Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, Mar. 19, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LOST

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: John 17:1-12

Text: John 17:12

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Introduction: I’ve written a little tract called, “You May Be Religious, But Are You SAVED?” That is my question to you this morning. I’m not asking you if you believe in God; are you SAVED? I’m not asking you if you are a member of a church; are you SAVED? I’m not asking you if you do good to your fellow man; are you SAVED?

Gospel Light Baptist Church Exists Solely to Exalt the Savior As We Evangelize the Sinner and Edify the Saint. As a pastor, I endeavor to lead and feed the flock, that we may best glorify our Savior as we carry the gospel message to those who are lost.

Listen to me. You will never be SAVED until you first realize and admit that you are LOST.

In the Bible we find examples of

lost sheep (Luke 15:4)
lost silver (Luke 15:8-9)
a lost son (Luke 15:24)

The Bible uses the word, “lost,” in 32 verses. The primary use of the word in scripture is in reference to the Jews who rebelled against God and rejected His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 10:6).

In a broader sense, it can apply to ANYONE, Jew OR Gentile, who has never trusted Christ and His atoning work for salvation. I want us to look at some common uses of the word “lost,” and illustrate the condition of those who have never trusted Christ and have never experienced what the Bible calls the new birth.

I. THE WORD LOST CAN MEAN TO BE DISAPPEARED
(A lost opportunity, a lost idea from your mind, a lost ink pen, pocketbook, or checkbook)

1 Samuel 9:3 And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

A. A person’s possessions will one day disappear

You will leave EVERYTHING behind. Why should you make your priority in life the accumulation of things?

B. A person’s physical health will one day disappear

You will die someday.
It may be a slow death, such as through cancer.
It may be a sudden death, as through an automobile accident or a heart attack.

C. A person’s possibilities will one day disappear

The possibility to be saved (Heb. 9:27)
The possibility to serve God (Josh. 24:15)

II. THE WORD LOST CAN MEAN TO BE DISOBEDIENT

Psalms 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

A. All of us have been disobedient in our pleasures

B. All of us have been disobedient in our ponderings

C. All of us have been disobedient in our pronouncements

D. All of us have been disobedient in our practices

III. THE WORD LOST CAN MEAN TO BE DESERTED
(To be left alone, as a lost child in a store; to be forsaken of help; to be without hope)

Ezekiel 19:5 Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.

Ezekiel 37:11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

The prodigal son ended up by himself. His only company were the pigs he fed.

A. You will be alone in your depression, if you are lost

B. You will be alone in your diseases, if you are lost

C. You will be alone in your death, if you are lost

IV. THE WORD LOST CAN MEAN TO BE DECEIVED

Jeremiah 50:6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

A. Lost people are deceived about their condition

B. Lost people are deceived about the course they are on

C. Lost people are deceived about the crisis they are in

V. THE WORD LOST CAN MEAN TO BE DISORIENTED

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

(A lost traveler, a lost camper, etc.)

A. He is confused about his past

A lost man doesn’t know why his life has been a mess.
He blames it on his parents, his environment, his education, or even on God.

B. He is confused about his present location

He doesn’t have a clue as to where he really is or what he is doing.

C. He is confused about his prospect for the future

He can’t tell if he is in the heart of the woods or at the edge on the way out.
He doesn’t know if he is standing on the edge of a cliff, about to fall.

VI. THE WORD LOST CAN MEAN TO BE DEFEATED (A lost battle, contest, or game)

1 Kings 20:25 And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.

A. Satan defeats lost people

B. Sin defeats lost people

It seduces them.
It sickens them.
It slays them.
Jas. 1:15b … sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

C. Situations defeat lost people

They can’t handle money situations.
They can’t handle marital situations.

VII. THE WORD LOST CAN MEAN TO BE DOOMED

A. Lost people are already condemned

Not because they are more wicked than others.
Simply because they have not trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
They live each day as Christ-rejecters until they receive Him by faith.

B. Lost people are to be cast into eternal fire

C. Lost people have one chance: to trust Christ today