Reaching the Lost for Christ

[ ] 1/18/2009 #811

REACHING THE LOST FOR CHRIST:

LIGHT FOR THOSE IN DARKNESS

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

INTRODCUTION: The lost around us desperately need salvation. They are in the grip of Satan. He is trying to take every soul he can with him to hell. We must pray for them and tell them of the glorious gospel of Christ. The day of salvation will come to a close. We must not let them perish.

I. LOSTNESS OF THE SINNER

A. REASON FOR BEING LOST. (Rom. 5:12) Inherited Adam’s sin nature.

B. RESULT IN BEING LOST.

1. Spiritually dead without God. (1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13)

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor. 2:14

2. Sentenced to hell by God. (John 3:18; Rev. 20:15)

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:15

C. RULER OVER THE LOST. (2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; god of this age)

Three times Jesus referred to Satan as the prince of this world’s system. (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11)

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12)

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” (Eph. 2:2)

1. Mission of Satan. (John 10:9, steal, and to kill, and to destroy)

2. Methods of Satan.

a. Satan blinds the mind of the lost.

(a) Through the world system.

(b) Through false religions. (2 Cor. 11:13-15)

b. Satan appeals to the lust of the lost.

(a) The love for darkness. (John 3:19-20)

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:19-20

(b) The desires of the flesh. (Romans 8:6; 1 John 2:16)

Satan is the great tempter. He tempted Christ. (Matt. 4:1-11) John described the ways of temptation: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. (1 John 2:16) James 1:13-15 tells us the end results when a person gives in to temptations.

“ Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Eph. 2:2-3

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15

II. LIGHT FOR THE SINNER

A. SOURCE OF THE LIGHT. (v. 4; John 1:4-5, 9)

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:4-5, 9)

This does not simply mean that He possessed life, but that He was and is the source of life. Christ is the Light shining in contrast to the darkness of this sinful world.

B. SHARING THE LIGHT. (v. 5- 6)

1. Preaching the gospel. “preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord”

2. Personal witness. “hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

LESSONS FOR LIFE:

1. Lost people are in the grip of Satan and they are headed to eternal hell. As believers, we must share the gospel and fervently pray for the lost.

2. We must walk in the light of Christ so we can point the lost to Christ.

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” (Eph. 5:8)

3. If you are without Christ, then you are lost. You can be forgiven and born into God’s family if you will repent and trust Christ.