RELENTLESS LOVE

Luke 15:1-32

Repentance is God's goal for every person.

Introduction:  Have you ever lost something?  Last week I lost my cell phone.  I searched high and low through the hospital where I serve as a consultant for the Pastor Care Department.  Before my search was over, I had engaged many of the chaplains in the search.  Together we searched diligently for my cell phone. 

It is one thing to lose a material possession.  It is another thing to be lost physically.  It is yet another thing to be lost spiritually. 

In these three Parables; The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son,  In the words of one commentator on this passage, 'Luke brought together three stories revealing the depth of God's love and the extent to which He takes initiative to find His own.' 

Therefore, what I will attempt to show from these three parables, in this message titled:  'Relentless Love,'is that God's love follows us to the depths of our sinfulness in an attempt to reclaim us; like the shepherd who left the ninety-nine and went after the one lost sheep, like the woman who lost the coin and searched diligently until she found it.  And like the waiting father, who although he did not pursue his lost son, watched daily for his return.  

First, then, we see in this message on relentless love . . .

1.     THE SAVIOR WHO RECLAIMS 'In each of these parables, there was something, or someone that was lost and needed to be reclaimed or found.  The shepherd searched for the lost sheep.  The woman searched for the lost coin.  The father waited at home for his lost son to return. 

Early on in the message, we might ask, What is the lesson to be learned from these parables?  The lesson is simply this,  Jesus is relentless in His seeking of the lost sinner.  Jesus loves sinners.  He was accused by the Pharisees of being a friend of sinners in the opening statement to these three parables.  They said, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them'(Luke 15:2).  Not only is Jesus a friend to sinners,  like the shepherd in the first parable, He goes out after them.  The Bibles says, 'The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost'(Luke 19:10).

Now, however, if  Jesus is so interested in sinners, the word 'sinner'needs to be defined.  First, let us see how the Pharisees and the teachers tried to define the sinner.  Here is what they said,

'Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathered around Him (Jesus).  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered.  This man welcomes sinners and eats with them'(Luke 15:1-2).  Second, see how Jesus used their statement to define what as sinner really is.  In the eyes of the Pharisees and teachers, a sinner was anyone not like them.  Jesus would say, however, in the words of one writer,  'a sinner is a person who refuses to love God and other people more than a religious system.'

For more clarification, let's see how the Bible defines a sinner.  The word for sinner in the original language is 'missing the mark.'  The Prophet Isaiah wrote, 'We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own

Way . . .'  (Isaiah 53:6).  The Apostle Paul said, 'All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God'(Romans 3:23).

In short, all of us are sinners and need to be found by the Shepherd.  If we are not found by Him, according to Scripture, we will eventually perish in our sins.

Second, not only is relentless love seen in the Savior who reclaims, relentless love is seen in . . .

2.     THE SINNER WHO REPENTS 'Before a lost sinner can be reclaimed by the Savior, he/she must repent.  That is the whole aim of these three parables.   Jesus Himself said, ' . . . 'unless you repent, you too will perish'(Luke 13:3).  The next question, then, is this, What does it mean to repent?  Repent means 'to turn.'  Turn from sin and self and turn to the Savior.  Be sorry not only that you were caught in your sin, but that you have broken the heart of God. 

Jesus 'commands,'according to the Book of Acts, ' . . . all people everywhere to repent'(Acts 17:30).  Why?  Because, He wants everyone to go to heaven.  That is why He searches relentlessly for the lost sinner; like the shepherd searching for the lost sheep, the woman searching for the lost coin, and the father who waited for his lost son to return.  In the Parable of the Lost Son, we have a good example of a person who repents.  The Bible says, 'When he came to his senses . . .'(Luke 15:17).  That means he repented.  He was sorry for what he had done. 

This is the goal of the Savior's relentless love for every lost person.  If you are lost, he wants you to repent.  Turn from you sin and turn to Him.

Therefore, not only is relentless love seen in the Savior who reclaims, the sinner who repents, it is seen also in . . .

3.     THE SAINTS WHO REJOICE 'At the beginning of this message, I shared with you about losing my cell phone.  What I did not share with you is that I found it.  When I found it, I rejoiced.  I thought I would never see it again.  Not only that, but the chaplains in the Pastoral Care Department rejoiced with me.  As you may recall me telling you that they had joined me in my search. 

About the shepherd in our parable who lost a sheep, the Bible says,  'And when he finds it (the lost sheep), he joyfully puts it in his shoulders and goes home.  Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me I have found my lost sheep.  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine righteous persons who does not need to repent'(Luke 15:5-7).

The woman who found her coin also rejoiced when she found the lost coin.  The Bibles says . . .

'And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors and says, Rejoice with me I have found my lost coin.  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents'(Luke 15:9-10)

The father who lost his son, likewise, rejoiced when he returned.  The Bible says . . .

'For this son of mine was dead and is alive again.  He was lost and is found.  So they begin to celebrate'(Luke 15:24

What does all these parables have in common?  Not only did the person who lost something rejoice—other rejoiced with them.  Did you know that rejoicing breaks out in heaven among the angels, yea, with God Himself, when one sinner repents?

This reminds me of a popular hymn sung by millions around the world.  The hymn about which I speak goes like this---Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see.'

Can you sing this hymn?  Can you say, 'I once was lost, but now I am found?' 

Remember—repentance is Jesus goal for every lost person and He will not be satisfied unless every person repents.

What incredible love He has demonstrated to us!  The Apostle Paul described His incredible love like this, 'But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us'(Romans 5:8).  Herein, lies the good news of the gospel.  To every lost sinner, in the words of another great hymn, 'There is room at the cross for you.'

CONCLUSION:  Will you come to Him now?  The choice is yours!!  You might ask, How do I repent of my sin?  1) The intellect comes into play.  You must realize that you are a lost sinner.  2) It involves the emotions.  You must be sorry that you have sinned against Holy God.  All sin is against God.  3) It involves the will.  You must be willing to turn from your sin and turn to Jesus for your salvation.

You can pray a simple prayer like this:  'Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and cannot save myself.  I repent of my sin and receive you as my Savior.  Come into my life Lord Jesus and give me eternal life.  Thank you Jesus for saving me.'

If you prayed this prayer, I would be interested in knowing of your decision.  Would you contact me at:  drbennywoods@yahoo.com or BWoods@SAEdge.org so that I can rejoice with you?