Thematic Bible: Losing and things lost


Thematic Bible





from whence the son of man is come, in order to save those that were lost. If a man has an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray, do you think he would not leave the ninety and nine in the mountains, and go in search for that which was gone astray? and if he happen to find it, you may be sure he is more affected with that one, than with the ninety and nine which went not astray. read more.
in like manner your heavenly father would not that any person of such humility should be lost.

but he propos'd to them this parable. who of you that has an hundred sheep, will not, upon losing one, leave the ninety nine in the desart, to go after that which is lost, till he finds it? and when he hath found it, joyfully lay it upon his shoulders? read more.
and when he comes home, call his friends and neighbours together, and say to them, rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep, that was lost? I tell you, that there shall likewise be greater joy in heaven for one sinner that repents, than for ninety nine just persons, that need no repentance. or if a woman, that has ten pieces of money, should lose one of them, will she not light a lamp, sweep the house, and carefully search, till she find it? and when 'tis found, will she not call her friends aud neighbours together, and say, rejoice with me, for I have found the piece, I had lost? even so, I assure you, the angels in heaven rejoice, when any one sinner becomes a penitent. Again he said: a certain man had two sons; the younger of which said to his father, father, give me that portion of the estate which falls to my share. accordingly he divided his estate among them. a little while after the younger son turn'd all he had into money, and travell'd into a foreign country, where he squander'd away his fortune in luxurious living. when he had spent all, there happen'd to be a severe famine in that country; and he was reduced to want, which forc'd him to make his application to one of the inhabitants there, who sent him to his farm to look after his swine. for he would have been contented to have liv'd upon the carruways, with which they usually fed the swine: but nobody would supply him. at length coming to himself, how many, said he, does my father keep in pay, who have bread in abundance, whilst I am dying here with hunger? I will depart, and go to my father, and say to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and against thee; I am no longer worthy to be called your son: treat me as one of your hir'd servants. so he departed and went to his father. but while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him, and mov'd with compassion, ran and threw himself upon his neck, and kissed him. then the son said to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son. but the father said to his servants, bring hither the finest robe, and put it on him: put a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet. take the fatted calf, and kill it: let us eat and be merry: for this son of mine was dead, and is come to life: he was lost, and is found again. and then they began their feast. In the mean time his elder son was in the country. at his return, when he came near home, he heard the musick and dancing: and calling one of the servants, he ask'd what was the occasion of it, who reply'd, your brother is return'd, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him in good health. upon this he was full of resentment, and refused to go in: and when his father came out to persuade him, he replied to his father, how many years have I serv'd you, without having ever disobey'd your orders? and yet you never bestow'd a kid upon me, to make merry with my friends: whereas this son of yours, who has eat up his fortune among a pack of loose creatures, is no sooner come but you must kill the fatted calf for him. son, said he to him, you shall continue to be with me, and all that I have shall be thine. but it was necessary to feast and rejoice, because your brother here was dead, and is again alive: he was lost and is now found.

then said Jesus, speaking of him, this day is salvation come to this family, since he is now become a true son of Abraham. for the son of man is come to seek, and to save that which was lost.

he that loveth his life, shall lose it: but he that sacrifices his life in this world, shall preserve it to eternity. Verse Conceptsdiscipleship, nature ofdiscipleship, cost ofEntering LifeLoving OneselfLosing One's Lifelosing a loved oneHateFinding LoveLosing A FriendLosing Someoneeternity

Then addressing himself to his disciples, if any man, said he, would follow me, let him renounce himself, take up his cross, and so follow me. for whosoever will save himself, shall be a looser: and whosoever shall suffer loss for my sake, shall be a gainer.

the son of man must suffer many indignities: be rejected by the rulers, the chief priests, and Scribes: be put to death: and the third day be raised again. Then he said to the whole company, if any one will be my follower, let him renounce himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. for whoever would save his life, shall lose it: and he that would lose his life, out of love to me, shall save it. read more.
what advantage is it for a man to have gain'd the whole world, if he himself runs into utter loss and ruin?

and he that does not take his cross, and so follow after me, is unworthy of me. he that would preserve his life, shall lose it: and he that exposeth his life for my sake, shall save it.

At length he began to inform them, that the son of man should suffer many indignities, be rejected by the chief priests, Scribes, and senators, be even put to death, and after three days should rise again. and this he said in such an undisguised manner, that Peter took him aside, and pretended to reprimand him. but Jesus return'd, and looking upon his disciples, he gave Peter this rebuke, be gone, thou adversary, your views are all worldly, regardless of what is divine. read more.
Then addressing himself to the people, and his disciples, he said, he that desires to be under my conduct, let him renounce himself, and follow me. for he that would save his life, shall lose it; and he that would lose his life out of love to me and the gospel, he shall save it. what advantage is it for a man to gain the whole world with the loss of his life?


but if our gospel be obscure, it is so only to those who are lost: to those unbelievers, whose minds the God of this world has so blinded, that the glorious lustre of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, does not enlighten them.

Jesus having said this, lift up his eyes to heaven, and said, "father, the hour is come; glorify thy son, that thy son also may glorify thee. for thou hast given him power over all men, that he might give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. and this is life eternal, to acknowledge thee to be the only true God, and Jesus to be the Messiah whom thou hast sent. read more.
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. and now, O father, glorify me in heaven, with the glory which I had before the creation of the world. I have displayed thy name among those whom you have chosen out of the world for me: thine they were, and you gave them me; and they have kept thy word. now they believe that the instructions you gave me came from thee. for I have given to them the instructions which you gave me; and they have received them; and have sincerely believ'd that I came from thee, and are persuaded that thou didst send me. "It is for them I pray: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, because they are thine. for every thing that is mine is thine, and what is thine is mine, and I am glorified by them. and now I shall be no more in the world, but they will be in the world, when I am come to thee. holy father keep them by that authority, with which thou hast invested me, that they may be one, as we are. by your authority I have kept them, during my being with them in the world: those that you gave me I have kept, and not one of them is lost, except the son of perdition: according as the scripture foretold.