Be Diligent…

Is there such a person? Jesus made such a reference in Luke 15:3-7:

“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

So to whom exactly is the Lord referring? Does He mean the 99% who are truly so righteous they literally don’t need to repent? Is He talking about the woman whose heart is in the right place, whose life is focused on Jesus, and has already repented? Perhaps He’s talking about the man who thinks himself righteous, and doesn’t feel the need to repent.

My initial hunch is the second of these three possibilities — the person who has already repented. I don’t believe this to be the true interpretation though, because although this person would certainly fall into the category of those “who need no repentance”, it’s a numbers thing. There won’t be 99 out of 100 in this category.

Actually there won’t be this many in the third category either — the self-righteous. Certainly there will be many more in this category than in either of the other two categories, but the truth is that Jesus didn’t include the rest of humanity in a single category. His point wasn’t to focus on the people who either don’t need to repent or don’t feel the need to. The point to the parable was God’s love for the lost and His joy when one of the lost repents.

If we’re talking numbers, and if Jesus meant for us to take His numbers literally, is it really true that one percent of humanity from the beginning of time to the end will indeed repent and be saved? I don’t know how many will be saved, of course, but it’s my opinion based on Scriptures such as Matthew 7:13-23 that it’ll be a small number. Nineteenth century preacher Charles Spurgeon had many insightful thoughts relating to Scripture, but I must disagree with him on this point. He said in a sermon titled Heaven and Hell that he doesn’t believe the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:14. Spurgeon, explaining why he did not believe that there would be more people in hell than in heaven, said

“Do you think that Christ will let the devil beat him? that he will let the devil have more in hell than there will be in heaven? No: it is impossible. For then Satan would laugh at Christ, There will be more in heaven than there are among the lost.”

I assure you my friend, satan will not be laughing at Christ or anyone else. Among all those in hell, he will be the one most tormented! (See earlier post on the subject.) I could easily get off track here, and I’ll leave the remainder of this study to you. Take away from this discussion the true point of the parable — God loves you, and he is pleased when you repent of your sin, whether it’s the first time, the 49th time, or the 490th time (Matthew 18:22 NASV).

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Posted on April 25th, 2008 by Bob Mathews
Filed under: Christian life, Grace, Growth, Love, New Testament