Hope For The Lost And The Wicked
- avajackmancary
- Mar 30
- 6 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
30th March 25 l Ava J Dearden
The human heart is desperately wicked. No one is righteous
Jeremiah 17:9 - The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
Romans 3:10 - As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one
We are all lost and wicked until Jesus saves us
We all have the inclination to be wicked, we have all done evil things in God's eyes, sin is inherent. We are all lost until Jesus saves us. If any one has ever told you that you are so bad, so wicked that you're beyond redemption, you may have started to believe this about yourself. If we are told often enough, we become what we have been labelled.
My message, my hearts desire is to reach out to those who don't know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, who believe the lie that there is no hope or chance of forgiveness.
Why is this important?
Jesus is coming back soon
Matthew 24:36-39 - “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen...When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day...the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time...the flood came and swept them all away."
What does the Bible say about the lost and wicked
The Bible defines the lost as those who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. The wicked have a disregard for honour, righteousness and truth which is considered a criminal act, aka 'sin,' in God’s eyes. All crime is against God, it hurts the person committing it and others around them.
Christians can be lost and wicked too. I know... I was one of them
Truthfully, I hate that my heart still harbours unrighteous thoughts and beliefs. Every Christian struggles with sin, no matter how mature in their faith. Paul spoke of this never ending war, which is actually proof that we are truly saved. If we are not battling against our own sin then we need to reassess our position in Christ.
There was a time, not that long ago that I was living in and of the world. I was backslidden, lukewarm. God had mercy on me, He took me in hand. He judged and chastened me. His discipline as a good Father continues daily. He keeps me in check, He convicts and guides. He sanctifies.
The daily battle against our sin nature
Christians battle wickedness too
Romans 7:18-20 - And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
Everyone has a story. God sees the reasons why we sin and that's really important
Some people choose to indulge their flesh in sinful behaviour. Some don't know what sin is and some are so broken that they are beyond caring. God sees our hearts beneath a multitude of layers. He sees and understands the reasons 'why' we do the things we do.
Why are some people seemingly more wicked than others?
We can only surmise as we can't see or understand people's hearts. What one person perceives as wicked or evil, may seem like harmless fun to another. It depends on many factors such as nature and nurture, friends, family and most importantly the choices that we make.
Wickedness on any level is not acceptable to God but 'intent' makes a difference
Intent, even from a human level makes the difference between manslaughter and first degree murder. One can be seen as accidental, the other premeditated. They are judged very differently in a court of law. God is just, He knows those who choose to sin and carry it out with intent as opposed to someone who has been broken so badly in their lives, that they are not capable of choosing wisely between right and wrong.
God is a merciful, righteous, compassionate Judge
James 4:17 - "For to him it is sin"
Genesis 6:5-6 - The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.
A reminder that Jesus came to earth and died for our sins
We are all sinners. Jesus died for our sins. Whatever the reasons for our wicked behaviours, He knows and yet He still loves us. No matter how wicked you think you are, God will forgive you if turn from your sinful behaviours.
Mark 2:17 - When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.
Romans 5:8 - But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
God is making His appeal to the lost and the wicked
Jesus died for all of our sins
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 - So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ
"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!" - His mercy is for everyone
God is not a God of confusion but His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours, so beyond human comprehension that we won't ever be able to understand His reasonings, plans or decisions. Romans 11 is a mind blowing account of how God is Master Chess Player. How He can turn all things around for good, how we are to expect the unexpected and one reason why we are to love and pray for our enemies, as realistically we don't know who they are.
Romans 11
Romans 11:25-26 - ...Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved...
Romans 11:28 - Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Romans 11:30-32 - Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.
It's not over till it's over - but some will still choose the way of the wicked
God wants none to perish but sadly there are those who will never repent of their sins. Their hearts have become so darkened and hard towards God, that they would rather die an agonising death and spend an eternity in hell than to proclaim Him as Lord. But Scripture tells us that there is coming a day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Him as Lord, even those who refuse.
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Revelation 9:20-21 - But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Philippians 2:10-11 - that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Lord God we pray, please save us from our wickedness
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
All Post:
Are We Truly Saved Or Deceived? l 4/3/25
Top Bible Verses On Salvation l 5/3/25
Hope For The Lost And The Wicked l 30/3/25
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