Luke chapter 15, I want to bring
the message to you today from verses 8, 9, and 10 in Luke chapter
15. Notice verse 8, either what woman
having ten pieces of silver If she lose one piece, doth not
light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till
she find it. And when she hath found it, she
called her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with
me, for I have found the piece, that is, that piece of silver,
that coin which was lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there
is joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner
that repents." One sinner that repents causes heaven to rejoice. Now, I'm taking the title for
the message from the second part of this one parable, found in
verse 8, 9, and 10, and the title of the message will be, The Lost
Coin Found. The Lost Coin Found. Now remember in Luke 15 here,
this is one parable the Lord gives, but it's given in three
distinct parts. Each part, picturing the work
of the triune God in the salvation of His church, the salvation
of His elect, the same is given to us in Ephesians chapter 1,
where we find the Father choosing His people unto salvation, where
we also read of the Son redeeming His people by His blood, and
then we read about the Spirit of God calling out His people. All the Godhead, the triune God,
working to one end, to one purpose, the salvation of his people. Now, in this parable, we also
see the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Last week, we
brought a message from verse 4 down through verse 7, and we
learned there and we have the description of the work of God
the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd finding his
one lost sheep, Because He bought that sheep with His blood, justified
that sheep by His grace, the one lost sheep here in this parable,
representing the whole elect of God, and bringing the one
lost sheep home to glory, is the effectual redeeming effect
of the blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered
once for our sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring
us unto God. Now, in today's message, we see
the work of God the Holy Spirit seeking and finding the one lost
coin, rejoicing together with the saints and angels of God
over one sinner who is granted repentance. We know repentance,
like faith, is a gift of God. The third part of the parable,
from verse 11 down through verse 25, We see the work of God the Father
in receiving the lost son, graciously receiving him back into the family
for one reason, for Christ's sake, for Christ's sake. And
here we see the long suffering of God in his mercy toward us. Now in all three parts of this
one parable, we see the willingness and the ability of the Lord to
save his people from their sin. He is far more willing to save
us than we are willing to be saved. He is far more willing
to save us than we are willing to be saved. Call his name Jesus,
he shall save his people from their sin. We know we are only
made willing by his power. Also, we read in this one gospel
parable, we see the manifest love of God sovereignly fetching
his lost people home to the effectual, never failing love of the Lord
Jesus Christ. You remember from our Bible study
in Romans 8, nothing can separate us from the love of God which
is in the Lord Jesus Christ. And then we read about the love
of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1 John, "...hereby perceive we the love
of God, because He laid down His life for us." How do we know
anything about His love? He laid down His life for us.
He gave Himself for our sins. His love toward His church is
never failing. His love toward his church is
everlasting. He says, I've loved you with
an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness,
I draw you unto myself. His love toward his church is
never failing, everlasting, and it is sacrificial love as well,
is it not? Hearing His love, not that we
love God, but that He loved us, and that He sent His Son to be
the sacrifice for our sin. Last week, we brought the first
part of this one parable, and we talked about the good shepherd.
The good shepherd. What man of you having a hundred
sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine
in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he finds
it. And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulder and rejoicing."
There we see the Good Shepherd seeking out his lost sheep. picturing the Lord Jesus Christ
diligently seeking out his lost, and saving the lost sheep, finding
the lost sheep, and bringing the lost sheep home, and then
rejoicing forever over the redemption and the repentance of one of
those sheep who was granted repentance. Notice verse 7. in our text. Luke 15 verse 7, I say unto you
that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth
more than ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Now today I want us to carefully
consider the second part of this parable And consider the work
of God the Holy Spirit, and that's what we read of here in verses
8, 9, and 10. picturing the work of God the
Holy Spirit, this woman lighting a candle, diligently sweeping
her house until she finds that one lost silver coin, and then
what does she do? She rejoices greatly that she
had found that which is lost. Here we see another part of God's
great work of sovereign grace. Each part, the whole work of
the Godhead, The Father choosing, the Son redeeming, the Spirit
of God calling out His people, each part of the whole work of
the Godhead is vital and essential to our salvation. Leave out one of those parts
and you have No salvation. Now this woman shows and pictures
the work of God the Holy Spirit in omnipotent mercy and in effectual
grace calling out His elect with the gospel. This is what we see
here. Look at verse 8 again. is that
what woman, having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece,
doth light the candle, the candle here and the light representing
the Word of God, powerfully in the hands of God the Holy Spirit,
and she does with that light sweep the house, and she diligently
seeks that which is lost, and she keeps on seeking until she
finds it. And when she has found it, she
calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with
me, I have found that which was lost." We see here enlightening
