This son of mine was dead, and is alive again! A primary pronoun of the first person I. Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. For more than 30 years I ran away from God as fast as my sins could carry me. That initiative springs out of His great love and compassion. He learns from a servant that his brother has returned, that the father has received him, and that a celebration has been called. Note verse 5, rejoicing; verse 6, rejoice; verse 7, joy; verse 9, rejoice; verse 10, joy. Heaven is already filled with joy, but when a sinner gets saved, they throw a party, just as the father of the prodigal son did! One. A son, descendent. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. (3) In both cases, the owner seeks diligently and persistently. They know that it is the plan and purpose of God to save men, on the basis of the shed blood of the Son of God. Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular. A highway will be there, a roadway,And it will be called the Highway of Holiness.The unclean will not travel on it,But it will be for him who walks that way,And fools will not wander on it. And would finding this one sheep be such an occasion of joy that one would want to celebrate with all his friends. The younger brother partied in a foreign land, with the wrong kinds of friends. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. I am no longer empty and lifeless. God was going to bless His people for obeying His law. As he tells his older son, We had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found (15:32). I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Quick! The first two parables reveal that the Pharisees, in some cases, had great compassion on certain lost items, and they also greatly rejoiced when they found them. But Jesus socialized with lost sinners and rejoiced when they came to repentance. He could then no longer dispose of the capital, only of his interest in the income. Her meal preparation was postponed. Can I plead with you today? But it does mean that many actions which appear righteous and spiritualprayer, for examplemay be evil, if the attitude behind the action is evil. Bring the best robe and put it on him. I have chosen to deal with the entire 15th chapter in this lesson, rather than to break it up, as I often do. From early in the book of Luke, the Pharisees chaffed over Jesus association with sinners, and the mood of joy and celebration which dominated the scene of His eating together with them (Luke 5:29ff.). The unrighteousness of self-righteousness will be exposed in the parable of the prodigal son, which is up-coming. There are really three persons in focus in this parable, not just one: the younger brother, the father, and the older brother. Sin, from a biblical point of view, is often characterized more in terms of attitudes. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. No, there is not, at least not until the celebration. The younger son loved material thingsmoneymore than his father or than his family, because he asked for his portion at the expense and risk of his family. It was only in my study for this message that I came to realize the many similarities in the two. They only got a taste or sample of it, so this is not about believers. The woman who lost her coin sets aside all her other work and diligently searches until she finds it. A time to search and a time to give up as lost;A time to keep and a time to throw away. He could make the truth simple; the Pharisees made it mind-bogglingly complex. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 9. Lets have a feast and celebrate. It actually says a lot about the security of the saints, and its not up to the saints to hold onto it by their own efforts alone. Is salvation by grace plus works a false gospel? He was lost, but now he is found. So the party began. https://mymarshill.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/lesson19.mp3. The heart of that father never forgot the wayward son. The third parable depicts the loving and forgiving heart of God (in the father), the repentance of the sinner (in the younger brother), and the sullen joylessness of the Pharisees (in the older brother). Jesus did not attempt to minimize this younger sons sin. The three parables which He spoke in response, were directed toward the Pharisees and scribes (cf. Discuss with prayer and thought. Lets clear this matter up, so that Christianity can cut across social lines and into our culture. One might have to sell off or kill five sheep to celebrate the finding of one. Jesus also confronts them in 16:15, when He says, You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. Jesus hits the same thing in 18:9, with the parable of the Pharisee and the publican going to the temple to pray. Today we will look at the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. Related Topics: Soteriology (Salvation), Cultural Issues, Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully, literally or figuratively. Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. My friend, it matters little whether you are a socially acceptable sinnerlike the Phariseesor a socially unacceptable sinnerlike the prodigal. This over-zealousness is not characteristic of God, but it is believable in men. What did give them joy? He was lost. Thats no better than what the world offers. Any that leave the faith never had the faith in the first place. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. As Peter comes to the conclusion of this passage, he refers again to Isaiah 53. Q. Didnt you do your part before God did His? The new Christian jumped to his feet and said, Oh, yes, I did. Paul writes that nothing created or even death itself can ever separate us from God (Rom 8:37-39). But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, This man1 welcomes sinners and eats with them.. There is no outward rebellion here. Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular. We fail to evangelize, not because we lack the training or the methodology, but because we lack the deep sense of mans lost condition, of the destiny they face, and of the delight of salvation which is available to them in Christ. We most often tend to think of Him as the giver, rather than as the gift. We once lost Christa at Disneyland when she was about seven years old. