How lost are the lost.
I know that most of the people at the football stadium are outside of Christ.
They are under judgment.
But it is water off a duck's back, really.
It doesn't strike me.
You read the Lord Jesus.
The Lord Jesus came to Jerusalem.
He saw the crowd.
And he's moved with compassion.
You read some of the figures in church history.
They see the crowds.
And they are moved with compassion.
I know people today that when they see crowds,
that is their immediate response.
They're moved with the plight of human beings.
But that's not me.
And so I learnt a long time ago
that I have to spend time meditating on the fate of the lost.
I have to understand the seriousness of their predicament.
God's diagnosis of life without Christ.
Of what I once was
and what they are.
And Ephesians 2 verses 1 to 3
is not really that easy to read, is it?
When you read it slowly.
But I want to say to you tonight
that as a church
we will never come up with the right solution
unless we get the right diagnosis.
And you were dead
in your trespasses and sins
in which you once walked
following the course of this world
following the prince of the power of the air
the spirit that is now at work
in the sons of disobedience
among whom we all once lived
in the passions of our flesh
carrying out the desires of the body and the mind
and were by nature children of wrath
like the rest of mankind.
If nothing else
the Bible will not pretend
about the nature of humanity
outside of Christ.
It's a very graphic description
of the state of the lost
is it not?
And so let's slowly walk through this
verse 1 tells us
that the lost are
verse 1
dead
in their transgressions
and sins.
I was blinded by the devil
born already ruined
stone cold dead
as I stepped out of the womb.
That's the first of three
Bob Dylan quotes tonight.
Not that I'm that much
of a Bob Dylan fan.
I was blinded by the devil
born already ruined
stone cold dead
as I stepped out of the womb.
This is a self-inflicted mortality
that's been brought about
by our rebellion
against the creator
dead in their transgressions
to transgress
is to cross a line
that you know is there.
So for the Jew
it would have been crossing
the law of the Lord.
For the non-Jew
it would have been violating
the law that was written
on their hearts.
Either way
they're all culpable.
Though we were alive
without Christ
even though
we laughed and cried
we fell in and out of love
we experienced anger
we experienced jealousy
we did a gracious thing
a kind thing here
a thoughtful thing there
the bottom line is
until we came to Christ
we were certified
can you see it?
Spiritually dead.
The logic of the Bible
is very blunt.
That the wages of sin
is death.
That is the pay packet
of the end of our life.
We were spiritually like
dead like Adam and Eve.
You know the moment
they rebelled against God
they died.
You might say physically
they didn't die
but they were like
a cut flower.
So you know when you
buy someone flowers
there is a glory
isn't there?
There's a glory
in those flowers
that is so beautiful
and yet those flowers
will soon crumble
and implode.
And spiritual death
leads to physical death
that culminates
in the second death.
And as you know
the one thing
that you cannot have
with a dead person
is a relationship.
The relationship
is over.
You have memories
you have precious memories
but no relationship.
And God is saying
that is what
every non-Christian
is to me
in that sense.
I keep them alive
but I have no fellowship
with them.
And that is why
funerals are so painful
aren't they?
I know of a man
who became a Christian
from an Orthodox Jewish family
when a student
it was very shameful
for his family.
His father got so upset
that he took out
a death notice
in the local paper
because as far
as he was concerned
his son was as good
as dead.
It's such a profound
diagnosis
dead in our transgressions.
It undercuts
doesn't it?
Any attempt
at thinking
human performance
will get you anywhere.
It explains
the need
why the lost
need to be born again
doesn't it?
It reminds you
that nothing less
than a total work
of God
in the life
of an unbeliever
is what is required.
It is not
as though
God takes
99 steps
and you take
one.
It is a work
of God
from beginning
to end.
Secondly
the lost
are described
as followers
of the ways
of this world
in which you
once walked
following the course
of the world
verse 2.
The problem
is not just
internally
it is externally.
It is the environment
of which we are a part.
It was Jesus
said
the world
does not
hate you
but it hates
me.
And so
being deemed
to be followers
of this world
you understand
that it is both
personal rebellion
and corporate.
It is collective
not just individual.
We do not
stand alone.
We are part
of something bigger.
We sided
with the enemy.
We do not
rebel alone.
