Things New and Old: "... that which was lost" presupposes an Owner

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Friday, December 1, 2023

"... that which was lost" presupposes an Owner

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost.

Let's consider this great text. Let me state a few self-evident facts.

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

1. "that which was lost" presupposes an owner.
- the lost sheep, the lost silver coin, and the lost son, each of them belongs to an owner.
- Jesus came to seek and to save that which belongs to Him, the lost are His. They are His possession.
- that which was lost consists of all those whom God had chosen unto eternal salvation. They are His. He has given them to Christ to redeem.
- John 17:10 "And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them."

2. "that which was lost" became separated from its owner.
- The lost sheep, the lost silver, coin and the lost son have all become separated from their respective owners.
- all those whom God had elected and given to Jesus had become separated from God because of sin.
- Sin has alienated the elect from God. Christ came to seek and to save them, to reconcile and restore them to God who had chosen them.

3. "that which was lost" is impotent to deliver themselves from their lost estate.
- The Owner must actively seek for them and to save them. There is no other hope.
- of the lost, "none seekest after God."
- the lost is in enmity against the Owner
- the lost is dead in trespasses and sins
- the lost is under helpless captivity.

The lost are as lost as could be. Their only hope lies in the Son of Man coming to seek for them and to save them.

4. The Son of Man did seek and did save all that belonged to Him.
- He declared triumphantly, "It is finished." The grand mission of seeking and saving the lost is fully accomplished.
- He rendered complete and perfect obedience to all the laws of God on behalf of His own, thus securing the righteousness needed for their acceptance with the thrice Holy God.
- He suffered and endured the curse of death when He bore the sins of all His people; He paid the wages of the sins of His people.
- He was separated and forsaken by God on their behalf; He secured the full pardon for all the sins of all His people.- He roses triumphantly from the dead, conquering death for His people.

5. Based solely on His righteousness and blood, the Spirit of God regenerates each one of Christ's redeemed, thus perfectly fitting them for eternal glory.
The glorified Son of God ordained the gospel ministry to declare the glorious news of what God has done in and through Him to save all those whom God the Father has chosen and given to Him, calling them to believe the truth of their salvation by the free and sovereign grace of God.

What the Father had purposed, the Son executed and accomplished; what the Son accomplished, the Spirit of God applies to each of Christ's redeemed at God's appointed time, turning the lost into the children of God.

That's the gospel.