Studies by Book
Luke 15 1-7 To seek and to save the lost - part I The lost sheep 01 Understanding the lost
📖 Luke 15:1-7
23Jan2020 - *Seek and to save that which is lost* - _Luke 15:1-7_ - Bible reading: _Matthew 9:10-13_
_Luke 15:1-2 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. (2) And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them."_
We have completed the study on being the salt and we now begin the 15th chapter of the gospel of Luke. This chapter is very well known as it contains the three famous parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son.
What was the context in which Jesus gave these three parables? The understanding that we must have is that _Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."_
How do we understand the lost? To understand the lost, we must understand sin. Sin is Man's rebellion against God. Man must return to God and remain in subjection to Him as God and King. Man's rebellion is not to be subject to God and not to be part of God's kingdom. Man wants to be the king of his own life. He finds it appalling to repent and be in subjection to anyone. The majority think that they can come to God on their own terms. They want to prove to God that they are righteous because of the sacrifices that they have done. God is seeking for those, who acknowledge that they are far away from God and want to repent and return back to Him.
_Matthew 9:10-13 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. (11) And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" (12) When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. (13) But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."_
Here is a picture of a person, who will find favour with God. _Luke 18:13-14 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' (14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."_
Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. _Luke 5:29-32 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. (30) And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" (31) Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. (32) I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."_
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you repentful, seeking a Saviour? Remember that you can never earn salvation by being good.```