grace. in lighting the candle, and we
know that God must command the light to shine out of darkness,
to shine in our hearts, that we might see the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God that shines in the face of the
Lord Jesus Christ. The light of the gospel is His
Word, and He lightens the Word, the power of God the Holy Spirit,
to make it effectual to the hearts of God's people. In John chapter
8, verse 12, the Lord said, This, I am the light of the world,
he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life. He is the light of life. So we
see enlightening grace in the lighting of the candle, we see
regenerating grace and renewing grace. This woman would not stop
searching until she found that one lost coin, until she had
that one lost coin safely in her hand, and then she rejoiced. And we are called in Scripture,
His people are called the sheep of His hand. Our Lord said, none
can perish out of My hand. Now, the lost coin. The lost
coin represents what we are by nature. dead in sin. We're created in the image of
God, made in his likeness, we read in Genesis chapter 1, God
created us in his image and in his likeness, but through Adam's
sin, through Adam's rebellion, through Adam's apostasy against
God, the image is terribly marred by sin. And now, the sinner being
born dead in sin, like that lost coin, with no ability to contribute
one thing to being found. What could that coin do to find
itself? It had no ability to find itself,
did it? And that is a picture of us by
nature. We have no ability to contribute
one thing to being found because we're all dead in sin, shapen
in iniquity. God the Holy Spirit must fetch
us out. by His grace. That's why we read
in John 6, verse 44, "...No man can come to Me except the Father
which sent Me draw him. All those who have heard and
learned of God the Holy Spirit, they come to the Lord Jesus Christ."
You see, in the Gospel, He must come to us, that is God the Holy
Spirit. Remember our Lord said, when
I go away I'll send him and he will come to you and he will
reveal the things that you need to know. For he shall take of
mine and show it unto you. He must come to us and do for
us what we'll never do for ourselves. We can never give ourselves life.
We can never give ourselves pardon of sin, can we? We can never
give ourselves salvation. We can never give ourselves regeneration
and make ourselves new creatures in Christ. We can never find
ourselves lost like that coin, lost, stuck in the dirt, down
in the mud, and could do nothing about helping itself to be found. It is the blessed work of God
the Holy Spirit to restore us, to reconcile us to God through
Christ, to make us new creatures in Christ. Now, that's something
that God does for us and in us by the Holy Spirit. He makes
us new creatures in Christ. For if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, and
behold, all things have become new. God the Holy Spirit creates
in us what was not there before. He makes us a new man, a new
nature, a new creation. He quickens us from the dead.
You have to be quickened who were dead in trespasses and in
sin. He quickens us by His will, right? His will. Of His own will begat
He us with the Word of truth. It is not of Him that willeth,
nor of Him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. He
quickens us with His will, and He quickens us by His Word. Faith
comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. In this bigness of the new birth,
turn over here to John chapter 3, and this is what we Read and
what the Scripture teaches about the new birth. Like that lost
coin, we were dead in sin. God must come to us and quicken
us, enlighten us or we'll never see, we'll never be found. That's why our Lord said to Nicodemus,
the religious Pharisee, you must be born of God. John chapter 3, verse 3. John 3, 3. The Lord answered
and said unto him, that is, Nicodemus the Pharisee, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, except a man be born again, born from above,
he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him,
How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter in the second
time into his mother's womb and be born? And the Lord said, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, except a man be born of water, and of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Except a
man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Except
a man be born again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
Now read on. That which is born of the flesh,
all that ever will be flesh. That which is born of the Spirit,
oh it is Spirit. Spirit. Marvel not that I say
unto you, you must be born again. Now watch this. Verse 8, "...the
wind blows where it lifteth, and you hear the sound thereof,
but you cannot tell from whence it comes or whether it goes.
So is every one that is born of the Spirit of God." The wind,
these last few days, it's been windy. They had a lot of wind
up north. That wind blows where it wills.
It's sovereign. The wind blows as God directs
it. We cannot do one thing to stop
it or to control it. The wind, so is everyone, as
he says there, so is everyone that is born of the Spirit of
God. Now, in the new birth, the new
birth is not an option in salvation, it is a must. And it is totally
the work of God the Holy Spirit in us, and we contribute nothing
to it. Now, turn to John chapter 16.
Turn back over there where we read earlier, John chapter 16.
And here we see the chief office of God the Holy Spirit, John
chapter 16 verse 8. John chapter 16 verse 8, When
he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness,
and of judgment. Now when he is come, talking
about God the Holy Spirit, When he is come, he will reprove the
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because
they believe not on me. Of righteousness, because I go
to my Father, and you see me no more. Of judgment, because
the prince of this world is judged. and is cast out. I have yet many
things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit,
when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into
all truth, for He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He
shall hear, that shall He speak. He will show you things to come.
