The lost are urged to be saved
June 15, 2009 (Monday)
I heard a preacher say one time, “There are only two kinds of people in the world: saved and lost.” Jesus had something to say about that. He gave us a parable about wheat and weeds (Matthew 13:24-30). At the end of this age they both will be harvested, then separated. The wheat will be stored in barns, but the weeds will be destroyed. Plainly Jesus was talking about two kinds of people, the saved and the lost.
Those who are “saved” are the ones who have accepted God’s gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. They have been given eternal life and have been changed from within by God’s grace. Those of us who claim to be saved have not worked our way into God’s favor, because saving us is his own choice, based upon his love for us and not upon our good deeds. We owe the Lord a debt we can never pay for all that is good within us. We cannot thank him enough. We shall spend eternity praising him for his great love.
Good and evil exist side by side in this world. They will continue to do so until the very end of time. Then a separation will take place; the wicked will be punished and the saved shall be rewarded. The eternal destinies of the two are different: one is headed for Heaven and the other is headed for Hell. The door is open today to the lost person to be saved. Jesus came seeking the lost, desiring to save everyone (Luke 19:10); the way is open for whoever believes (Romans 10:13).
We may choose to believe that everyone will be saved, but if we believe that, we are also believing that Jesus either was mistaken or lied. The truth is that everyone is invited to be saved and can be saved through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). Are you saved?
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Matthew 13:24-30 – Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
Matthew 13:36-43 (Explanation of parable of weeds)
Luke 19:10 – .. the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
Romans 10:13 – Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Acts 16:31 – Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.