John says
though the world
was made
through him
it did not
recognise him.
In fact
it kills him.
And then in verse 3
the lost are described
as those
who have
developed
a loyalty
to the evil one.
It is a strange
verse isn't it?
Verse 2
following the prince
of the power
of the air
the middle of the verse
following the prince
of the power
of the air
the spirit
that is now
at work
in the sons
of disobedience.
And so
this difficult
truth is that
the lost
are active
members
in the kingdom
of darkness
from which
they need
to be rescued
and moved
into the kingdom
of the sun.
And so
what is really
shocking about
this diagnosis
is that you
don't have to be
in the occult
to be in the occult.
You just be yourself.
And you are
part of the
kingdom of
darkness.
We are not
just lost.
We are not
even just
willfully lost.
Outside of
Christ
there is a
demonic
element
to humanity.
Bob Dylan
said you may
be ambassador
to England
or France.
You may like
to gamble.
You may like
to dance.
You may be
the heavyweight
champion of the
world.
You may be
a socialite
with a long
string of
pearls.
But you are
going to have
to serve
somebody.
Maybe the
devil or
maybe the
Lord.
But you are
going to have
to serve
somebody.
Bob Dylan
was right.
Jesus said
if you are
not for
me you are
against me.
Do you
know that
proverbial fence
that people
talk about
that some
people think
they are
sitting on.
I am
sitting on
the fence
as it
concerns
Jesus.
The devil
claims that
fence.
Do you
remember what
Jesus said
in Matthew
25 about
the great
judgment
depart from
me into
hell.
That place
prepared for
the devil
and his
angels.
that's the
first reason
why hell
was created
and anyone
who will
remain loyal
to the
devil in
opposition to
Jesus.
And you
notice here
the work of
the devil
the work of
the evil
one how it's
described with
respect to
the unbeliever
the person
who is lost
the spirit
who is now
at work
as to
the sons
of disobedience.
And so
there is a
sense isn't
there when
somebody becomes
a Christian
there is a
sense in
which every
conversion
is an
exorcism.
Do we
believe in
exorcisms in
this church?
We certainly
do.
Where the
spirit
the ruler
of the
spirit of
the age
who once
was in
me
who I
was part
of his
kingdom
I was a
willing servant
I was never
interested in
the horror
world
horror films
freak me
out
the satanic
Ouija boards
they scare
the living
day that's
on me
I did not
have a
conscious
worship
attitude to
Satan
but by being
against
Christ
I was
actually a
servant of
Satan
his spirit
was actually
operating within
me I didn't
know it
until that
time when
the spirit
of the
evil one
departs
from us
internally and
the spirit
of God
takes his
place
Jesus says
wonderfully
he who is
in you
if you are
in Christ
he who is
in you
is greater
than he who
is in the
world
and leads
us from
one glory
to another
it's very
depressing
and very
heavy
and I
wish I
could tell
you a
funny
story
at this
point
but I
don't
have a
funny
story
verse 3
we have the
world and the
devil and now
the third
part of the
unholy
trinity we
have the
flesh
we're told
that our
orientation was
completely
self
observed
self
indulgent
self
centred
verse 3
a man
whom we
all once
lived
in the
passions
of our
flesh
carrying out
the desires
of the
body
and the
mind
all of us
there's no
us and
them
tonight
it's just
us
we were in
the same boat
Jew and
Gentile
male and
female
black and
white
it's very
very inclusive
as far back
as Genesis
chapter 6
verse 5
there is
this profound
assessment of
human nature
that every
inclination of
the heart of
man was
only evil
all of the
time
and God's
heart was
broken with
pain because
of our
treatment
complete
thorough
wholesale
rebellion
and it's a
profound
diagnosis
gratifying
the desires
of the
sinful
nature
indulging
in the
desires
of a
rebellion
heart
there are
times out
there in
the Christian
life when
the penny
drops
on this
by the
spirit of
God
the people
of God
get an
insight
into it
you see it
in Isaiah
do you
remember
he encounters
the revelation
of God
in the
temple
and the
angels are
saying to
one another
he is
holy
he is
holy
he is
holy
and his
response is
whoa
woe is
me