John 16, 14, He shall glorify Me, for He shall receive of Mine
and show it unto you. All things that the Father hath
are mine, therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and show
it unto you." So if I would ask you, what is the chief office
of God the Holy Spirit? What is the chief paramount purpose
of God the Holy Spirit? It's to take the things of Christ
and reveal them unto us. And when he does that, you see
the new birth, you have regeneration, you see the work of God in the
center. The work of God the Holy Spirit
is effectual and irresistible. He sweetly yet powerfully draws
us to Christ and grants us faith and repentance. Both are sovereign
gifts of God. repentance toward God, and faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ. The only reason, now you think
with me, the only reason any of us believe the gospel is because
we've been born again by the Spirit of God in regeneration. The only reason you believe the
gospel is because you've been begotten of God by God the Holy
Spirit using the Word of Truth. Now, I want you to turn and read
this with me. Turn to 1 John. 1 John chapter
5. 1 John chapter 5 verse 1. A lot of people think or have
the idea, well, a man believes to be born again. That's not
what the word teaches. Whosoever believeth that Jesus
is the Christ, 1 John 5 verse 1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus
is the Christ is born of God. And everyone that loveth him
that beget loveth him also that is begotten of God. Whosoever
believes the gospel is born of God. You see what I'm saying?
We do not believe to be born, we believe because we have been
begotten of God. We only believe according to
the working of God's mighty power. Now, how important is true faith? How important is true faith?
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. How important
is true repentance? Let's see if we can find out.
Turn back to the book of Luke. Remember chapter 13? How important
is faith? Without it, you'll perish. A
man who is without faith is a man without Christ. In Luke chapter
13, how important is true repentance then? Look at verse 2. 13 verse 2, and the Lord answers,
suppose you that these Galileans were sinners above all Galileans
because they suffered such things, I tell you nay, but except you
repent, you'll all likewise perish. For those 18 upon whom the tower
of Siloam fell and slew them, think ye they were sinners above
all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you nay, but except you
repent, you shall also perish. Faith is absolutely necessary.
Repentance is absolutely necessary. Both are sovereign gifts of God. You see, God the Holy Spirit
so magnifies Christ in us and to us that we must have Him at
all cost. That's faith and that is repentance. To you who believe, He is precious. God the Holy Spirit makes Christ
unto us altogether lovely. Lovely turn to one other scripture
on this turn to Romans chapter 8 Romans chapter 8 Look at verse 14. We had this
in our Bible study not too long ago Romans 8 verse 14 for as
many as are led by the Spirit of God They are the sons of God
For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear,
but you receive the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Have
a Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness
with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, then
heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, it so be that we
suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together with
Him in Christ. Those that are led by the Spirit
of God, they are the sons of God. One other reading on this,
if you'll find 1 Corinthians chapter 2, The work of God the
Holy Spirit, pictured in this woman, lighting a candle, sweeping
her house, diligently seeking that one lost coin, is a picture
of God the Holy Spirit calling His people, regenerating His
people with the Word of Truth, calling them out of darkness
unto His marvelous light, found 1 Corinthians chapter 2, Verse
9, as it is written, I hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath
it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath
prepared for them that love Him, but God hath revealed them unto
us by His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things,
yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things
of man, save the Spirit of man which is in him? Even so the
things of God no man knoweth Spirit knoweth no man but the
Spirit of God. Verse 12, Now we have received
not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God,
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of
God. Look at verse 14, same chapter,
1 Corinthians 2 verse 14, "...but the natural man receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto
him, neither can he know them, but they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is
judged or understood of no man." Those who are led by the Spirit
of God, they are sons of God. Those who believe the gospel
of God are those to whom God the Holy Spirit has taken the
things of Christ and revealed them unto us. Now, look back
at Luke 15 verse 10. Now, the Lord is going to tell
us what this parable means. this part of the parable in verse
10. Look at verse 10, Luke 15, verse 10. Likewise, I say unto
you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God, angels
of God, over one sinner that repents. Over one lost sheep
being found, the angels of God, and the throne of God rejoices
over one sinner that is granted repentance,
there is joy in the presence of God over one sinner that repents."
