LOST = Separated and Heading for Destruction

[Van]

The term "lost sheep" appears about twice in the New Testament, Matthew 10:6 and Matthew 15:24. The Greek word translated here as "lost" is "apollymi" (G622) and is a compound word meaning "heading to destruction." In both places the word is in the Perfect tense, indicating they were headed for destruction at some point in the past and they have continued to be heading for destruction to the present.

Several questions arise from the use of this term. If there are lost sheep, might there be sheep that are not heading for destruction. These would be the sheep, humans, who obtained approval through faith, such as Abraham.

The next conclusion, if the lost sheep are designated as from the house of Israel, might there be other lost sheep outside of the house of Israel?

Finally, since Jesus came to save that which is lost, the lost were never in His hand before, because once in His hand, they could not have become lost or heading for destruction.

When were the "lost sheep" lost? Certainly they came into that condition at conception, being conceived in iniquity. But the cause of the loss can be traced back farther, to the consequence of the Fall. So the sheep became the lost sheep as a consequence of the fall, and that consequence is applied at conception.

Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Luke 15:7
“I tell you that in the same way, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

The lost are the sinners. They are heading for destruction.

Bottom line, everyone born as a made sinner was made a lost sheep, and Jesus came for them. We all were once children of wrath. We were all once vessels prepared for destruction. But we were made "My sheep" by the Good Shepherd. And when we were, there was rejoicing in Heaven! When saves a sinner, He makes one of "the sheep" who was "of My sheep" one of His sheep, those known as "My sheep."

 

[Van]

When God transfers someone out of being "in Adam" (or in the realm of darkness) and into the spirit of Christ, the person becomes part of His flock, or "My sheep." They are now "in Him" and will not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus said the fields are white for harvest, indicating that many of the lost are "of My sheep" and therefore open to accepting the gospel message fully, without reservation.

 

[Van]

Once a person, Jew or Gentile is placed into Christ, they become a descendant of Abraham and thus of the House of Israel, children of the promise. See Galatians chapter 3. However, before a person is saved, they are Jew or Gentile. So Jesus sent His disciples to blood line Jews in Matthew 10:5-6.

But what about Matthew 15:24, where Jesus clearly says He was sent "only" to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Clearly He is suggesting His ministry is not (at this time) directed outside of the Jews. However, and this is key, He relents because of the Canaanite woman's faith, thus faith if credited by God, provides access to Christ's ministry to the house of Israel.

 

[JD731]

Does it matter that 13 letters were written to the gentiles to whom Paul was made an apostle, the lone apostle, and that his letters explained what God was doing by calling them to faith in Christ? Surely he would explain the church and though the church will have a Jewish foundation, it will have a gentile character and King Jesus will have a gentile bride to rule and reign with him, finally glorified, not a flock of sheep, and that he will be a husband to his wife and not a shepherd.

Here are some words in his 13 letters to the gentile churches.

Sheep - 1 time in context of the Jewish remnant.
Ro 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Shepherd - 0 times

Flock - 1 time
1Co 9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

Lost - 1 time in context of Jews
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

There is an Israel and gentiles existing at the same time as the church, making three (3) separate entities at the same time.

1Co 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Now Peter and others wrote the general epistles but they were not charged to preach and reveal this mystery that Paul was given of explaining the church, and they didn't. They all dealt with promises of restoration of Israel and the promises to those of Abrahams seed that had been driven from their lands and separated from their eternal covenants and were under the judgement of God. Therefore you will find most of these words in their letters as they preached to the scattered sheep and strangers.

What I am saying is worthy of meditation and study lest one become a false teacher ignorantly.

1 ¶ For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

 

[percho]

Jer 50:6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.

Or maybe these are being spoken of.

 

[kyredneck]

Jer 50:6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.

Or maybe these are being spoken of.

yep

 

[kyredneck]

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