* The Lost Coin

Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

--Luke 15:8-10

God's Attitude Towards the Repentant

In expressing His attitude towards the repentant, the concepts of "fault" and "guilt" and "blame" are removed. In particular the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin view those lost who have been found, as victims rather than as criminals. Not that they weren't actually guilty and subject to condemnation, but as repentant sinners, all the guilt of sin is removed. God is not ashamed at them, but filled with joy. There is no wrath for the repentant. And to show He is not ashamed of them, He affirms them in public expressing His joy over them.

Though Christians may have a shameful past, all is forgotten. For the New Covenant promise is "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Heb 10:17 Christ doesn't simply reluctantly receive the repentant into the kingdom out of a sense of obligation, he does so joyfully - even much to the surprise of the redeemed. We should do the same.

Yet often the value of repentance is trivialized. In what may be considered by today's standards, the male chauvinist attitude of the Jewish society in Jesus' day, men considered it somewhat silly how women get excited over such trivial things. And how they can spend hours talking with their friends all excited over what men would consider trivial matters! So Jesus used this illustration to say that what we may consider trivial as someone repenting is quite exciting to the angels.

The parable of "The Lost Coin" should serve to remind us that God not only welcomes sinners, He goes out of His way to save them! God rejoices when sinners repent. It is important that we posses these same attitudes toward the lost. We are to imitate our Father and our Savior. Jesus felt it important enough to tell two parables that are virtually identical--the lost sheep and lost coin.

There will be joy in heaven, and in our own hearts as well!