That Which Was Lost

That Which Was Lost – What was lost? Luke 19:1-10 - 10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that whichwas lost.” (also in Matt. 18:11) Zacchaeus want to know: Who is HE? (Prophet, Priest, or King)? Who knows. Zacchaeus was not a sight seer, he desired to know Jesus, and God gave him the desires of his heart. - Psalm 37:4 Who is He to you? What is the desire of your heart? “Seek and ye shall find” implies that we ought to do something. Zacchaeus had a plan. · Ran – TO Jesus · Climbed – Overcoming his adversities o “Chief among the publicans and little of stature.” · Made haste – don’t give the devil a place at your table, he is not to be negotiated with · Came – TO Jesus in response to a drawing from God · Received – he did not reject the Lord or the salvation HE offered, he “received him joyfully” · Restored – “I restore him fourfold” – “If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.” Exodus 22:1. V.10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” What is the context of verse 10 in relationship to Zacchaeus? Is Jesus speaking of saving a person or “that which was lost”? Certainly, He came to save the lost sheep of Israel. What was lost was not a who but rather a what! The scripture does say, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15. These two verses seem to me to be speaking of two different things… and yet the same thing. What was lost with the fall of man? Certainly, mankind is deemed to be lost, but how so? Everything was lost with the fall of man and the breaking of the Adamic covenant. · Man’s Relationship with God – because of our sin, we can no longer live in the presence of God. o Not until our debt is paid – Jesus paid this debt. · Man’s Innocence – corruption has set in. Furthermore, it’s lost when… o Children begin using profanity – they use it because they hear it! o Exposure to violence – TV, games, the News o Virginity is given up – the world sells LUST; man falls prey to it o Seeing things, they ought not see, and doing things they ought not be doing. § Parents fighting is just one example, drugs and alcohol is another, pornography a third. · Man’s ability to be The image of God – God is without sin o Mankind has become evil, marred, ruined by sin – that is NOT the image of God. o Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11. · Our Identity as a child of God – it is a privilege that is no longer afforded to mankind. o Our experiences now identify us, good or bad. o I was abused, I’m an addict, I’m a doctor, lawyer, plumber o Through Christ – “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God…” 1 John 3:1-2a. · Life – But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:17. o And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Ephesians 2:1 (also Col. 2:13). Let’s not miss the “seeking”. Zacchaeus came seeking; “he sought to see Jesus.” Jesus came seeking; he sought to see Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus’ relationship with God has been restored. Okay, what does this have to do with us? The restoration that Christ purchased with His own blood is available to “Whosoever will.” God is seeking a restored relationship with each one of us. It has been the desire of His heart since man was first cast out of the Garden of Eden. There is not a person alive today that the God doesn’t want a restored relationship with. The relationship, however, is on His terms and not our own.

First and foremost, you must first believe that HE is, and that Jesus is His Son who was sent as the sacrificial lamb of God.

You must also believe that Jesus suffered and died because of our sin, and that He was crucified, pronounced dead, buried, and then rose from the grave.

You must believe that His ascended into Heaven and is even now seated at the right hand of God.

What is missing in your life? What has been lost to the ways of the world that you would like to have restored? Is it your innocence, your purity, your ability to love or to forgive? Perhaps it just your life.

Jesus Christ has restored that which was lost by the fall of mankind, HE has restored your right to have a personal relationship with God. He has provided the way of salvation unto God.

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21.