We do not like to think of anyone being lost. Even children lost from their parents or someone lost in a forest or some other similar scenario. Such times are tragic and no one would enjoy such.

In this article I am not thinking of this kind of being lost. I am thinking about one being lost forever in Hell. We must watch and avail ourselves of what God has done for us. He loves us and does not want anyone of us to be lost. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (Jno. 3:16).

A soul cannot be saved by force. Jesus came to save the lost, "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Jesus sought to get the lost to come to Him by "inviting" them to "come" to Him, to "learn" of Him. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly at heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt. 11:28,29). He is "knocking" at the door (Rev. 3:20). Jesus is calling. "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Lk. 5:32).

We must be impressed with the truth that men are lost. Lk. 19:10 tells us that "the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." The very fact that Jesus came into this world proves that souls are lost. What an unpleasant thought! How tragic! But true! If Christ had not come man would be without hope and without God in this world.

From this verse of Scripture we learn that men are lost but we also learn that men can be saved. Man is not without a means of salvation. The good news is that Jesus came to save us. And let us clearly understand, He is able to do so. "He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25). Some people believe that there are some who are lost adn are bound by an irrevocable decree of God that He has predestinated some from the foundation of the world that they cannot be saved. And that this number is so fixed that it cannot be changed, added to, or taken from. You know it is a funny thing, but you never see one that believes this way thinking that he is among the number who is lost. They seem to think that they are among the predestined ones to be saved. But I assure you that the Bible does not teach such doctrine. It teaches that there is room in the kingdom for each and everyone that desires to enter. Jesus said in Jno. 8:32, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Notice that Jesus said that being free from sin is conditioned upon one knowing the truth. The same book of John tells us what the truth is. It says, "Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy Word is truth" (Jno. 17:17). The context of the passage, Jno. 8:32, shows that Jesus was speaking of being free from sin. Notice also 1 Cor. 15:1,2 - "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that Word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain." Notice in this passage, salvation is conditioned upon their "receiving" and "standing firm" in the gospel.

We urge you to hear the gospel -- we urge you to obey the gospel in order to be saved. In closing I ask you to read 2 Thes. 1:7-9, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power."

By Cecil F. Cox in Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 40, Oct. 5, 2008.

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