THE LOST: GOD GREATLY VALUES EVERY SOUL
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Lost
a) The parables of The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son portray God as concerned about the lost, and willing and anxious that they be returned to Him.
b) The three parables about the lost being found illustrate the kindness and mercy of God. When those who are lost are found, there is much rejoicing in all the household of God (Luke 15:4-32).
2. God Greatly Values Every Soul
a) The parable of the lost coin.
Luke 15:8-10
“8 Or what woman, having ten valuable coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the valuable coin that I had lost.' 10 Likewise, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
i) This parable about the lost coin is one that a woman could appreciate. The coins were drachmas. A drachma was normal pay for a day’s labor.
ii) This parable also emphasizes the value of each soul to God. One sheep out of a hundred might not seem such a great loss. But here it is one coin in ten, and a valuable coin at that, representing the wages of a full and hard day's work to the woman.
iii) The picture of the woman lighting a lamp and searching the house, is again a picture of evangelism. The light is the Son of God who came into the world, and the word of the gospel with which he enlightens every man (John 1:4-9). Evangelism without this light is no evangelism at all. There is no other "power of God unto salvation" than this true gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16).
The End ...
1. The Lost a) The parables of The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son portray God as concerned about the lost, and willing and anxious that they be returned to Him.
b) The three parables about the lost being found illustrate the kindness and mercy of God. When those who are lost are found, there is much rejoicing in all the household of God (Luke 15:4-32).
2. God Greatly Values Every Soul
a) The parable of the lost coin.
Luke 15:8-10
“8 Or what woman, having ten valuable coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the valuable coin that I had lost.' 10 Likewise, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
i) This parable about the lost coin is one that a woman could appreciate. The coins were drachmas. A drachma was normal pay for a day’s labor.
ii) This parable also emphasizes the value of each soul to God. One sheep out of a hundred might not seem such a great loss. But here it is one coin in ten, and a valuable coin at that, representing the wages of a full and hard day's work to the woman.
iii) The picture of the woman lighting a lamp and searching the house, is again a picture of evangelism. The light is the Son of God who came into the world, and the word of the gospel with which he enlightens every man (John 1:4-9). Evangelism without this light is no evangelism at all. There is no other "power of God unto salvation" than this true gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16).
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