Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15:4-7) (02/01/24)
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TITLE: Salvation For All Mankind | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lakella Davenport
02/06/24 -
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Luke 15:4-7- “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he loses one of them doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
The Parable of The Lost Sheep
Who are the sheep? The sheep are those who believe in Christ and have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. The sheep are those who have obtained salvation from the Lord and work the works of Christ. The goats are the unbelieving, the unsaved (Matthew 25: 31-46). The sheep are not just referring to the Jewish nations but to all nations upon the earth. The Lost Sheep are those believers who have gone astray from the word of God. These are the believers who have fallen prey to temptation and sin. These are those believers who may have
backslidden.
Ways Sheep Can Become Lost? What Does it mean to be a Lost Sheep? One way sheep can become lost is when they are tempted and are drawn away from God and his word by their own lusts for the things of this world (James 1: 13-15).
The second way sheep can become lost is when they lack a shepherd or when they are being led astray and scattered by an ungodly shepherd. What happens to sheep without a good shepherd? Sheep without a good shepherd may fall prey to wolves seeking to devour the sheep. A shepherd is a spiritual leader for God’s sheep (God’s people). God speaks of these evil shepherds in Jeremiah chapter 23. “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture: saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings: saith the Lord, And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again into their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking saith the Lord. Behold the days come, saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth,” (Jeremiah 23: 1-5).
Jeremiah 23 verse 5, prophesies of Jesus Christ, the righteous Branch, the King, and good shepherd that God will appoint to save all mankind. Jesus is the good shepherd sent from God to save the lost world. Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep,” (John 10:11). Jesus has no respect of persons. In laying down his life, he offered salvation not only to the Jewish nations but to the Gentiles (all non-Jewish nations) as well. “Then Peter openeth his mouth and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him,” (Acts 10: 34-35).
Examples of Lost sheep that were accepted by God and Christ include Ruth, The Woman with the Alabaster box of Ointment, The Samaritan Woman at the Well, and the Prodigal Son. The father in the Prodigal son had compassion on his lost son and forgave him and even threw a big party in honor of his return home (Luke 15:22-24). God, our heavenly Father is the same way, when we repent of our sins and come back to him. God rejoices over every lost sinner that finds their way to Christ or back to Christ. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:9). Jesus died to offer salvation and the gift of eternal life to all who believe in him.
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