And here is the reality of the parable, and the Lord tells us
what it means. There is joy in the presence
of God and His angels when one sinner that is granted repentance
toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ believes. They rejoice
in heaven. Now, I thought about this statement
here. One sinner. One sinner. What would the Lord
Jesus Christ have to do to save one sinner? Everything that he
has already done, whether he saves one sinner or whether he
saves 10,000 sinners, he's going to have to come and shed his
blood and justify that one sinner by his blood, call him out of
darkness into his marvelous light. Just one sinner. Everything that
he has already done, he would have to do to save one sinner. One sinner. Like me. Maybe one sinner like you, one
sinner like the dying thief who cried, Lord, remember me when
you come into your kingdom. We're going to see that in Luke
23. One sinner like Zacchaeus, who the Lord called to himself
and granted him repentance and said to him, oh, he's a son of
Abraham, for I come to seek and to save that which is lost. One
sinner like blind Bartimaeus who cried out for, Lord, Have
mercy upon me. One woman at the well of Samaria.
who the Lord on purpose crossed her path and gave her water,
the water of life, and says to her, you drink of this natural
water and you're going to thirst again, but you drink of that
water that I will give you, there shall be in you a well of water
springing up into everlasting life. One woman, like that woman
who was taken in adultery, and the Lord justified her by His
grace. Are you that one sinner? to whom
the Lord came, seeking and shedding His blood." You see, it is the
goodness of God that leads us to repentance. It's not the wrath
of God. It's the good news of the gospel.
It's glad tidings of the gospel that draws us to Christ. It's
not the wrath of God. We preach the holiness of God
and the wrath of God. That's His holiness. served in
activity against sin, but it's the goodness of God, the mercy
of God that leads us to repentance. In Romans 2.4, some would despise
the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering,
not knowing that the goodness of God leads us to repentance. What is the goodness of God?
It's a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. You remember in Exodus
chapter 33, When Moses asked the Lord to show me your glory,
remember what he said? I'll cause all my goodness to
pass before you, and I'll be merciful to whom I will be merciful.
That goodness is Christ. There's none good but the Lord
Jesus Christ. You see, this thing of repentance
is turning to God from our idols. Let's read that. Find 1 Thessalonians
chapter 1. 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. This is most interesting here.
I want you to read it with me. 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. Look at verse 3. Remembering without ceasing your
work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope, in our Lord
Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father, knowing,
brethren, beloved, your election of God." Now, how do you know
anything about your election? Now, it is true God elected people
from all eternity, but how do you know anything about it? How
do I know anything about it? Well, read on, right here. Here's
how we know. For our gospel came not unto
you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost,
and in much assurance, the assurance of faith, the salvation of the
Lord, as you know what manner of men we were among you for
your sake, and you became followers of us and of the Lord, having
received the Word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit,
there's the Holy Spirit again, So that you were examples or
patterns to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. From
you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and
Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God's word is spread
abroad, so that we need not speak anything. For they themselves
show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you." Now here's
repentance. How you turn to God from your
idols to serve the living and true God. Now notice how that's
written. How you turn to God doesn't say
how you turn from your idols. It says how you turn to God from
your idols. See, in turning to Him, we turn
away from everything else. To serve a living and true God,
to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead,
who delivered us from the wrath to come. He is our Deliverer. Likewise, I say unto you, there
is joy in the presence of the angels of God, there is joy in
the presence of God over one sinner that is granted and given
a repented heart, that is turned to God from idols. We read in Jeremiah 31, and I shall be turned." That's
what repentance is, it's a change, it's a turning of the mind, of
the heart. Turn thou me, and I shall be
turned, for thou art the Lord my God. And then in Psalm 80,
in Psalm 80, we read three times in Psalm 80, verse 3, verse 7,
verse 19, Turn us again, O God, O Lord God of hosts, and cause
thy face to shine upon us, and we shall be saved." Turn us,
Lord. Find us. Give us repentant heart. Make us new creatures in Christ.
May the Lord be pleased to grant us repentance toward God and
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to cause us by the power of God
the Holy Spirit to believe the gospel. You'll never believe
the gospel left to yourselves. I'm going to show you that. Turn
over here to Ephesians chapter 1. It takes a mighty working
power of God. In Ephesians chapter 1, look
at verse 18. Let's begin at verse 17. Ephesians
chapter 1, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father
of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation
in the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being
enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling,
and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
and what is exceeding greatness of his power to us who believe,
according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought
in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at
His own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality,
and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named,
not only in this world, but also in that which is come, and put
all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all
things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him
that filleth all in all, and you hath he quickened who were
dead in trespasses and in sin." We only believe the gospel, verse
19, Ephesians 1, according to the working of His mighty power,
and it's the same power that raised up the dead body of the
Lord Jesus Christ. May God cause us, by the power
of God the Holy Spirit, to believe the gospel, and may God cause
us to rest in Him for all of salvation, and to count everything
else but but loss, dung and ruin. That's why Paul said, oh, that
I may win Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the faith of Christ, that which is through the faith
of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. That's the work of the Holy Spirit,
calling us out of darkness into God's marvelous light. And that
woman took the light, sweeping the house, her house, and she
would not stop until she safely had that coin in her hand and
would not let go.