Notoriously Lost, But Now Found

SCRIPTURE:
Luke 15:1-2, 32 NLT - Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people--even eating with them! ... We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'"

OBSERVATION:
In Luke chapter 15, Jesus gives us three parables:

• The Lost Sheep
• The Lost Coin
• The Lost Son

These parables were in response to the Pharisees and Scribes complaining that Jesus was “associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!”

The religious leaders were outraged because “tax collectors and notorious sinners came to listen to Jesus.” Yet, they completely missed the mission and purpose of the Messiah—sent by God to redeem fallen mankind.

We must be careful not to fall into the same trap of becoming “religious.” We must never forget where we came from.

Romans 3:23 NKJV - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

I recently heard someone say, “We live in a Romans 1 society—evil is all around us. But we, as the church, must not live with a Romans 2 mentality—judgment without remembering that it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. This leads us to bring the message of Romans 3—all have sinned, but God, by His grace, brought redemption through His Son Jesus.”

These parables remind us that we, too, are “notorious sinners.” If you disagree, honestly examine your own life—what do you see? If we’re honest, we are notorious.

So, how did a “notorious sinner” like you and me come to walk with Jesus, have our sins forgiven, and experience a transformed life? Was it because we were irresistible to Him? No! It was purely by grace—God’s unmerited, unearned favor toward the infinitely undeserving.

If we fail to recognize that our sin separated us from God, we are missing something vital.
 
Romans 3:10-12 NLT - As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous--not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one."

Notorious indeed!

APPLICATION:
If this were the end of the story, we would all still be lost. But it isn’t—the notoriously lost have been found in Jesus, our redeemer and Savior!

In each parable, especially the last one, a great celebration occurs when a sinner repents. Repentance starts with forgiveness—it means turning away from sin, turning toward Jesus, and allowing His Spirit to transform us from notorious to found, from sinner to saved, from unrighteous to righteous, from worldly to Christ-like.

Let’s avoid adopting the religious mindset of the older brother in the parable of the lost son. Instead, let’s rejoice and celebrate as Jesus did.

Luke 15:32 NLT - We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'"

PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for Your grace! Thank You for giving me what I don’t deserve—despite being notoriously lost, You found me. May I never forget what You saved me from—self-destruction. Help me rejoice and celebrate whenever the lost are found, remembering You are still pursuing the one.