Chuck Smith emphasizes the transformative encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus, illustrating how Jesus seeks out the lost, regardless of their social status or past sins. Zacchaeus, a despised tax collector, overcomes his obstacles to see Jesus and experiences a radical change from greed to generosity after his encounter with Christ. The sermon highlights that Jesus knows our true selves and calls us by name, offering salvation and a new identity as children of God. Smith concludes by affirming that true conversion leads to a profound change in one's life and priorities.

"SAVING THE LOST" Intro: The backdrop to the story, 18:31-34. Jesus is on final lap of His journey to Jerusalem to be crucified. As He approaches Jericho, a blind man calls out to Him. Now He is passing through Jericho, and we meet Zacchaeus. I. ZACCHAEUS HAD A PROBLEM. A. He was curious. 1. A crowd of people were thronging about a Man. 2. Who was that Man? 3. What was His attractive power? B. He was short and could not see over the crowd. 1. That's not the whole problem, he's the chief tax collector. a. To push through the crowd would be disaster for him. b. He would be pinched, punched, and elbowed. c. He was a hated legal rogue. C. His solution, run ahead of the crowd and climb a tree. 1. There he was safe from their elbows. 2. From that vantage, he could see the Man. II. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT ZACCHAEUS. A. He was the chief tax collector. 1. Thus, he was public enemy number one. B. He was rich. C. He was a sinner, thus... D. Crowd shocked to see Jesus stop under tree and call to him. E. Jesus knew who he was though he didnt know Jesus. 1. True of so many today. 2. He called him by name. 3. John tells us that you didn't have to tell Jesus about men, for He knew men and He knew what was in man. 4. Jesus knew he was lost. III. THE NEXT SCENE IS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. A. What was said we do not know. B. We do know the crowd is waiting outside. 1. They probably hear the roar of laughter coming from the feast. "He received Him joyfully." 2. There were also long periods where they heard nothing. 3. There was a murmuring among the crowd that He should be a guest of a Sinner. C. After a time, the doors are opened and we hear Zacchaeus speaking, "The half of my riches I give to the poor.." D. We hear Jesus respond, "This day, salvation has come to this house as he has become a son of Abraham", i.e., through faith. E. We know that a man entered the house mastered by greed and emerges mastered by generosity. F. A man entered the house with a chief passion to get and emerged with a chief passion to give. G. You ask, "Do you believe in instantaneous conversion?" You bet H. He entered his house a sinner, he emerged a saint. IV. THE EXPLANATION OF JESUS TO THE CROWD, "FOR THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO SEEK. A. When is a man lost? 1. Lost now, life wasted. 2. Lost eternally. B. How is a man lost? 1. Born loser 2. Tract with two questions. a. What must I do to be saved? b. What must I do to be lost? 3. "He that believeth not is condemned already, seeing he..." C. Ever feel cornered? Like you were up a tree? 1. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door...?" 2. You can't invite Jesus to be your guest and not be changed.