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 1999, All Rights Reserved. Impossible! When a person savingly believes in Christ, he turns from his sins and trusts in Gods mercy. and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in You Isaiah 35:4 Tell everyone who is discouraged, Be strong and dont be afraid! They might have tasted the goodness of the word of God and shared in the heavenly gift (Jesus Christ! We would look at the compliant, hard-working older brother and commend him. Luke 5:27ff.). Now, just now, at this moment. When he came to his senses, he said, How many of my fathers hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! Note two things: There are different views on what Jesus means in verse 7, but two are most likely. Thus weve seen that sinners are lost until God finds them and that He goes to great effort to seek and save them. After this, the issue of Jesus association with sinners arose (5:27ff.). Great was the celebration which followed her recovery. I would say it this way; He sought me, He caught me, He bought me, and He taught me what I ought to be. Take a moment and pray for the lost sheep. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. He was lost, and now hes found! And they began to celebrate.. This does not mean that certain actions are not necessarily evil. Its not like the old hymn with a new twist where it says, I was once lost, but now am foundbut then I was lost again.. After the extra point was kicked he mumbled, Divorce, huh? The words of this famous hymn by John Newton seem to resonate with people of all theological With a smile on his face and joy in his heart, the man related how he had been delivered from a life of sin. Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. The 99 sheep, the nine coins that were not lost, and the older brother who never strayed all represent the Pharisees and scribes. If you believe you have eternal life but then can lose it, then it was not eternal life that you received! A time to search and a time to give up as lost; Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. (3) The Pharisees loved to focus on the technicalities (Matthew 23:16-24). Both sons loved money; they only differed in what they wanted to do with it, and when. He sent the Holy Spirit to pursue you with the good news that Christ died for your sins. In their case, or in the churchs case, the author was saying we are not like those who might profess faith but then just keep on sinning. Sometimes I have spent hours trying to track it down, even after Ive decided not to use it! When they were filled, He *said to His disciples, Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.. The older brother was at work in the field when his younger brother returned home. The process of repentance began, I believe, when the younger brother began to suffer the painful consequences of his sin. They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited city. From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. WebWhat I know is that I once was lost, but now Im found! He became very angry and refused to go in to celebrate with the rest, even though this celebration was called for by the father. The older brother was not able to see himself as greatly blessed because he had been with his father, while the younger had been apart from him. They We didnt even mind losing our place in line for the Dumbo ride! or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do; For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. The second family had nothing to do with God. Let me illustrate this, to be sure that my understanding of this issue is clear. 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.. When a self-righteous person continues in his self-righteousness, he gets the glory and God is not pleased. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), The Situation: All the tax-gatherers & sinners coming to hear Jesus, The Complaint: Jesus welcomes sinners and even eats with them. My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back. You see, we tend to appraise sin (and sinners) by merely external standards and criteria. But this final parable proves this assumption to be entirely false. John To come to life again, revive, regain life. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. Parents who have or are presently struggling with wayward children will tend to identify with the father of the prodigal, and look at this text for guidance and comfort for them in the midst of their pain and adversity. The were hard at work with respect to keeping the law, as they interpreted it, supposing that this was what would win Gods approval and blessing. I can envision Jesus audience sucking in their breath in shock and horror at what this man had done. because my son was dead and is alive again. Let us eat and have a good time.. 6 There is some question as to what the reading of the original text should be at verse 21, as indicated by the marginal note in the NASB. John says that they went out from us because they werent really of us in the first place (1 John 2:19). He is a mirror of the Pharisees! Their kids told some of my friends at school that their dad and mom are going to get a divorce., All right! Dad shouted excitedly, as his favorite team on the game he was watching threw a touchdown pass. ), in which case he was bound by the provisions of the Law. And they all went to church every Sunday. He was lost and is found." If you are saved, you know that it is not because you sought after God, but because God sought after you and kept seeking until He rescued you from your sin. Try going up to someone to share the gospel and tell they that they can be saved by trusting in Christ and receive eternal life but to be careful because they could blow it. for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to celebrate. There are no demands. But, thank God, He has intervened! (1) In both parables, sinfulness is not stressed (in going astray, getting lost), but lostness. What if he repents but later falls away and is lost? 1:4, 5). (Charles Spurgeon, Twelve Sermons on the Prodigal Son [Baker], pp. In the last decade or so, hundreds have contacted us to say they believe they have lost their salvation or blasphemed the Holy Spirit. If you dont, then you will have to