How Lost is Man? - Remember the Titanic "1500+ LOST at Sea"

There is a certain finality to the word lost in the biblical theology of the lostness of humanity that seems to reach deep beyond some of the common conceptions of what it means to "get lost" or to "be lost in the wilderness". It is much more of a sense of the term lost in "lost at sea", such as in the meaning of 1500 plus lives lost at sea in the sinking of the Titanic. This is evidenced by passages like Ephesians 2: " you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked." DEAD. That means it takes a miracle, a resurrection, a new birth, something only God can do for us to be un-lost in the biblical teaching of the phrase. We are the walking dead prior to salvation, prior to a regeneration of our spiritually dead and unable to respond selves that can only be accomplished by the wind of the Spirit blowing where it wishes and resurrecting the shriveled up dry bones of a spiritual being that is left, putting flesh and blood and life back into our spiritual being.

So What?

This biblical perspective on the lostness of man is crucial if we are to think rightly about our evangelism. But it must be paired with the biblical truth about the means God uses whereby the spiritually dead are raised to life. Romans 10 discusses this. "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." God has ordained that it be through His Church, the body of Christ, that the Word of God, the gospel, go out to men, and that hearing the Word is the means the Holy Spirit uses to bring about the re-birth. This means that if a man is to be saved, a man will be sent to share the Word with him. God will accomplish this, from start to finish, and it is our distinct privilege to be used of God for his great purposes. 

But what about...

One common objective to God's sovereignty in salvation is that it removes the motivation for us to go preach the gospel because, after all, God will accomplish salvation for those whom He has chosen no matter what right? Yes, He will. He will give a more faithful servant to His commands the privilege of sharing the gospel with the person whom He's chosen. The one who misunderstands God's sovereignty, thinking it removes the responsibility of His people to obey His commands to preach the gospel will miss out on the privilege it is to be the ambassador of Christ whose job is to share the best news that could ever be given to man who is lost in their sin. 

Actually...

If anything, the fact that man is lost (dead) without God's salvation and that God is sovereign over this regeneration of lost people should give us a greater drive to share the gospel. After all, that means we cannot screw it up. Don't mistake this for an excuse to do a crummy job and wimp out on a robust and full preaching of the whole counsel of God. Just remember that we are guaranteed success in what God intended the Word coming out of our mouths to accomplish. As Isaiah 55:10-11 says: "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

Preach the Word!

So we can go forth in confidence, understanding that there is no higher calling than to be the ambassador of the Most High King Jesus, sent into this foreign land to declare the coming of our king, His wondrous salvation, and that His glorious hand is not shortened to save. His Spirit guarantees that as the Word goes out it will accomplish exactly what it was purposed to accomplish, for His glory and the good of His people. Soli Deo Gloria, to God alone be all the glory!

Regarding the Christian's Response to the Election Results...

I must admit, I have been a bit discouraged by some of the response by Christians to the results of the election this past week. I see some clear lack of trust in what God has ordained, and some very poor attitudes toward those who don't know Christ in our nation. I suggest we turn inward a bit more and look within the church a bit for a healthy evaluation of why our nation's sinfulness is as prevalent and overt as it has become. In response to what I've seen expressed by Christians today (much distress, anger, and speculation of consequences of the election outcome), I submit the following perspective that I hope will encourage a more helpful and Biblical response:

First, addressing the lack of trust I've seen. Let us not forget to praise God that He is already on the throne, reigning and governing the nations as He pleases. As I posted on my Facebook last night before the election was over:

"Rest in the following two thoughts on this election day, God has a plan and purpose and is in control:

Daniel 2:21 - He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;

There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe that Sovereignty hath ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. - Charles Spurgeon"

Second, addressing the poor attitudes toward those who don't know Christ. Our country deserves every bit of what it gets in times to come unfortunately. The church is much to blame. We can't expect unbelievers to act any other way than they are; dead in their sins. And we need to actually hold those that claim to be Christians accountable to live out Biblical truth. The church needs to be cleansed of all the play actors, Christian in their claim and outward appearance only, so that it can truly be the salt and light for a nation desperately in need of the truth. 

Those who are true Christians need to be bold to call the church to believe a truly Biblical worldview so that the next generation of believers will actually live out their faith in all areas. As we see in the OT prophets, Israel was intended to be a light and positive influence on the nations around them and when they didn't live that out they were judged severely (captivity, the destruction of Jerusalem, the fall of the nation as a separate political entity, etc). We (the church) have failed on the whole in America to be God's witnesses, the salt has lost its savor, the light is being hidden, not by the darkness around us but by our being ashamed of it and covering it up. 

Let's pray that the church would become again what it is intended to be and quit pointing our fingers outward at those that "don't know their right hand from their left" (Jonah 4:11). When people are dead in sin and not born again into new life in Christ they will only act that out because it is their nature. And obviously that is the majority in our country at the moment. So often I think we pity the plant and not Ninevah, while at the same time complaining that animal rights seem to get more attention than human rights. And Jesus cries "Hypocrites!"

As Christ said, "In this world you will have many troubles. But fear not, I have overcome the world." Let us rest in Christ, examine ourselves, and get out there to be the salt and light we are called to be for the sake of the gospel's transforming work in people to the glory and praise of God!