Lessons are for instruction so they build on each other - Plan our service to God - Be ready for His return - Serve Him with urgency - Jesus loves the lost

With this lesson we will look at seven reasons why we should love the lost.

I. All human beings are made in the image of God.

Genesis 1: Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Even after man sinned, God still said man was in His image. Genesis 9: 6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.

Jesus taught that the soul of man is beyond value. Mark 8: For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

II. The two greatest Commandments : love for God’s sake love for their sakes

Matthew 22: Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? 37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

We love the lost because we love God and desire for Him to be glorified.

2 nd command : Love your neighbor as yourself We love the lost for their sake

III. All who die outside of Christ will most certainly perish.

The scriptures are clear and unambiguous about the doctrine of judgment. Romans 3: 10, 23 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; …. 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life IN Christ Jesus our Lord. II Timothy 2: 10 – … I endure all things … so that they also may obtain the salvation which is IN Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

Spiritual death is eternal separation from God in a place called Hell.

II Thessalonians 1: 6-10 … when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

IV. God has a deep and abiding love for the souls of lost men.

II Peter 3: 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. I Timothy 2: 3-4 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

God is repulsed by the idea of anyone being condemned to eternal destruction. Ezekiel 18: 23 Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?

V. Jesus demonstrated a sincere love for the lost.

Jesus loved the rich young ruler. Mark 10: Vs. 21 – Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

Jesus felt a genuine love for the lost in Jerusalem. Luke 19: 41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it. ( cf. Lk 13: gather your children as hen ) What do we feel when we see the lost ?

VI. The Apostle Paul manifested a deep love for lost people.

Romans 9: 1-3 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

II Cor. 5: 14, 20 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

VII. The nature of the gospel demands that we share it with lost people.

Romans 1: I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

I Cor. 9: For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. Mark 16: 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ”

Act. 4: And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Two suggestions for growing in our love for the lost. 1. Grow in our love for God. Immerse ourselves in His word until He is constantly on our minds. 2. Personalize these truths. “The lost” is abstract, put a name on it. We can visualize a Bill, Fred or Joyce.

I pray we all see the direct correlation between love God and loving the lost.

In this life every one is either a missionary or a mission field. Which are you? If you ’ re not a Christian come now.