TILL HE COMES Blog

I have been having some interesting discussions on a few other blogs about Luke 15. In it, there are three famous parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.

The most common view on these passages it that the lost items in these parables refers to unbelievers, and Jesus goes out and finds them, and brings them back to Himself. However, it is becoming increasingly understood that these parables are not about unbelievers becoming Christians, but about straying Christians repenting and being restored back into fellowship with God. In light of the context and the terms uses in the passage, this second interpretation is much more true to the text.

However, one blogger said that all people “belong to God” whether they are saved or not. While I suppose this technically true in one sense, we must admit that only believers have a special relationship with God by which we can be called His sheep (John 10:14-16), and His sons (Romans 8; 2 Cor 6:18; etc).

But watch this. If these three parables are talking about how Jesus goes out and finds lost unsaved people, and the sheep, coins, and sons therefore represent all the people of the world, what is keeping us from a universalist interpretation of this passage, since Jesus doesn’t stop searching until he has gathered all back into his fold?

And in fact, I had one blogger interpret this passage this very way. He wrote:

I’m living for the Shepherd who will leave ninety-nine sheep to find the one that is lost. If the entire world was lost, I expect He found every last one.

Certainly, not everyone who holds the view that the lost in these parables refers to unbelievers is a universalist, but that is where this man has ended up as a result of his interpretation of the passage.

So, what evidences do you see one way or the other in this passage which helps you understand who the “lost” are and how does this interpreation affect your evangelism and discipleship?

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