Why Did Jesus Come?Sýnishorn

He Came to Save the Lost

The question “Are you saved?” offends many people in our culture. Most people don’t think they’re that bad or in need of saving, and most would be appalled at the idea that God would send them to hell. Jesus’ words in Luke 19:10 are a good reminder that, due to our sin, all of us need to be saved:

“For the Son of came to seek and to save the lost.”

The crowd grumbled when Jesus chose to eat with a tax collector named Zacchaeus. Tax collectors were notorious for taking extra money so that they could pocket it for themselves. But Zacchaeus rejoiced to see Jesus and repented of his sins (Luke 19:10). This story presents us with two different kinds of people: rule breakers and rule followers.

Rule breakers, like Zacchaeus, regularly and openly do things that are wrong. Rule followers, like the crowds in this story and like the religious leaders in Jesus’ day, pride themselves on keeping God’s law while looking down on rule breakers. Despite their differences, people from both of these groups are sinners and in need of salvation. Apart from Christ . . .

• Our minds are blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4)

• Our passions are disordered (Romans 1:26)

• Our bodies are defiled (Romans 1:24–25)

• Our wills are distorted (Romans 8:7)

• We are slaves to sin (John 8:34)

• We are dominated by Satan (1 John 5:19)

• We are children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3)

• We are condemned before God (John 3:18)

• We are separated from God (Ephesians 2:12)

• We are morally evil (Luke 11:13)

• We are sinfully sick (Matthew 9:12)

• We are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1–2)

• We are destined for hell (Revelation 14:11)

Based on these (and other passages) of Scripture, our biggest problem is not merely that we’ve messed up or made some bad decisions. Our biggest problem is that we are dead in our sins, rebels against God, and completely unable to save ourselves. In short, we are lost. That’s why it’s good news that the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Have you humbled yourself and admitted to God that you need to be saved?