face Gods judgment, either after death (Heb 9:27), or at Christs appearance, and without Him standing in for you, you will pay for your own sins and for all time. Our text is Lukes account of three parables, each of which describes the finding of a lost item, and each of which describes the joy and celebration which resulted. The first two parables, then, expose the misplaced compassion of the Pharisees. Heb. For this my son was dead, and hath lived again; he perished, and is found. Before I move on to the final point, I want to apply this point, that God goes to great effort to seek lost sinners. The father granted the sons request, and shortly thereafter the son left his father, his family, his country, and departed to a distant country, where he squandered his possessions in a sinful lifestyle. The most dramatic example of this in recent times was the rejoicing of the nation as Jessica McClure emerged from a well shaft, where she had been lost for several days. Do we rejoice when we get a new car? Is salvation by faith alone, or by faith plus works. From, tuphoo; opaque, i.e. 8 It was fitting is not strong enough for his word edei, which means It was necessary. The welcome to the younger son was not simply a good thing which might or might not have occurred. Let us seek the illumination of Gods Spirit as we approach this very important passage of Gods Word, so that we may learn what our Lord wanted His audience to understand. all of Philippians). He gave the Lord all the glory, saying nothing about anything that he had done. After checking with all the nearby mechanics and turning it in to the police for the required time, I claimed it as my own. Once upon a time there were two families who lived next door to each other. The Apostle Paul could confidently say, I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me (1 Tim 1:12). As an Israelite, this young man would understand several things about the blessings which God promised His chosen people. Let that be a lesson to you, in case you ever get the notion you dont want to go to church! Listen to his words to his father. Suppose that someone were to come along with a one-paragraph explanation of all the rules (impossible as it seems), easily understood and applied by the masses. Thus, the words of the son to his father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight (v. 18, NASB). The younger of two brothers one day approached his father with the request that he allocate to him his share of the inheritance earlier than would be customary, although not altogether out of the question: A man might leave his goods to his heirs by last will and testament (cf. Again, let me briefly apply this. But there is even more than this. He knew the nature of sheep, that they are prone to stray, to get lost and to stay lost without the help of a shepherd. I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see. John Newton Read more quotes from John Newton Share this quote: Like Quote Recommend to friends Always Saved, The first run-in between Jesus and the Pharisees had to do with Jesus authority to forgive sins, which was only the prerogative of God (Luke 5:17-26). This is the final lesson in a nine part study for children on the parables of Jesus. Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular. Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate. What did it matter to them if Jesus chose to associate with sinners? Focus on the great truth that Jesus took upon Himself our sinsthe guilt, the judgment, and the punishment, and bore them for us. I remember a picture my grandmother used to have on her wall of Jesus as the shepherd, reaching over a precipice and rescuing a lamb caught in a bush, ready to fall to its death. Peter was not a shepherd by trade; he was a fisherman. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. Repentance means turning to God from our sins. 7 The father, to the best of my knowledge, did not restore to the son what he had lost, but he did restore him to the full benefits of being a member of the familyin other words, the inheritance, which he squandered was not replenished, but he was given a coat, a ring, and sandals. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. In Luke 15, this parable serves as the Lords final, forceful response to the grumbling of the Pharisees at His response to sinners. He was in the place of honor, not them. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. Some argue that you can have saving faith without repentance. I cant do other things when something is lost! What was it in Matthew 23 which characterized the Pharisees and scribes, and which helps us to understand their agony at seeing sinners flock to Jesus? Anyone who has tried to read the instructions knows how complicated it can get. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Jesus was, in the minds of the Pharisees, upstaging them. 255 We should not let the modern chapter division make us miss an important point. Not so with sheep. They wanted to keep the saved to a very small number, and to keep the undesirable element out. As we (true believers) remember that we were once lost (in sin), how can we now as followers of Jesus Christ help those who are still lost? WebMy son was dead, but now he is alive again! He rescued (saved) me from the destruction of my lostness. International Standard Version You were "like sheep that kept going astray," but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. This is why they could not rejoice at the repentance of lost sinners. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. So they began to celebrate. This is, of course, the flip side of the first protest. For the younger son, the father was the provider of the inheritance, so he could indulge his fleshly desires. Tagged as: It is my contention that the first two parables are a pair, emphasizing the same truth. The imagery of sheep is a common one in the Scriptures, primarily because they lived in a rural society , Luke 15:32 niv - But we had to celebrate and be glad, - Bible G for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. The older brothers works didnt work, but the younger brothers repentance did. Sinners are lost until God finds them. Few of us will choose to identify with the older brother, and yet, in the context of chapter 15, he is the central figure, his sin is most in view, and his reaction to his brothers repentance and return is our Lords explanation for the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the sage, nor the divine word to the prophet! The pig was unclean (Lv. A primary verb; to look at. for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry. Jesus first tells the parable of the lost sheep. Why should this be such an offense to the Pharisees and the scribes? I sit in a house that once resonated with life and laughter, but now sits as an empty shell of silence. