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MAN IS LOST

JUST ONE SOUL (2018 OceanSide theme)

Brandon Baggett

 

introduction

A.      The term “lost” is a horrifying, stomach dropping, and shocking term.

1.       Virtually every context where this term is used generates a sense of dread and urgency.

a.       The sadness of a person losing their sight

b.       The grief of losing a loved one

c.       The horror of a lost child

d.       The panic of a lost pet

e.       The aggravation of lost keys

2.       However, there is no sense in which this term ought to generate more horror, dread, urgency, and sadness than to think of a lost soul.

a.       Yet, the masses of the 7+Billion people on the planet are lost, in their sins, and heading without hope towards a vast eternity.

b.       The reality is, everyone is lost without the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

B.      When the Jesus Christ came to earth, He had a mission, and He fulfilled this mission with the understanding that man is lost.

1.       Luke 19:10 – to seek and save the lost

2.       Mark 2:17 – to call sinners to repentance  

C.      If we are ever going to be successful in our efforts to evangelize, we must see man as being lost.

 

discussion

        I.            THE CAUSE – WHY IS MAN LOST?

A.      Men and women are lost because of the reality of their sins.

1.       But, what is sin anyway?

a.       To some people it is a myth–it is the invention of superstitious religion

b.       To other people it is a matter of opinion–no real objective right or wrong

c.       To many people it is just a joke to laugh and sneer at 

2.       The Bible, however, does not present the reality of sin as a superstition, a matter of subjectivity, or something to sneer at. The Bible has a lot to say about sin, and it views sin as a vitally serious matter

a.       It has been said that the Old Testament contains at least 8 Hebrew words which reflect some aspect of sin.

b.       The New Testament contains some 13 different words which shed light on different aspects of sin.

B.      The Bible gives us several definitions of sin, and these are the reasons why man is lost.

1.       Sin is breaking God’s law (1 John 3:4) 

a.       The term “sin” comes from a Greek word which literally means to miss a mark or target.

b.       God has revealed His will in the Bible, and to disobey what God has said is sin.

1)      This means sin is the opposite of obedience and righteousness.

2)      1 John 5:17 – sin is unrighteousness

2.       Sin is refusing to listen to God (Jeremiah 11:10)

a.       Jeremiah said the people of his day were lost in their sins because they refused to listen to God.

b.       Many today are lost, because they have stopped listening to what the Bible says

3.       Sin is trying to live without God (Psalm 19:13) 

a.       The term translated “presumptuous” in this passage denotes the idea of pride and arrogance, and it suggests actions of one who feels they do not need God

b.       Many are trying to live through life without God, and they mess up their lives and find themselves lost in sin

4.       Sin is failing to do what is right (James 4:17)

a.       Sin is not only breaking God’s law and doing something wrong, but it is knowing what is right and doing nothing.

b.       Many know what they must do to be saved and be right with God, but they refuse to do it.

C.      What are men lost? It’s because of sin!

 

      II.            THE CONDITION – WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LOST?

A.      One of the most enlightening passages showing what it means to be lost is the case of David in Psalm 32.

1.       The background for this Psalm is 2 Samuel 11 with David and Bathsheba.

a.       David had sinned against God with Bathsheba, and he compounded the situation with many more sins. Eventually adultery had been committed, a child had been conceived, and a faithful husband and soldier was dead.

b.       David penned Psalm 51 while he was in sin, and he was pleading with God to restore unto him to the joy of salvation.

c.       Upon being forgiven, David penned Psalm 32 which describes the beauty and joy of being forgiven.

2.       In a portion of Psalm 32, David wrote about that point in time when he was lost and needed forgiveness, and it is extremely revealing to notice what he said. (Psalm 32:3-4) 

a.       Sin affected David mentally, physically, and spiritually.

1)      He felt exhausted and wearied

2)      He was crying and grieving constantly

3)      His energy and zeal dried up like a desert

4)      His conscience was bothering him day and night

b.       David was absolutely miserable when he was lost!

B.      Sadly, the masses of mankind are lost in their sin through disobedience, rebellion, ungodliness, and rejection of God, and they find themselves miserable.

1.       Many of those around us every day are just like David:

a.       They are hurting physically, mentally, and spiritually b/c of sin

b.       They are trying to find ways to cope and self-medicate

c.       They are looking for God and salvation in all the wrong places

2.       Satan has the masses enslaved to sin (that is the condition), and only the Gospel can set them free (John 8:34, 32)

 

    III.            THE CONSEQUENCE – WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE LOST?

A.      The ultimate consequence of sin and being lost is eternal destruction. (Romans 6:23)

1.       The term “death” in this passage does not refer to a literal death, though sin causes all death, but it refers to spiritual punishment in Hell.

a.       Matthew 10:28 – destroy the soul and body in Hell

b.       Matthew 25:46 – everlasting punishment

2.       Those who die lost will be sentenced to eternity in Hell.

B.      The word of God views this as so important it gives us several descriptions to impress upon our minds how horrifying and miserable eternal punishment in hell will be.

1.       It is a place of burning fire (Matthew 25:41)

2.       It is a place that will never cease (Matthew 25:46)  

3.       It is a place of constant pain and agony (Mark 9:48)

4.       It is a place of outer darkness without God (Matthew 25:30)

5.       It is a place of never-ending sorrow and misery (Matthew 25:30)

6.       It is a place of tribulation (1 Thessalonians 1:6)

7.       It is a place of flaming fire (1 Thessalonians 1:8)

8.       It is a place of divine vengeance (1 Thessalonians 1:8)

9.       It is a place of everlasting punishment (1 Thessalonians 1:9)

10.   It is a place of destruction (1 Thessalonians 1:9)

C.      Hell is a place where nobody wants to go, but it is sadly a place where all who die in a lost and unpardoned state will go and be forever.

 

conclusion

A.      Man is lost! This thought ought to break our hearts and motivate us to be more evangelist.

1.       It should break out hearts to see our fellowman ignoring God, disobeying God, and failing to submit their lives to what is true and right.

2.       It should sadden us deeply to see so many broken and miserable lives because of the slavery of sin.

3.       It should horrify us immensely to consider the reality of even one soul dying lost and experiencing the horrors of eternal Hell. 

B.      Man is lost! Christ has the cure! We have the Gospel! Will we God?