TEXT:  Luke 19:10;  Ez. 33:10-11

INTRODUCTION:

A.  GOD WANTS NONE TO BE LOST (2 Tim. 2:4).

B.  JESUS WAS SENT TO SAVE THE LOST.

I.  WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LOST?

A.  JESUS TALKS OF LOST SHEEP GONE ASTRAY (Luke 15:3-7).

          1.  Not knowing where they were or how to get back.

          2.  Men without shepherds (Matt. 9:36).

B.  THERE IS MORE TO IT.

          1.  Paul (Eph. 2:1, 11-12)  The Walking Dead.

                   a.  No hope.

                    b.  Without god (Isa. 59:1-2).

          2.  Punishment (Heb. 10:28-31).

                   a.  No escape (Heb. 12:25).

                   b.  Fire (Rev. 20:15;  21:8).

                    c.  Destruction (Matt. 7:13-14;  2 Thess. 1:7-9). 

                             Forever cut off from the presence of God.

                    d.  Weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth (Matt. 25:30).

                    e.  Darkness (Matt. 25:30;  2 Pet. 2:17).

          6.  Eternal (Matt. 25:46)

                    a.  Eternal in duration.  Like eternal Life.

                   b.  Unrelieved suffering (Mark 9:48;  Rev. 20:10;  Rev. 14:11).

II.  NOT A POPULAR SUBJECT WITH MOST.

A.  Acts 20:26-27.  A PART OF THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD.

          1.  What is the duty of the evangelist (2 Tim. 4:1-2).

          2.  God has set us forth as watchmen (Ezek. 33:7-9;  Gal. 1:10).

B.  OBJECTIONS:

          1.  Too negative,  drive people away (Isa. 30:9-11;  Matt. 15:12).  Who is offended?

          2.  Too much emphasis on fear (Heb. 10:26-27, 31;  Acts 24:25).  A legitimate tool.

          3.  Incompatible with the Love of God (1 John 4;7-10;  John 3:16).

                   a.  Hell was not prepared for us (Matt. 25:41;  1 Tim. 2:3-4).

                   b.  All have an alternative (Titus 2:11-12).

                   c.  Love does not cancel his Righteousness (Psa. 89:14).

                   d.  What does justice demand of the sinner? (Rom. 6:23).

                   e.  Jesus is the solution (Rom. 3:23-26).  Not Silence!

          4.  The language is figurative.

                   1.  What if it is?  The language used was chosen to warn of its awfulness.

                   2.  Some have suggested that the language about heaven is figurative, because its

                             beauty and pleasures are beyond us.

                   3.  Could hell be beyond our ability to understand?  How bad is it?

III.  WHAT MUST I DO TO BE LOST?

A.  NOTHING!

          1.  Sin separates us from God (Isa. 59:1-2).

          2.  Sin is universal (Rom. 3:23).

          3.  Being saved involves Doing Something (Acts 2:38, 40;  James 2:22).

B.  IN THE MEANTIME, THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO BE LOST.

          1.  Ignore God and his love.

                   a.  Cannot ignore the creator (Psa. 19:1-2;  Rom. 1:20).

                   b.  Cannot ignore his love (John 3:16;  Rom. 5:8).

          2.  Ignore Jesus and his sacrifice (John 15:13).  A horrible suffering of death.

                   a.  His death was voluntary (John 10:17-18).

                   b.  It was propitiatory (Rom. 3:23-26;  2 Cor. 5:14-15).

          3.  Ignore the church.

                   a.  God’s creation in Christ (Eph. 3:10-11;  Matt. 16:18).

                   b.  The preciousness of the church (Eph. 5:25;  Acts 20:28).

          4.  Ignore your conscience.

                   a.  The conscience may be wrong (Acts 23:1).

                   b.  We must do what we believe to be right (James 4:17;  Heb. 10:26-27).

                   c.  It is important that we are right (Psa. 119:105).

          5.  Ignore the prayers and pleadings of those who love you most.

                   1.  A love similar to Paul’s (Rom. 9:3;  10:1).

                   2.  When you die, you will never be together again.  If you can stand that thought …

CONCLUSION:

A.  EASY TO BE LOST.

B.  SALVATION IS EASIER ON US (Phil. 4:4-7).