Not only does God not want any to perish, but the Shepherd goes out in search of the sheep UNTIL HE FINDS IT. The shepherd then places the sheep on his shoulders and carries it back to the fold.
The problem with your theory is, it's not biblical.
Jesus is in Heaven.
Jesus has finished His ministry on earth, in which His Spirit now dwells in us, for us to do the works that He did.
Here it is from Jesus -
- he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12
It's up to believers to preach the Gospel to the world of unbelievers.
It's up to believers to teach the truth to the Church.
It's up to believers to cast out devils.
It's up to believers to heal the sick.
It's up to believer's to go after a brother or sister who is lost, to turn them back to Christ.
- “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
A Christian who wanders away and becomes lost is no longer justified [declared right with God], and has returned to being a sinner in need of repentance, or remain lost.
Matthew's version shows us what Jesus taught about dealing with such a person, and in context shows us the principle of forgiveness and unforgiveness.
“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. “
Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
Matthew 18:12-17
- If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
- And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
Jesus defines the steps to take,
to go after a person who has sinned against you to get them to repent:
- “Moreover [likewise] if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
- If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
- But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’
- And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
James says it this way -
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20
- Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth
- and someone turns him back
- let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way
- will save a soul from death
Found = Reconciled to God: Justified - Declared to be right with God.
Lost = Seperated from God. Unjust. Unrighteous. A Sinner in need of repentance.
For one of His sheep to become lost, it must first belong to the Shepherd.
JPT
Hezekiah 22:12 ??????????
1