for I
am
ruined
literally
woe is
me
for I
am
lost
for I
am
a man
of
unclean
lips
and I
live
amongst
the
people
of
unclean
lips
and you
see it
in Peter
when he
encounters
the authority
of Jesus
go away
from me
for I
am a
sinful
man
and Jesus
says
everyone
who sins
is enslaved
to sin
and what
the world
calls
freedom
is
simply
God
handing
us
over
to our
self
centered
natures
and then
allowing
us to
reap what
we sow
and we
call it
freedom
the inherent
goodness
of humanity
is a
myth
the evidence
is all
around you
take a
look
what was
it that
persuaded you
that the
Bible is
the word
of God
what was
it that
persuaded you
that the
Bible is
the word
of God
it's a
lady I
know
for her
it was
Psalm 116
verse 11
anyone know
what that
verse says
all men
are liars
that's what
she read
and she
said that
is what
convinced me
that the
word of
God is
true
you can
translate
that as
all human
beings
are liars
but it
was all
men are
liars
that convinced
her of the
truth of
the word
of God
she read
that and
she knew
that the
Bible was
telling the
truth
she felt
that the
Bible had
understood
the human
condition
for what
it is
despite all
the personal
development
classes that
you can go
to wanting
you to
believe in
yourself
in spite of
all the
homespun
wisdom from
your favourite
writer or
sitcom
in spite of
all those
psychological
tidbits you
can get from
Dr. Phil
or Dr.
whoever it
is
or Oprah
you know
always
assume
the inherent
goodness
of humanity
the answer
to your
problems is
you've got
to believe
in yourself
you've got
to be true
to yourself
trust me
people get
so upset
don't they
when we
don't trust
them
do I trust
you
of course
not
when we
don't trust
me
we're so
naive
aren't we
we know
don't we
what the
human condition
is like
John
Stoff
said if
you were
to look
into my
heart
you would
spit in
my face
and if
I were
to look
into your
heart
I'd be
tempted to
spit in
your face
and that's
with the
spirit of
God
isn't it
now we
need to
think about
this
really
hard
because
why do
we find
this
diagnosis
of the
human
condition
so
difficult
why are
you
thinking
this is
so
hard
tonight
and part
of the
reason is
there are
some
really
nice
non-Christians
out there
aren't they
in fact
they put
Christians
to the
chin
they put
me
to the
chin
and that
too is
part of
the evidence
you are
trying to
come to
terms
with
but you
don't
really
ever
see
the
darkness
of the
human
condition
the
darkness
of the
human
heart
until
it
encounters
the
personal
claims
of the
Lord
Jesus
so I
was
talking
with
someone
I
know
the
other
day
and his
father
was a
lovely
man
the
man
was not
a
Christian
the
father
his son
had become
a Christian
and the
father
was
dying
his son
was at
his
father's
bedside
and he
pleaded
with his
dad
to accept
Jesus
Christ
and the
father
who I
knew of
and was
a lovely
guy
said
you
offend
me
by asking
me to
accept
someone
I've
rejected
you
offend
me
I'm
telling you
this man
was a
great guy
loved in the
office
a charitable
man
but you
don't see the
darkness of the
human heart
until it
encounters the
claims of
Jesus
and then it
says I
want nothing
to do
with you
and so it's
not surprising
is it that the
result of this
in the last
part of verse
3 is
and we're by
nature children
of wrath
like the rest
of mankind
the one thing
that we deserve
the one thing
that we
naturally ought
to attract
from God
is condemnation
we sin
by choice
we sin
by nature
it's an
indication of
original sin
Lever said
that original sin
is the only
doctrine that
has been
empirically
proven
the evidence
is there
despite what
people want
to believe
we are by
nature
objects
of wrath
and when you
think of the
word wrath
I don't know
what you think
of
it makes me
think of a
heavy metal band
certain words
don't they have
certain images
wrath
but it's
not simply
an emotion
that kind of
springs out
it's not an
emotion that
springs out
from a
righteous God
we'll give God
enough time
and in the end
you'll get over it
it speaks of
God's righteous
his right and
holy response
from a just
God's response
to sin
and it is
experienced in
part now
Romans 1
tells us that
this world
is under
judgment
and we do
experience that
