Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV) All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Sheep are not always kept in the sheepfold because the shepherd has to bring them out to search for green pastures. Sometimes, hundreds of sheep are under the shepherd’s care, but because sheep have the habit of wandering and going astray, have a herd mentality and are extremely stubborn, not every sheep will follow the shepherd in the wide-open terrain. Some may end up falling off the cliff, wandering away, and losing their way.
Romans 5:6 (NKJV) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
We live in a fallen world. Those who are lost are governed by their senses and will quickly succumb to the lusts of the flesh and the eyes because of their sinful nature. The good news is all ungodly people qualify to be saved. Jesus came for the sinners. All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We cannot use our strength, religion, philosophy, or good works to stand right before God. This self-righteousness is like filthy rags before God. We see in all the Gospels that all sinners, whether tax collectors, adulterers, or those who have committed hideous sins, are drawn toward the graciousness of Jesus Christ. Jesus ate with the sinners, visited their homes, and spoke to them. Indeed, the law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. The Good News is that Jesus died for the ungodly and sinners, and all of them qualify to be saved through Jesus. They didn’t feel that Jesus was judging them as compared to the High Priest, the scribes, and the Pharisees. The reason is that Jesus was aware of their sinfulness and came to seek and save those who were lost!
The sheep who have gone astray are unaware of the danger lurking around the corner. A predator or a cliff might suddenly take their lives. Therefore, time is of the essence because we can only preach the gospel to those who are alive and can still respond to the Good News. We should preach to them while it is day because when night falls, nobody can work. Even though God is gracious and merciful, He is also a holy, just and righteous God. Jesus is the only way back to the Heavenly Father, and those who reject Him will eventually be judged on the Great White Throne. We don’t know how much time we will get to spend with those who are lost, but we know that all of us are destined to live once and after that judgement.
Jesus urgently visited every town to preach the Kingdom of God to the lost because He was sent to save them. We also need to share the gospel with our parents, friends, colleagues, and strangers with the same urgency so that none would perish.
Sermon Series：One Soul for Christ
时间所剩无几
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祂身上。
羊并不总是被关在羊圈里，因为牧羊人必须带它们出去寻找青草地。有时牧羊人需照顾几百只羊，但羊有喜欢到处走和走迷的习性，喜欢随大流，又非常固执，并不是每只羊都会在广阔的牧场上跟随牧羊人。一些羊可能会掉下悬崖，走，和迷失方向。
罗马书 5:6 因我们还软弱的时候，基督就按所定的日期为罪人死。
我们生活在一个堕落的世界中。那些迷失的人被自己的感官所支配，并因其罪性很快就会屈服于肉体和眼目的情欲。但好消息是，所有不敬虔的人都有资格得救。耶稣是为了罪人而来。我们所有人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀。我们不能靠自己的力量、宗教、哲学或善行在神面前站立得住。这样的自义在神面前如同污秽的破布。在所有的福音书中我们都会看到，无论是税吏、犯奸淫的，还是犯下严重罪行的人，都被耶稣基督的恩典所吸引。耶稣与罪人同席，造访他们的家，与他们交谈。确实，律法是借着摩西传的，但恩典和真理是由耶稣基督带来的。好消息是，耶稣为不敬虔的人和罪人而死，他们都可以因耶稣而得救。他们并不觉得耶稣在审判他们，相比之下，大祭司、文士和法利赛人才是定他们罪的人。原因在于，耶稣深知他们的罪性，并且祂来是要寻找和拯救失丧的人！
那些走迷的羊并不知道前方潜伏着危险。捕食者或悬崖可能会突然夺走它们的生命。因此，时间至关重要，因为我们只能向那些还活着、还能回应福音的人传讲福音。我们应当趁着白昼传道，因为黑夜将到，就没有人能做工了。尽管神充满恩典和怜悯，但祂也是一位圣洁、正直和公义的神。耶稣是回到天父那里的唯一道路，那些拒绝祂的人最终将在白色大宝座前受审判。我们不知道还能与那些失丧的人在一起多久，但我们知道，人人都有一死，死后且有审判。
耶稣曾急切地走遍各城各乡，向失丧的人传讲神的国度，因为祂是奉差遣来拯救他们的。同样，我们也需要怀着同样的紧迫感向我们的父母、朋友、同事和陌生人传讲福音，使他们不至灭亡。
讲章系列：为基督赢得一个灵魂
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