The Bible uses the term “lost” in these metaphorical ways to describe our spiritual problem—the one that the cross was destined to solve. Without the cross, because of sin, we’re estranged from God; we’re not in His family. We’re not where we belong, and we’re helpless. Jesus knew that. He used the parable of the lost sheep to describe our situation. In Luke 19:10, He described His mission this way: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Only God could bring us out of that spiritual