INTERPOLATING JESUS’ PARABLE of the “LOST COIN”
Let’s interpolate Jesus’ “Parable of the Lost Coin” to illustrate to us the correct way of viewing, discerning, and executing the spiritual supernatural message of salvation contained in all of His parables about the kingdom of God/heaven that is present on earth at this time. This parable illustrates the importance of the spiritual process of justification.
The Parable of the Lost Coin:
The Parable of the Lost Coin. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I {Jesus} say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:8-10) NKJV
This parable is similar to the Parable of the Lost Sheep, but with three differences:
#1) Let’s look at what Jesus said in these two short parables and interpolate them to find what they spiritually and supernaturally reveal to us. Scripture shares with us that, “For God treats everyone the same.” (Romans 2:11) TLB in His dealing with man. The coin in this parable represents the importance of the cash value of an inanimate material commodity which in turn would be used for maintaining the family. Therefore, we have both a shepherd and a woman diligently searching for living or nonliving material things that have great physical value/worth in the kingdom of the world. To man, these animate or inanimate objects – material possessions – have such great physical worth for the sustaining of their family that when lost, they must be diligently searched for and when found deserve a big celebration.
#2) Jesus again uses something – a coin which the people knew had great value/worth. Today one could equate this coin with precious metals and gems, stocks, bonds, insurance policies, etc. as His “inanimate/nonliving material things hook.” The woman had lost one coin which had great value/worth. She diligently searched for it until she found it and when she found the coin she called her neighbors together for a huge party. Jesus spiritually and supernaturally interpolates this parable when He compares a condemned lost human sinner to a lost inanimate/ lifeless coin. The condemned lost human sinner has greater spiritual value/worth to God Who diligently searches for, finds, and works to convict each sinner of their need to receive salvation i.e. knowing Jesus Christ as their Savior thus participating in the process of justification, with the mandated requirement of pursuing sanctification and glorification.
#3) In this parable, there is a great celebration in heaven which now includes God’s angels joining in the process of justification with God the Holy Spirit for the condemned but now justified “Born Again” adopted child of God who is now included in the Family of God as a Believer. God’s angels will be used in the gathering of His Saints for judgment when the time comes. (4)
(4) the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 13:39b; 41-43) NKJV
Jesus in turn stressed in these parables God the Holy Spirit’s intense, diligent, meticulous, and thorough spiritual and supernatural search for the condemned lost spirits/souls in the world. God the Father uses God the Holy Spirit’s work in the world to “convict each individual in the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:8) NKJV This meticulous and thorough searching in the world by God the Holy Spirit reveals and convicts each individual of their need for Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. (5) For each new Believer who confesses Christ as their personal Savior, the spiritual supernatural stage is secured for each new adopted Child of God into God’s family. (6)
(5) Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again and be born? Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. [Ezek 36:25-27.] What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above). The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:3-8) AMP
(6) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13) NKJV
(6a) For He foreordained us (predestined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent] — (Ephesians 1:5) AMP
(6b) But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law, To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God’s sons]. (Galatians 4:4-5) AMP
Jesus’ interpolation for these parables is reinforced when He said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40) NIV
We now know the correct interpolation for these parables is revealing the initial process of justification and the salvation that goes with it through God the Holy Spirit’s meticulous and thorough searching of the world for all condemned lost sinners who are of greater spiritual value/worth to Him. Let’s continue studying the next parables to not only discern the initial process of justification, but now more importantly the processes of sanctification, and eternal glorification of these new converts through their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, Lord God, and Master. We will also see the process of eternal condemnation for those Believers who become Make Believers because they have become apostate in their lack of faith, worship, and service to Jesus Christ. (7)
(7) Holding fast to faith (that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting and thrusting from them [their conscience], some individuals have made shipwreck of their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan in order that they may be disciplined [by punishment and learn] not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:19-20) AMP