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found. John 14.1-3 NKJV Second, the over-zealous attitude of the Pharisees toward finding that which was lost or the extreme joy at finding it is explained. Luke 15:32. Salvation, Scripture: Romans 5:15; Psalm 66:16; John 9:25, Timeless Truths Free Online Library | books, sheet music, midi, and more. Stop and think about the expense of having a celebration banquet, to celebrate the finding of one sheep. Can people who live in areas of the world where there are no missionaries, no Bibles, and no mention of the Name of Jesus be saved having never heard the Gospel? The answer is both yes and no, and that is without equivocation. Let us start with the negative. No one can be saved unless they believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. One of my best finds was a C4 automatic transmission, laying right in The sinner may not even know that he is lost and headed for destruction, but that is the truth. If that is what our God is like, then that is what we, as His people, should be like. (primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. Luke 14:7-11). Today, it stands as a testimony of what was. My dear people of Mars Hill Baptist Church, my Shepherd reminds me today that I too am a testimony of what was. But unlike this special house, I have a different testimony; I once was empty, lost and undone, wandering aimlessly in my sin, but the Great Shepherd came and found me. This son of mine was dead. New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition, New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. (6) Both sons were materialists. Let us seek to have the mind of Christ in warmly receiving sinners, like us. God was going to bless His people in the land. Adultery is always evil, for example. He launched the search. The world hopes in promises the world cant deliver, so there is never any absolute security for unbelievers. They never used tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. Once again, in his conclusion, the author of Hebrews says Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better thingsthings that belong to salvation (Heb 6:9), so in our case, that is for believers, the author feels sure of better things for believers. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I hope to share this in a moment, along with its implications. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!. Jack has written 1300 articles on What Christians Want To Know! While the sheep-owner and the housewife accurately depicted the concern of the Pharisees for their possessions, it is the loving father of this parable who depicts the heart of the loving Heavenly Father, who longs for the return of the sinner, who willingly grants forgiveness, and who rejoices in the return of the wayward. It was the right thing. 21:17). Second, let us look at the characteristics of the younger brothers repentance. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. He came to bring salvation to sinners, by grace, through faith, and not of works: But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, begin justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-24). This family avoided their lost neighbors and rejoiced when they finally moved away. WebThis is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. But the angels rejoice when a sinner repents because that sinner will now spend eternity glorifying God and His grace in heaven. A person who says, I believe in Jesus, but who does not repent of his sins, has not truly believed in Jesus unto salvation. 5:8). Thats what they get for not going to church and for living like they do. WebAnd when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. Just so, I tell you, there will be I stopped in the middle of the street, picked up this transmission, and put it in the back of my station wagon. 1-2) and the first two parables (vv. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak. Jesus shows us that . Why were they unwilling to seek to save sinners and unable to rejoice at their repentance? Jesus condemned this in Matthews account. Verse 6 says, All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Before we continue with todays lesson, it would be wise to read again 1 Peter 2:21-24. 147-148. Note with me the following characteristics of the first two parables, which is a key to our understanding what Jesus meant to be understood by them, as well as the basis upon which the third parable can be interpreted. He knew that this would necessitate facing his father, and so he rehearsed his repentance speech, one that he was never allowed to finish. Whenever I lose something, even if its not of great value, it drives me crazy until I find it. The fathers second statement was to remind the older son that he possessed all that was his: and all that is mine is yours (v. 31b). in 1971. We all sin, but believers dont deliberately seek out and practice sin. I was on my way to the office when I encountered it. GNV For this my son was dead, and is alive again: and he was lost, but he is The mention of the killing of the fatted calf is the final straw for the older brother. I can see the Pharisees becoming bug-eyed and red-faced with anger at this mans sin. And he was lost, but he is found! And they began to be merry. The fathers words to this son are significant. Adverb from a derivative of airo through the idea of suspension; just now. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. Used by permission. Earlier, it was my understanding that the first two parables described Gods heart for the lost. Ask God to burden your heart with the lost and to give you opportunities to pursue them with the gospel.
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