but it will
be experienced
fully on the
day of the
Lord
and that day
is called the
day of God's
wrath
the day of
vengeance
as we looked
at this one
and it is a
holy wrath
the opposite
to love
is not
anger
the opposite
to love
is indifference
and God
is anything
but indifferent
let me tell
you
but it's
what awaits
all those
who are lost
and outside
of Christ
Jesus said
it very
simply at
the end
of John
3
whoever
believes
on the
son
has life
whoever
rejects
the son
does not
have life
and the
wrath of
God
remains
upon
him
do you
see the
choice
it is
like the
blaze
and the
guillotine
ready to
drop
hence
the call
of the
gospel
is to
flee
from the
wrath
to come
and that
is the
status of
someone
who has
not
come to
Christ
of course
the blade
of the
guillotine
is removed
when you
come to
Christ
no condemnation
in Christ
Jesus
that's why
it's so
fantastic
to be a
Christian
tonight
that's why
you can
wake up
tomorrow
morning
knowing
that every
sin has
been dealt
with
but outside
of that
outside of
that you
don't want
to meet
with God
unforgiven
but if
Hebrews
says it
is a
dreadful
thing
it is a
fearful
thing to
fall into
the hands
of the
living
God
and our
God
is a
consuming
fire
it is
not the
Bible
it is
not Jesus
but it
was Mahatma
Gandhi
who said
Jesus
hates the
sin but
loves the
sinner
that was
Mahatma
Gandhi
said that
now there's
half truth
there
but whatever
distinction you
want to make
now between
the two
between sin
and the
sinner
it is a
meaningless
distinction
on the day
of the
Lord when
he comes
when both
sinner and
sin will
be dealt
with
you see how
heavy this
is tonight
we're not
making this
up
there are
graphic
images
in the
Bible
that are
written in
such a
way
as to
evoke
fear
the Bible
goes out
of its
way to
tell you
how serious
this is
let's go to
just a couple
of places
let's go to
Revelation
chapter 6
verse 15
Revelation
chapter 6
verse 15
it's on
page 1031
it's one of
the expressions
of final
judgment
Revelation
chapter 6
verse 15
it says
on page
1031
then the
kings of
the earth
and the
great ones
and the
generals
and the
rich
and the
powerful
and ever
and the
slave and
free
hid
themselves
in the
caves
and among
the rocks
and the
mountains
calling to
the mountains
and rocks
fall on
us
and hide
us from
the face
of him
who is
seated on
the throne
and from
the wrath
of the
Lamb
the great
day of
their wrath
has come
and who
can stand
on that
day it
will be
better for
the enemies
of God
to have
a hundred
tons of
concrete
fall upon
them
than to
meet the
wrath
of the
Lamb
and the
piercing
judgment
it is
the stuff
of nightmares
to meet
God
unforgiving
is simply
a nightmare
and you
don't know
what terror
is until
you stand
before a
holy
God
and his
God
appointed
son
who is
judge
and you
discover
that there
is no
place to
run
Psalm 2
puts it
in this
way for
those who
will stand
against the
Messiah
so complete
is his
judgment
that he
will dash
them to
pieces
Philippians
chapter 2
says
that the
name of
Jesus
every knee
will bow
in heaven
on the
earth
and under
the
earth
and every
tongue
confess
that Jesus
Christ
is Lord
to the
glory of
God
willingly
or unwillingly
from the
height of
heaven to
the pit
of hell
people will
be forced
to acknowledge
that Jesus
Christ is
Lord and
King to
the glory
of God
all rebellion
will be
suppressed
and ignored
let me quote
to you Bob
Dylan for the
last one
the iron hand
you know the
rebellious word
the iron hand
it ain't no
match for the
iron rod
the strongest
wall will
crumble and
fall to
a mighty
God
for all
those who
have eyes
and all
those who
have ears
it is only
he who
can reduce
me the
tears
of every
earthly
plan
that be
known to
man
he is
unconcerned
he's got
plans of
his own
to set up
his throne
when he
returns
and on that
day God's
enemies will
beg him to
kill them
and they will
not be able
to die
and you and
I love
people
who are
presently
heading for
the fist
of God's
judgment
to put it
another way
they will be
shut out
from the
presence of
the Lord
this is the
last judgment
passage
2 Thessalonians
chapter 1
2 Thessalonians
chapter 1
come there
with me
if you will
2 Thessalonians
chapter 1
