Join us in this thought-provoking episode of the International Gospel Hour as we delve deep into the concept of being spiritually lost. Drawing from biblical teachings and the insightful works of the late Brother Robert R. Taylor, our discussion centers on the four dimensions of being lost: separation from God, spiritual death, torments after death, and the second death throughout eternity. This episode encourages reflection on our current spiritual state and challenges us to consider our eternal destinies.
It’s been said that the word lost is the most tragic word in our language without doubt. Today let us think about what it means to be lost. That’s coming up from the International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you to our J-Web, as always, and greetings and hello, everyone. We’re honored you’ve joined us today for our studies from the International Gospel Hour. Before we engage into our study today, I want to defer back to our J-Web for about 30 seconds, give you a little information about our broadcast here from the International Gospel Hour and our website. Here is our J-Web.
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Hello, friends. The Previous Shows tab is available at our website, internationalgospelhour.com, and also available on several podcast platforms. Maybe we are on your favorite podcast site. Just search for International Gospel Hour, and you can find previous broadcasts. They’re always there 24-7 for you to listen or even to download, either at our website or your favorite podcast site. Check it out today.
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One of the most frightening things that can come or happen to a child is to become lost from home and its parents. Until he or she is reunited with concerned parents again, the moments of painful separation seem like an eternity. Entire communities have been moved to vigilant action and endless searching day and night in efforts to find a lost child. Adults who are lost from their families are also tremendous tragedies. I have talked to parents who have no idea where their grown children are. They left home and never have made any contact. However, that multitudes of responsible humanity are lost in sin, separated from God, and headed toward an eternal Gehenna will scarcely prompt a small ripple upon the surface of a complacent society. we really do not sense what it means to be lost in sin. Allow this study to explore in some death what it really means to be lost in sin, now, after death, and subsequent to final judgment. Number one, friends, it means separation from God. The Messianic seer of 8th century Judah wrote, From Isaiah 59, 1 and 2, Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear. Men are not separated from God by birth. They are separated by the sins they personally commit. Humanity is not separated from God by the sins of Adam and Eve in Eden. The human family is separated from God by the personal sins of each sinner. Men are not separated from God by sickness or disease of a physical nature. They are separated by their own personal transgressions. John tells us how we become sinners. Everyone that does sin does also lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness, 1 John 3, 4. Sin is something one does, not something with which he is born. The denominational concept of original sin or inherited sin is one of the most diabolical doctrines ever pawned off upon the religious world. What it means to be lost, second. It means spiritual death now. Living people can be dead. This may sound rather contradictory and paradoxical, but the Bible teaches its truthfulness. People can be alive physically and at the same time be dead spiritually. They are as oblivious to the world of spiritual realities as a human corpse is to the living surrounding near its casket. The compassionate father in that pearl of the parables of Luke chapter 15 said of his returned son, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him. and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry. For this my son was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found, and they began to be merry. Luke 15, 22-24 And then unto that elder brother, or his oldest son, the father said in verse 32, It was meet that we should make merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found. Twice in these verses the forgiving Father connected the words lost and dead. While lost he was dead. While dead he was lost. When found he is referred to as being alive again. In their pre-Christian state, Paul described the Ephesians in the following manner, From Ephesians 2 and verse 11, And you did he make alive when you were dead through your trespasses and sins. Paul in 1 Timothy chapter 5 verse 6 classed the earthly bound and pleasure bound widow in these plain and pointed words, But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she lives. It is significantly significant that inspiration classes the lost people as being dead. Their physical existence is not even deemed to be worthy of calling such real life by any stretch of the imagination. They never experience life in its fullest and in its deepest of meaning. What it means to be lost? Number three, it means torments after death. Physical death lays no claim upon a man’s spirit or soul. Only the tabernacle of clay goes back to the dust from whence it came. According to Luke 16, there are two realms where all spirits of the deceased go to await the coming judgment. The spirit of a righteous man like Lazarus was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom, Luke 16, 22. Therein comfort was extended to him, in verse 25. The soul of the rich man went into another realm of Hades, and the Bible states in regards to his pathetic condition that he also died and was buried therein. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeing Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things. But now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish. Luke 16, 22-25 The man on earth who had feasted daily at a banquet table filled with earthly bounties beyond death could not even obtain one drop of water to comfort his tormented tongue. He who formerly was clothed in purple was now wrapped in flames. He who once disdained Lazarus now desired his aid more. Lost in life and tormented beyond death is this brief but true biography of the one called Dives, as he has sometimes been called. Luke 16, 19-31 is one of inspiration’s sharpest warnings relative to what it means to be lost. What it means to be lost. Fourth, it means the second death throughout eternity. John the Apostle speaks frequently of the second death in the book of Revelation. Suffering saints at Smyrna were told, He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. Revelation 2.11 We note from Revelation 20.14 and 15, And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. from Revelation 21 and verse 8. But for the fearful and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and fornicators and sorcerers and adulterers and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. This is the realm Jesus called Gehenna in the original Greek, eleven of the twelve times it appears in the Greek text of the New Testament. It is the furnace of fire in Matthew 13, 42. It is the place of outer darkness of Matthew 25, 30. It is the place where the fire is never quenched and the worm dies not, Mark 9, 44, 46, and 48. It is the place of no rest, Revelation 14, 11. It is the realm of everlasting punishment, Matthew 25, 46. It is the place where the souls of the wicked will be banished eternally, 2 Thessalonians 1, 7-9. and it is the place prepared for the devil and his angels, Matthew 25, 41. Friends, what it means to be lost? We have noted the description of the lost in four dimensions. Two of these are faced in life now as one is separated from God and is spiritually dead, which really amount to the same thing. The other two are temporary torments and Hades and eternal anguish in the fiery regions of awful Gehenna. Lost, L-O-S-T, is the most tragic word in our language, without doubt. No one desires to be lost, friends. Have we prompted you to think about some things? We’re going to pause and see if we can help you in your search for truth and to understand the things a little bit more And here is our J-Web with a free Bible course that’s available by mail.
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An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, God and Man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and Man in the message box. another Bible study that is free from IGH, and our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. god-and-man.com We’d love to hear from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, today our lesson is part of our Turn Back the Clock segment. And the lesson, what it means to be lost, we credit to the late Brother Robert R. Taylor. For 91 years he walked upon this earth, and 74 of those years he preached the gospel of Christ throughout Mississippi and Tennessee. An author of over 30 books and numerous articles and chapters, we are honored to use his material today. He continues to speak in the spirit of Abel, Hebrews 11 and verse 4. And we will speak again another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. God be with you till we meet again.
