Luke 19:10
King James Version
10 For the Son of man is come
to seek and to save
that which was lost.
JESUS was very clear about it.
His heart and ministry belonged to sinners.
It's what He came down from heaven for.
Luke 5:32
King James Version
32 I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance.
He loved ministering to sinners.
Luke 15:1
King James Version
15 Then drew near unto him
all the publicans and sinners
for to hear him.
Which greatly displeased the Pharisees and scribes.
Luke 15:2
King James Version
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured,
saying,
This man receiveth sinners,
and eateth with them.
But JESUS points out a thing:
Luke 15:3-6
King James Version
3 And he spake this parable unto them,
saying,
4 What man of you,
having an hundred sheep,
if he lose one of them,
doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness,
and go after that which is lost,
until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it,
he layeth it on his shoulders,
rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home,
he calleth together his friends and neighbours,
saying unto them,
Rejoice with me;
for I have found my sheep which was lost.
He even likens sinners to that lost piece of silver.
Luke 15:8-9
King James Version
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver,
if she lose one piece,
doth not light a candle,
and sweep the house,
and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it,
she calleth her friends and her neighbours together,
saying,
Rejoice with me;
for I have found the piece which I had lost.
JESUS also tells us about the prodigal son.
Luke 15:11-13
King James Version
11 And he said,
A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father,
Father,
give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.
And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together,
and took his journey into a far country,
and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
And how this son sought the forgiveness of his father.
Luke 15:18-19
King James Version
18 I will arise and go to my father,
and will say unto him,
Father,
I have sinned against heaven,
and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son:
make me as one of thy hired servants.
Only to find out how his father had missed him.
Luke 15:20
King James Version
20 And he arose,
and came to his father.
But when he was yet a great way off,
his father saw him,
and had compassion,
and ran,
and fell on his neck,
and kissed him.
How, in shame, the son asked for his forgiveness.
Luke 15:21
King James Version
21 And the son said unto him,
Father,
I have sinned against heaven,
and in thy sight,
and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father was so jubilant, he only cared his son had returned.
Luke 15:22-24
King James Version
22 But the father said to his servants,
Bring forth the best robe,
and put it on him;
and put a ring on his hand,
and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf,
and kill it;
and let us eat,
and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead,
and is alive again;
he was lost,
and is found.
And they began to be merry.
To which, as in most groups, or families, there will be resentment, and jealousy, as the older son did.
Luke 15:29-30
King James Version
29 And he answering said to his father,
Lo,
these many years do I serve thee,
neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment:
and yet thou never gavest me a kid,
that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come,
which hath devoured thy living with harlots,
thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
To which, the father explains his joy, and mercy.
Luke 15:31-32
King James Version
31 And he said unto him,
Son,
thou art ever with me,
and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry,
and be glad:
for this thy brother was dead,
and is alive again;
and was lost,
and is found.
Such parables explain the HEART and MINISTRY of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
That's why He taught us to love, as He did.
John 13:34
King James Version
34 A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one another;
as I have loved you,
that ye also love one another.
John 15:12
King James Version
12 This is my commandment,
That ye love one another,
as I have loved you.
We are all lost sheep.
We need the LORD to set our paths straight.
For He is the way, the truth, and the life.
JESUS is our mediator to the FATHER.
John 14:6
King James Version
6 Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way,
the truth,
and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.
All judgment has been given to JESUS.
John 5:22
King James Version
22 For the Father judgeth no man,
but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
But if we don't want to be judged, we must judge ourselves first.
1 Corinthians 11:31
King James Version
31 For if we would judge ourselves,
we should not be judged.
We do not have the capacity to judge others.
We have not been in their shoes.
We do not have the wisdom of the LORD.
All of us have sinned.
Romans 3:23
King James Version
23 For all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God;
John 8:7
King James Version
7 So when they continued asking him,
he lifted up himself,
and said unto them,
He that is without sin among you,
let him first cast a stone at her.
JESUS declared the time is at hand.
All must repent.
Mark 1:15
King James Version
15 And saying,
The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye,
and believe the gospel.
The LORD does not want ANYONE to perish.
2 Peter 3:9
King James Version
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.
And in such repentance, listen to what JESUS says:
Luke 15:7
King James Version
7 I say unto you,
that likewise joy shall be in heaven
over one sinner that repenteth,
more than over ninety and nine just persons,
which need no repentance.
Luke 15:10
King James Version
10 Likewise,
I say unto you,
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God
over one sinner that repenteth.
All it takes, is one sinner, and heaven rejoices.
Let us be that sinner.
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