Joy Over Just One Saved
Luke 15:10
I. Introduction
A. Looking in on Sacred Scenes
1. Christians go to heaven when they die
2. But what do they do?
3. How much do they know of earth’s happenings?
4. Here is one thing that brings heaven joy: the salvation of sinners
B. Joy in the Presence of the Angels of God
1. Not necessarily by the angels…but in their presence
2. Christians who have gone to heaven rejoice over every earthly conversion
3. Making heaven’s inhabitants happy
C. Why?
II. Body
A. Because of the Importance of the Soul
1. “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)
2. The mad race in this world to possess things
3. But title deed to the entire earth would not be enough to compensate for the loss of the soul
4. How much attention we give to the body!
a. Body-building courses
b. Dressing up the body, fixing up the body, face lifts
c. Yet little attention to the soul
5. The importance of soul-winning
B. Because of the Increase of Heaven’s Population
1. Every soul won is one more that will be in on the joy there
2. Joy that is shared is multiplied
3. The indescribable blessings there…the beauties
4. The fellowship there with saints and with the Lord
C. Because of the Investment of the Savior
1. This is the reason He came to earth
2. He could have called ten thousand angels…but He died alone
3. All that is involved in His suffering and death for us
a. His suffering in Gethsemane
b. His trial…the scourging…the crucifixion
c. The precious blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:19)
4. The purpose of redemption
D. Because of the Reality of Hell
1. Each one saved is another plucked from the burning
2. See Luke 16:19–31: the rich man and Lazarus
3. It is amazing what people will risk for a little money
4. The trade-off doesn’t make sense
5. Same thing in the area of pleasure for a season
6. The joy of heaven compared to the awfulness of hell
a. The forgotten doctrine
b. Need to move to the brink of hell for a glimpse of motivation
III. Conclusion
A. Make Heaven Glad
B. Reach out to Lost Sinners Everyday
C. The Lost Sheep
D. Jesus is Still Seeking Lost Ones Today
Roger F. Campbell, Preach for a Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1997). 23-24.
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