April 28, 2021
For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. – Luke 19:10
I spend a good deal of time reading various thoughts on Scriptural interpretation, I listen to podcasts about the Bible, and spend far too much time reading commentary found on social media from people whose ideas about faith differ from my own, which challenges me and also irritates me. I know it’s my own fault for spending time there.
However, in all this time what I find is that people spend way too much energy trying to make more out of God, the Bible and faith than it’s intention. People want to argue about Scriptural inerrancy (which means there are no errors or contradictions in their interpretation). Some want to argue about who is included and who is excluded. People want to interpret current signs as the apocalypse, or end times, even though the word apocalypse simply means to unveil, and has nothing to do with destruction. The point is people want to believe all kinds of things about the Bible, and the God who inspired it. Yet, I find that genuine faith is found in some of the simplest of understandings.
Luke’s quoted verse above for instance, tells us that the very purpose of Jesus, “the Son of Man was to “come and seek out and save the lost.” The plain and simple truth of this, is that there is no need to read further into this statement. Jesus came to seek those who were lost, and offer salvation. The hardest part, in my opinion, is for the people that read this to understand they are the lost whom Jesus came to save.
We are all lost, and there is no greater interpretation about who Jesus wants to save, or is willing to save. There is no reason to believe that any sinner is worse or not as bad as another, there is no understanding that some people are beyond salvation, but to those who recognize they are lost, are sought out and saved by the sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Sometimes, I really wish all those people who spend too much time arguing about this and that would come to the conclusion, we’re all lost, and Jesus is our salvation.
In Christ alone, we find true faith, for it is not our doing, but God’s through Christ and the Holy Spirit that we have life abundant and eternal. Thanks be to God.
Grace & Peace,
Sam