Jesus’ Attitude Toward The Lost
Aaron Beard
The way a person perceives those who they come in contact with who are outside the body of Christ has a tremendous impact upon the way he or she lives. If we have the proper perspective toward those who are lost we would find more motivation to bring others to the Lord. Jesus shows us how we should look at those who are lost. Because of the way He saw each person He came in contact with, He used every opportunity to teach others about salvation and bring souls back to His Father.
Jesus Recognized Them As Lost
There are many people who are not faithfully serving God yet the world in general views them as being good moral people. They do not break the laws of the land, they look out for others, they pay their taxes, they live a clean life, and they do not create trouble. We might say of this person, “I would love to have him as my neighbor!” We might even allow a person of this character to baby-sit our children. Indeed these people are good people as far as the world’s standard is concerned, but how would Jesus look at them? Jesus summarized His work on earth by saying, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Therefore, throughout Jesus’ time on earth, when ever He came across men in need of salvation He saw them as being lost and in need of a Savior. Responding to the Pharisees’ observation about His eating with tax collectors and sinners Jesus says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mark 2:17).
How about those people that would appear to be religious? These people may attend a church somewhere three times a week, study their bibles, give of their means, and talk to others about Jesus. The only problem is that what they believe and where they worship contradicts the word of God. Jesus had many encounters with people of this nature. Speaking of the Pharisees Jesus said, “…They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matthew 15:14). Jesus saw those who seemed to be religious and yet did not follow the ways of the Lord as being lost. Jesus said of such people, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
Understood Sin’s Seriousness
One of the things that appeals to people about certain preaching and doctrines is that they can find acceptance even though they are living in sin. Since they are attending worship services somewhere they may find a sense of relief from the guilt that would come from living in sin. The churches may not want to preach on and take action against such an individual for fear of hurting feelings and their attendance numbers. This promotes an attitude within people that sin is not really such a big deal after all!
Jesus understood the seriousness of sin and for that reason was always combating it. He said, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched…” (Mark 9:43). Jesus looked at sin not from a temporary viewpoint but rather from the perspective of eternity. He knew what Heaven was like and knew what Hell was all about and for this reason sought to bring every individual out of sin. When Jesus met those who were living in sin, He did not accept them living in their sin. Jesus, dealing with the woman accused of adultery, said to her, “…Go and sin no more” (John 9:11). While He did exhibit love for her soul, He did not send her away without first giving her instruction about her life. When a paralytic was lowered through the roof into His presence to be healed Jesus said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you” before healing him of his paralysis (Mark 5:20).
Separated The Sinner From The Sin
One of the hardest things to do when dealing with those who are lost is to separate the sinner from the sin. The Christian is instructed to “Abstain from every form of evil” (I Thess. 5:22) and to “Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good” (Rom 12:9). While we cannot condone those living in sin, we cannot allow our great distaste for the sin stand in the way of our love for the sinner. The Lord commended the church at Ephesus in this manner by saying, “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (Rev 2:6). The Lord did not praise them for hating the people, but rather the deeds which the people did. This perspective has been summed up by saying, “Hate the sin, not the sinner.”
Jesus looked at every individual as being a child of God that was lost and because of this could see past the sin to sinner. Luke 15:1-2 records, “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” After this statement by the Jewish leaders Jesus tells the parable of the flock of hundred sheep where one was lost. Jesus finishes this section by saying, “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (verse 7). On one occasion the Pharisees brought a woman caught up in adultery to Jesus in attempts to test Jesus to see how He would handle the situation. The Pharisees said, “Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” (John 8:5). In response Jesus said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (vs. 7). At this remark the Pharisees were convicted in their consciences and left. Jesus then tells the woman, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (vs. 11). The greatest example of Jesus’ love for the lost is set forth in Romans 5:8 by saying, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” When all other men would exhibit hate for an individual because of their sin, Jesus exhibited love!