Hope for a Hopeless Sinner

Luke 15:1–10 ESV

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver 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 coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Understanding the Parables

My Stolen Mistake

How many of us are 7 years old?

Over the years, I’ve made many mistakes, but when I was seven, I made my worst mistake.

I grew up always wanting more than what I had (any of you like this?) — My parents were kind and giving. They bought me most of everything I’d ever ask for and they were generous givers; but it wasn’t enough for me.

I wanted things they didn’t want me to have.

Therefore, one day, I snuck into my parents room and stole from my mom’s purse. It wasn’t much, but I took a dollar here, then a $5, then a $10 — I figured she wouldn’t notice it.

It was exhilarating! I spent it on snacks, smalls toys, and there was a trampoline place my friends and I used to go together and I paid for my friend!

After that one time, I built the courage to do it again and again and again. Then one day, there was no more cash in her purse, but I needed some money. So I snuck into my brother’s room and found his wallet. He had two $10 dollar bills, so I decided to take only one.

Coming home that night after a day of fun and excitement, I walked into a home where my brother was angry and upset about his money missing — I played dumb. I pretended to know nothing, but somehow, my parents figured it was me, got me to confess, and I had the beating of my life.

Listen carefully to why I’m telling you this story.

When I stole from my mom’s purse, there was enough cash inside that it was almost unnoticeable whatever I stole. I went days without getting caught.

But when I stole from my brother, immediately a problem was noticed.

God’s Chase and Your Value

This is the same issue we find in the passage but there’s beauty behind it.

There are two parables in our passage: (1) the Parable of the Lost Sheep and (2) the Parable of the Lost Coin.

In the first parable, there are 100 sheep and one gets lost from the rest. In the second parable, there are only 10 coins and one gets lost from the bunch.

One sheep out of a 100 — That’s how many of us feel in our relationship with God — I’m just one out of 7 billion people in the world, why would God care about me? And yet, God leaves the 99 and goes after the one.

But what about the one coin? — When the total number is smaller, the value of one is greater. This is the way God views you. He finds you valuable, He finds you worth looking for, and when He finds you, you’re worth celebrating.

And that’s my message for you tonight — That God cares about you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

John 14:18 ESV

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

These are the words of our God the Father and Jesus the Son. These are the words that remind us of His wonderful promises to care for each of us.

Hear me, we are the subject of His affection, we are the subject of His grace and mercy, we are the subject of His love; indeed, we are.

That’s why He pursues us, that’s why He looks for us, and that’s why He celebrates when we are found.

Isn’t that good?

You are a Sinner

But listen, there’s a reason for this. Please hear me, there’s a reason why God pursues you and seeks to find you.

Look closely at our passage and find who the subject is.

Luke 15:1 ESV

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

The subject, the person whom this parable was spoken toward were sinners (e.g. tax collectors, Pharisees, and scribes).

And thousands of years later, this parable continues to be spoken toward sinners today — It’s talking about us. We are the sinners.

Sin Cannot Continue

Sin is difficult to talk about just as it’s difficult to hear it. However, we cannot ignore or avoid it because sin is what separates us from God — Did you know that?

Sin causes a gap in what ought to be a seamless relationship with God.

Do you have a best-friend? What do you think will happen if you lie to her? What if you talk behind her back? How about if you hurt her? — I promise the two of you won’t be friends no more.

What happens if you rebel against your parents repeatedly? Or what would happen to your relationship with your parents if they fail to keep their promises with you over and over again? — I bet you will drift apart.

Such is the case with sin in our relationship with God. Sin will drift us away from our Heavenly Father.

Seriousness of Sin

The first and original sin happened in Genesis with Adam and Eve.

God told them, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Gen 2:16-17).

God made it so clear to them, both, don’t disobey. Your sin will result in death. Don’t eat it, don’t touch it, don’t go near it!

But we know the story — They eat and they are exiled (taken out from the garden).

It’s a story that introduces to us the seriousness of sin. God does not take it lightly. Not only were they exiled, but there were severe consequences.

From Now On Sin No More

In John’s Gospel, there is a woman caught in sin. She did something that deserved stoning. She deserved death for her sin.

But when she was brought before Jesus, they asked Him what should be done. Do you know what Jesus did?

John 8:7–11 ESV

7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

It would behoove you to know that Jesus, the Son of the Living God does not want you to sin.

Sin is a thief. It will rob your soul of its life. It will rob God of his glory. Sin is a murderer. It stabbed our father Adam. It slew our purity. Sin is a traitor. It rebels against the king of heaven and earth.

Charles Spurgeon

Hope for Us

When Jesus began speaking these parables to the sinners, I speculate that He spoke not with a heart to rebuke (discipline) but with a heart that’s broken.

I imagine that Jesus’ heart broke at the sight of sin in the lives of the Pharisees, scribes, and others. And it’s my belief it’s with the same heart He views us tonight.

Therefore, hear this parable one more time.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Luke 15:4–6 ESV

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’

Jesus wants the sinners to know something.

That even though there are hundreds, thousands, millions, and billions of people; if you are lost, He will come looking for you.

Not only that, listen, it’s not if, but when He finds you, He will carry you on His shoulders and bring you back to a place of celebration. A place where joy will overflow. There will be rejoicing for you.

The Lost Coin

Luke 15:8–9 ESV

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver 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 coin that I had lost.’

Jesus wants you to know how valuable you are.

There’s a language of completion being utilized in this parable. 100 is a complete number. 10 is a complete number — In other words, your absence means incompletion.

You’re valuable to Him; He’s willing to turn the house over upside down to find you. When you are found, there will be a celebration.

Repent then Celebrate

However, before a celebration can take place, the passage is clear about what must happen prior.

Luke 15:7 ESV

7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:10 ESV

10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Everyone, listen carefully to your heart tonight. I trust and believe that the Holy Spirit is speaking to you.

The wrath of God is not declared against unrepentant sinners merely because of the sins they have committed, but because, when called to repent, they choose to continue in resistance, repeating the sins of the past in defiance of the light given them.

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Tonight let us repent and pray for clean hands and pure hearts. Let’s pray to be refined by His fire. Let us pray for His forgiveness.