. This is God’s solution.

II. Consider Solid Proof That Christ Is Willing And Able To Save Us.

There has to be a solution. There must be a way God can satisfy His perfect righteousness yet enable Him to display His rich mercy toward sinners. The cross of Christ provided the way by enabling the only Perfect Sacrifice to atone for human sin once for all.  (Rom. 3:24-26)

A.  JESUS CHRIST IS THE SINLESS SAVIOR.

    1.  He Was Perfect and Sinless.

The offering for sin had to be perfect, spotless, untainted by sin. Jesus lived a sinless, holy life in perfect obedience to God’s law.

Hebrews 4:15,  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 7:26,  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

    2.  He Was a Perfect Sacrifice.

Our Lord, the sinless One, was the Lamb of God to be offered up as the final sacrifice for our sin (Jn. 1:29).

        A.  That Is the Very Purpose for Which Jesus Came.

1 John 3:5, And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.   

        B.  As He Hung on the Cross, He Carried the Guilt of Our Sin.

Isaiah 53:4-5, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Hebrews 9:14, How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?    

     3.  He is a Perfect Savior.

He paid the penalty to the fullest on our behalf. And in the same way that our sins were imputed to Him, so His righteousness is reckoned to us who believe: “For [God] he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:21). He rose from the dead to declare His victory over sin. “Who [Jesus] was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Rom. 4:25).

 

B.  JESUS CHRIST IS ABLE TO SAVE.

Hebrews 7:25, Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Jude 1:24, Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (2 Tim 1:12)

                                                                      

C.  JESUS CHRIST IS WILLING TO SAVE.

1 Timothy 2:3-6, For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

2 Pet 3:9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for “by His stripes we are healed” (1 Pet. 2:24). That is the only possible remedy for our sin. It is the only way God can be both “just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26).

CONCLUSION:

Ezekiel 33:11, Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?                                                                                        

God makes an incredibly gracious appeal to humanity to turn to Him in faith. He assures us there is no hope or promise in a life or guilt-ridden death for our sins against Himself! Can you hear Him almost shouting to you asking, “Why will ye die?” Listen to His counsel to ‘turn from your wicked ways and live through the forgiveness He offers.’ God does not take any measure of pleasure in condemning the lost/unsaved person forever! Turn to Him for forgiveness today. Trust Christ and God will deal graciously with you because you accepted Christ’s complete payment for all sins. Come to Christ in faith now….

A LOST person can be SAVED when he/she acknowledges the fact that they are LOST. We must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the ONLY ONE who can SAVE us or FIND us in our LOST condition/situation. To be Lost now and die without trusting the only one who can find you is to spend all eternity lost in Eternal Punishment in Hell. Why not trust Jesus Christ today and realize the forgiveness of sins God offers? Come to Christ Jesus in faith before it is eternally too late to do so.