it's on
page
989
2 Thessalonians
chapter 1
page 989
and God
will punish
those who
punish his
people
2 Thessalonians
chapter 1
and the
second half
of verse 7
he speaks
to the Thessalonians
he says
verse 7
he will grant
relief to you
to those who
are afflicted
as well as
to us
when the
Lord Jesus
is revealed
from heaven
with his
mighty angels
in flaming
fire
inflicting
vengeance
on those
who do
not know
God
and on
those who
do not
obey
the
gospel
of
our
Lord
Jesus
they will
suffer
the
punishment
of
eternal
destruction
away from
the presence
of the
Lord
and from
the glory
of his
might
when he
comes on
that day
to be
glorified
in his
saints
and to
be
marveled
at
among
all
who
believed
because
our
testimony
to you
has
believed
on the
last day
it isn't
going to
be a
surprise
the future
is clear
and crystal
you don't
have to
wonder
what it
will be
like
I want
you to
realise
it is
an active
judgement
it is
the language
of exclusion
to not
be in the
presence
of God
of missing
out on
the glory
that is
to come
of being
told by
Jesus
depart
from me
for I
never
knew
you
of not
being able
to sit
at the
table
with Abraham
and Isaac
and Jacob
and Paul
Levy
it is so
happy
isn't it
there will
be a
cast of
millions
there
but you
won't
be there
and there will
be a
failure to
taste of
the new
creation
when there
will be
no more
crying
and no
more
grief
and no
more
pain
and to
miss out
on seeing
God
face to
face
to be
shut out
from the
presence
of the
Lord
to know
that there's
a party
going on
next door
but you
can never
get in
John Paul
Sartre
once said
hell is
other people
must be a
grief friend
to have
but hell
is no
people
and no
relationship
and no
God
for the
person who
is a
Christian
here tonight
this world
is as bad
as it'll ever
get
but for
the person
who is
not a
Christian
this world
is the
best
in
loving
it
John
Chapman
the Australian
Houndless
in his
brilliant book
A Fresh
Start
wrote this
he used
poetic
licenses
an account
of someone
who finds
themselves
in outer
darkness
that Jesus
spoke of
and it
goes like
this
he'd
never felt
such
aloneness
before
where is
my wife
he choked
only that
awful echo
not here
your wife
is not
here
he tried
to piece
it all
together
but the
darkness
was too
thick
once in a
while he
thought he
could see a
blurred figure
or hear an
anguished moan
he remembered
the pain
those last
moments of
terror
but it
was nothing
compared to
the feelings
that were
creeping into
his awareness
again he
cried
where is
my wife
your wife
is not
here
where are
my children
your children
are not
here
he started
a group
about in
the darkness
but all
was blindness
my god
he howled
again
let me feel
the presence
of one
single human
being
my god
oh he
hadn't
said those
words in
such a long
time
my god
and now
he felt
like the
small child
being threatened
by the deep
darkness
no candles
anywhere
no love
anywhere
where is
my wife
he screamed
your wife
is not
here
where are
my children
he pleaded
your children
are not
here
and then
the greatest
of all
fears
came upon
him
he was
terrified
to ask
but he
knew he
had to
his whole
body trembled
as he
pursed his
lips
and he
wailed
into the
nebulous
night
where
oh where
is
god
and as
the deepest
of deep
darkness
creeped in
on his
soul
for all
eternity
he
heard
that
hideous
echo
whispering
the horrifying
of all
judgments
now listen
to this
the reason
why jesus
cried
my god
why have
you forsaken
me
is so that
you would not
have to hear
those words
god is
not here
he was
forsaken
so that
tonight
you do
not need
to fear
being
forsaken
now i
think we
need to be
careful here
i think we
need to be
careful on a
number of
levels but
the big
thing i
want to
say to
you tonight
is be
careful not
to think
that you
are more
merciful
than god
is
because as
we read
those words
from chapo
the great
temptation
is this
doesn't the
punishment
feel greater
than the
crime
i think it
does it
feels like
that to
me
if i
was god
i wouldn't
be like
that
and that is
only because
we just
don't understand
the seriousness
of sin
and the
holiness of
god
that's our
problem
jesus captures
the experience
of eternal
judgment in
just two
intentional
