Psalms 23:1-2 (NKJV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
In this Psalm, David shares how faithful God’s provision is. He is not left wanting for anything; he has no need. We have the Lord as our shepherd, and He ensures that his sheep are well-fed and rested at green pastures and never thirst because of the still waters.
Matthew 18:12 (NKJV) “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
If we are Christians, we belong to the ninety-nine sheep. Because they are too self-engrossed with their own needs, the ninety-nine sheep would not be concerned about the lost sheep. However, we must not allow this to be the case with us because the Word and ministry of reconciliation have been given to the church.
The Abrahamic Covenant is the unconditional covenant God intentionally established to bring forth the Messiah so that all the families of the earth will be blessed. God initiated the pursuit of searching for all of us who are lost by ensuring that our relationship with Him can be restored through the blood of Jesus. The gospel is a gospel of grace or an unconditional love to redeem us with Jesus’ blood. We played no part in paying the cost of our salvation because everything was done and paid for by Jesus. All we needed to do was to return to God by calling on Jesus’ name.
God does not want anyone to perish but for all to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ because every person is precious to Him. He, the Good Shepherd, will go to any extent to look for the one lost sheep. Therefore, He will mobilise His church to help look for the lost. God does not just love a selected few who please Him or have favourites. He will search for everyone who has gone astray. That’s why the gospel must be preached to the ends of the world before the end comes because God doesn’t want to leave anyone out of His salvation plan.
Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV) All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Many have strayed from the Creator, doing whatever they like. They are looking for peace, but no religion, philosophy, material goods, worldly achievements, or transcendental meditation can ever replace the emptiness in their hearts. Therefore, let’s share the gospel with our parents, friends, colleagues, and strangers with the same urgency so that none will perish, but all will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Sermon Series:One Soul for Christ
神要拯救每个人
诗篇23:1-2 耶和华是我的牧者,我必不至缺乏. 祂使我躺卧在青草地上,领我在可安歇的水边。
在这个诗篇中大卫分享了上帝的供应是多么的信实。祂没有任何缺乏;祂不需要任何东西。我们有耶和华为我们的牧者,祂确保祂的羊在青草地上得到充足的食物和休息,并永远不会渴因有可安歇的水边。
马太福音18:12 一个人若有一百只羊,一只走迷了路,你们的意思如何?
如果我们是基督徒,我们就属于那九十九只羊。因为这九十九只羊过于关注自己的需要,所以不会关心那迷失的羊。然而,我们绝不能让这种情况发生在自己身上,因为劝人与神和好的的话和职分已经赐给了教会。
亚伯拉罕之约是上帝特意设立的无条件盟约,旨在把弥赛亚带到世上,使地上的万族都蒙福。上帝主动寻找我们这些迷失的人,以确保我们与祂的关系通过耶稣的宝血得以恢复。福音是有恩典的福音,或用耶稣的宝血救赎我们的无条件的爱。我们不必为我们的救恩付出任何的代价,因为这一切都是由耶稣完成和偿还的。我们所需要做的就是呼求耶稣的名以回到上帝那里。
上帝不愿有一人沉沦,乃愿人人都明白耶稣基督的救恩之道,因为每个人对祂来说都是宝贵的。祂,这位好牧人,会尽一切努力寻找那迷失的羊。因此,祂会动员教会去帮助寻找迷失的人。上帝不仅爱那些蒙祂悦纳或被拣选的少数人,还会寻找每一个迷失的人。这就是为什么福音必须在世界末日之前传遍世界,因为上帝不想让任何人被排除在祂的救赎计划之外。
以赛亚书53:6 我们都如羊走迷;各人偏行己路。耶和华使我们众人的罪孽都归在他身上。
许多人偏离了创造主,随心所欲地行事。他们寻求平安,但没有任何宗教、哲学、物质财富、世俗成就或超自然冥想能够替代他们心中的空虚。因此,让我们以同样的紧迫感向父母、朋友、同事和陌生人传扬福音,这样就不会有人灭亡,而是人人都能明白耶稣基督的救赎之道。
讲章系列:为基督赢得一个灵魂
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