The One
John 13: 34 (ESV) — A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Luke 15:1-7 (ESV) — Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Who is the one?
Matthew 5:46-47 (ESV) — If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.”
“Everybody everywhere matters to God so the hard truth is that everybody
everywhere should matter to us.”– Pastor Forbes Talley
Who is the one?
Simply defined they are the lost.
Why are we missing the one?
Reasons we miss “The One”:
1)We Don’t Truly Believe The Word of God
2)We Have Spiritual Pride
Luke 18:9-14 (ESV) — To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers (couldn’t we insert “the one” here) — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.‘ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.
3)We Have Good Intentions With Bad Actions
1 Peter 3:14-17 (ESV) — But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
Mark 15:29-32 (ESV) — … saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” ….“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Who is The One? The Lost
Who is the Seeker? YOU ARE
Luke 15:5-7 (ESV) — And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.