Is Any Sinner Too Lost For Christ?

 

 

I am studying the book of Philippians with some other people here at my job. As part of the first study we are defining who Saul was and who Paul is. We had to go back to Acts 7 and 8 to get the backdrop and history of the great Apostle Paul

 Acts 7:54-8:3

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 8:1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Now must of us know this story, but lets read Paul’s testimony as he writes Timothy.

 

1 Timothy 1:12-1712 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. [4] Amen.

I have had to repent often of my constant unbelief. As we pray and labor to see our loved ones redeemed and reconciled to God, sometimes we (I) can become discouraged and say there is no hope. This especially happens when behavior or attitudes become worse and more sinful. It seems like God really doesn’t want to see them saved or they are so far gone, that even God can’t save them. This has happened to me recently with my eldest son. He isn’t getting much better, he actually getting worse. I long to see him on fire for Christ and his life renewed, but over the past year his behavior has gotten worse and it seems instead of grinding it out more on my knees that I find myself not even praying at times.

 

I think it easy to be discouraged even after great victories. Elijah had the same struggle in 1 Kings 19. In chapter 18 there is this climatic defeat of the prophets of Baal and it seems like Elijah has conquered his arch-enemy Jezebel. We know about the story of the calling down of fire and the buckets of water and then God sends rain. Well after this great victory Elijah says this in chapter 19:

 

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.”

Now after a great victory the next thing recorded in scripture is Elijah saying he would rather die! I could understand Elijah’s frustration. For one thing, if you just beat someone down (I mean a good old butt kicking, the ones that typically make people your good friend) you don’t expect them to respond the way Jezebel did and so was the case with Elijah. He must have said “if that didn’t convince her, then nothing will, and eventually she will take my life, so why don’t you save her the trouble Lord”. Elijah in that moment took his eyes off of God and looked at the circumstances. This is what many of us are guilty of in evangelizing especially as it relates to our families.

Every time we look at spiritual matters through natural lenses we are bound to get discouraged. We have to understand that God is completely sovereign and even if he decides not to save our loved ones, we are commanded to pray for them and others. God doesn’t work on our time line and He is the controller of every man’s fate. This leads back to the original thesis.

 

If God would save a pagan the caliber of Saul and change his name to Paul and this man becomes the greatest missionary the world has seen, why not my son? Is God not big enough to save the biggest crack dealer, the wealthiest corporate back stabber, the most promiscuous young lady, the most thuggish banger, or my children? There is room at the cross for each of these individuals, just as there was room at the cross for Paul and myself. God is faithful in calling His elect to himself, and as Paul rebuked the recipients in the letter of Romans when he said “can the pot say to its maker, why did you make me this way” in chapter 9, I had to lift my eyes and hands in repentance for the same attitude. God is faithful and he can take the darkest coldest heart, and set it ablaze.

 

Finally I believe God gives us these burdens to mold us into the image of Christ. If you read through the Gospels Christ says “Israel, Israel, how I long to gather you into my arms”, Paul says “how I wished I could be cut off” in Romans 9 and many of our grandparents and local pastors prayed earnestly for us. The burden is healthy just ensure your response is also. We are to trust our sovereign God and thank him for our salvation while simultaneously pleading with Him to save our loved ones and to continue to send workers to gather the rest of His harvest.