THE TRAGEDY THE TRAGEDY OF BEING LOSTOF BEING LOST

Luke 15Luke 15

The Tragedy of The Tragedy of Carelessness — Carelessness —

The Lost Sheep, Vs. 3-7.The Lost Sheep, Vs. 3-7.ThoughtlessnessThoughtlessness. .

The figure of the shepherd, sheep The figure of the shepherd, sheep and sheepfold found many times in and sheepfold found many times in the scriptures. the scriptures. Isa. 53:6ff; Jno. Isa. 53:6ff; Jno. 10:1ff.; Acts 20:2810:1ff.; Acts 20:28, etc. , etc.

Heb. 2:1. Cf. Mt. 9: 36Heb. 2:1. Cf. Mt. 9: 36, a picture of , a picture of a multitude that had no real a multitude that had no real purpose in life.purpose in life.

The Tragedy of The Tragedy of Carelessness — Carelessness —

The Lost Sheep, Vs. 3-7.The Lost Sheep, Vs. 3-7. Absorption in other Absorption in other

mattersmatters.. Many are they who are carelessly Many are they who are carelessly

absorbed in the treasures and absorbed in the treasures and pleasures of this life pleasures of this life (cf. Lk. 8:14; 12:16-21; 14:15ff), (cf. Lk. 8:14; 12:16-21; 14:15ff), or or the complacency of the complacency of denominational error denominational error (Col 2:8). (Col 2:8).

The Tragedy of The Tragedy of Carelessness — Carelessness —

The Lost Sheep, Vs. 3-7.The Lost Sheep, Vs. 3-7.Lack of knowledge, spiritual Lack of knowledge, spiritual

interest and diligenceinterest and diligence.. "Give diligence" "Give diligence" 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 4:11; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 4:11;

2 Pet. 3:142 Pet. 3:14 "Take heed." "Take heed." cf. Amos 4:6ff; 1 Cor. cf. Amos 4:6ff; 1 Cor.

10:12; Col. 2:8; Heb. 3:12; 2 Pet. 10:12; Col. 2:8; Heb. 3:12; 2 Pet. 1:191:19

Failure to do this means we are lost. Failure to do this means we are lost. Cf. Cf. Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:6; Acts 17:30.Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:6; Acts 17:30.

The Tragedy of Uselessness The Tragedy of Uselessness — —

The Lost Coin. Vs. 8-10.The Lost Coin. Vs. 8-10. This coin was of no value because it This coin was of no value because it

was "out of circulation." was "out of circulation." The useless church member is a lost The useless church member is a lost

church member. church member. Many have changed from useful vessels to Many have changed from useful vessels to

into useless vessels, from vessels of honor to into useless vessels, from vessels of honor to vessels dishonor vessels dishonor (2 Tim. 2:20).(2 Tim. 2:20).

Uselessness means: loss of zeal for the Lord, Uselessness means: loss of zeal for the Lord, loss of concern for others, and loss of loss of concern for others, and loss of influence, influence, (savor, Mt. 5:13; radiance, Mt. (savor, Mt. 5:13; radiance, Mt. 5:14ff.)5:14ff.)

The useless member is… the one who has The useless member is… the one who has quit quit (Lk. 9:62), (Lk. 9:62), fallen fallen (Gal. 5:4), (Gal. 5:4), does not serve the purpose that God has for does not serve the purpose that God has for him him (Mt. 25:24ff).(Mt. 25:24ff).

The Tragedy of Willfulness The Tragedy of Willfulness — —

The Prodigal Son. Vs. 11-The Prodigal Son. Vs. 11-24.24.The Prodigal Son was lost The Prodigal Son was lost

willfullywillfully.. He willfully asked for his portion of the He willfully asked for his portion of the

substance.substance. He willfully went into the far country. He willfully went into the far country.

With his eyes wide open he went into sin.With his eyes wide open he went into sin. He willfully wasted his substance with He willfully wasted his substance with

riotous living. He had no one to blame riotous living. He had no one to blame but himself.but himself.

The Tragedy of Willfulness The Tragedy of Willfulness — —

The Prodigal Son. Vs. 11-The Prodigal Son. Vs. 11-24.24.The Prodigal Son was lost The Prodigal Son was lost

willfullywillfully.. Rebellion and defiance of authority. Rebellion and defiance of authority. Ex. 32; 2 Ex. 32; 2

Sam. 15-18Sam. 15-18 Morally: Morally: Ex. 32:7ffEx. 32:7ff Doctrinally: Doctrinally: Gen. 3; 1 Tim. 2:14; cf. 2 Pet. 2:1ffGen. 3; 1 Tim. 2:14; cf. 2 Pet. 2:1ff Exaltation of my will and a desecration of God's Exaltation of my will and a desecration of God's

will. will. Rom. 1:18ff; 1 Cor. 1Rom. 1:18ff; 1 Cor. 1 Prejudice. Prejudice. "For this people's heart is waxed "For this people's heart is waxed

gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed" their eyes they have closed" (Mt. 13:15).(Mt. 13:15).

Greater Damnation. Greater Damnation. Cf. Lk. 12:47, 48; Heb. Cf. Lk. 12:47, 48; Heb. 10:26ff10:26ff

The Tragedy of Bitterness The Tragedy of Bitterness — —

The Elder Brother. Vs. 25-The Elder Brother. Vs. 25-32.32. Self Commendation -- He had stayed Self Commendation -- He had stayed

in his father's housein his father's house.. He had served his father. He had served his father. "Lo, these "Lo, these

many years do I serve thee."many years do I serve thee." He was never guilty of the immoralities He was never guilty of the immoralities

of his brother.of his brother.

The Tragedy of Bitterness The Tragedy of Bitterness — —

The Elder Brother. Vs. 25-The Elder Brother. Vs. 25-32.32. Bitterness toward brethren will cause us to be Bitterness toward brethren will cause us to be

lost in hell as surely as the immoralities of the lost in hell as surely as the immoralities of the flesh. They are in the same class. flesh. They are in the same class. Gal. 5:19ff.Gal. 5:19ff.

Love for brethren is abundantly and plainly Love for brethren is abundantly and plainly taught. taught. Jno. 13:34f; 1 Cor. 13; 1 John 2: 9-11, Jno. 13:34f; 1 Cor. 13; 1 John 2: 9-11, 3:14f., 4:20f.3:14f., 4:20f.

The elder brother represents the Pharisees The elder brother represents the Pharisees and scribes who stood condemned because and scribes who stood condemned because they they "trusted in themselves that they were "trusted in themselves that they were righteous; and set all others at nought" righteous; and set all others at nought" (Lk. (Lk. 18:9).18:9).

The Tragedy of Bitterness —

The Elder Brother. Vs. 25-32.

The Tragedy of Willfulness —

The Prodigal Son. Vs. 11-24.

The Tragedy of Uselessness —

The Lost Coin. Vs. 8-10.

The Tragedy of Carelessness —

The Lost Sheep, Vs. 3-7.

THE TRAGEDY OF BEING THE TRAGEDY OF BEING LOSTLOST