words
he captures
it in
terms of
weeping
and gnashing
and teeth
weeping
because of
the horror
of judgment
and gnashing
of teeth
because of
the ongoing
rebellion
that continues
in hell
they're not
regretting
they're not
regretting
they're still
rebellious
they gnash
their teeth
how lost
are they
lost
let me give you
seven reasons
why you need
to grasp
this
i promise
it'll be
less than
five minutes
more
seven reasons
why we need
to grasp
this truth
number one
if you get
the question
right
to how
lost
are the
lost
you will
grasp
grace
like never
before
and you
will never
understand
the good
news
unless you
understand
the bad
you will
hear words
like god
has forgiven
my sins
and it
will be
like water
off a
deck's
back
unless you
get the
plight
of the
lost
it will
be
like
bullets
off the
chest
of
Superman
they'll
just
bounce
off
like a
thousand
i love
you
for a
person
who's
perpetually
insecure
it has
no impact
but if you
get the
question
right
as to how
lost
the
lost
are
you
will
grasp
grace
like never
before
number two
you grasp
the answer
to this
question
how lost
are the
lost
and you
will
face
the
darkness
of your
own
soul
and the
depth
of god's
love
and it
should
turn you
if it
hasn't
already
from a
self-obsessed
middle-class
christian
into a
gloriously
joyful
soul
number three
you grasp
the severity
of the
situation
of the
lost
of what
you
once
were
and you
understand
that you
stand
shoulder to
shoulder
with the
rest of
humanity
because you
understand that
christ died
for you
while you
were his
enemies
and you
will
allow to
you will
you refuse
to allow
that route
of self
righteousness
to take
control
you will
know that
the ground
at the foot
of the
cross is
very very
flat
and while
it may be
fair to
say that
some deserve
hell more
than others
you know
and I
know that
we deserve
it well
and truly
number four
you understand
the answer
to the
question
and you
will find
that you
will refuse
to withhold
forgiveness
because you
know that
no matter
how much
you have
to forgive
it will
always be
loose
change
compared
to what
God has
had to
forgive
you
and so
we can
reverently
let it
go
you grasp
the answer
to this
question
how lost
are the
lost
and you
begin to
grasp
something
of the
grief
of God
and the
pain
that your
rebellion
has caused
him
as well
as the
righteousness
and the
righteous
way
in which
he is
so
justified
he would
be so
justified
in being
able to
send any
of us
to other
darkness
number six
you grasp
how lost
are the
lost
and you
know that
whatever
suffering
has come
your way
will always
be less
than what
you deserve
and number
seven
you grasp
the answer
to this
question
and you
grasp
the
urgency
of
mission
because
we will
understand
that the
souls of
our loved
ones hang
in the
balance
will the
next phase
of your
life
be like
the last
one
will the
days in
front of
you
be days
where you've
made yourself
deaf to the
plight of
the lost
will you
refuse to
hear and
ponder their
destiny
and so the
question
that our
friends should
ask us
is if you
really believe
us
if you really
believe in
hell
if you really
believe that
because I don't
believe in
Jesus I'm
going to
hell
why haven't
you told
me
let me
speak to
you tonight
if you
have
realized
during this
sermon
that you
are outside
of Christ
and the
words of
Ephesians
to you
are without
God
and without
hope
and you
are dead
in your
trespasses
and sins
and you
followed the
course of
the world
and you
followed the
prince of
the power
of the air
and at
this moment
you are
under
God's
wrath
let me
say do you
remember the
children's
talk
because do you
remember that
verse for it
is by grace
you have been
saved through
faith
and this is
not your own
doing it is
the gift of
God
and so
we take
Jesus
and we
cling to
Jesus
and we
trust in
Jesus
and we
rely on
Jesus
and we
recognize
that he
was
forsaken
so that
you don't
have to be
forsaken
and as we
sang in our
last hymn
this morning
for those
who are in
Christ
the fears
of law
of hell
and of
God
with me
can have
nothing to
do
because in
Jesus Christ
there is no
condemnation
and so
will you
turn to
him
and trust
in him
and rely
on him
let's pray
to