In our study of Luke, we come to the parable of the Prodigal Son. Let us pause one moment and consider the One Son telling the story. Within this story, we see a son who rebels and goes far away into another country squandering all that he has. Another son is full of pride or envy. He is willing to lose fellowship with his father while screaming, “unfair”. Yet, let us not forget the one telling the story. Jesus, the Son of God. Sacrificially He willingly left His home to go into the far country at His Father’s Command. Knowing that there He would endure all the wrath of His Father against humanity’s sin on a cruel cross. One Son obediently surrendered Himself to death on a cross. His blood poured out so that grace and forgiveness could be bestowed upon all who come to Him in faith.
Surrendering His spirit into the Father’s Hand, One Son obedient even unto death, trusted fully in His Father’s love to resurrect Him into fullness of life. And due to His absolute obedience and unconditional surrender of His own powers, He won the victory over sin and death forever for all who would believe in Him. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Grace and Forgiveness are really guaranteed to all who put their trust in Him. Romans 8: begins with, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”. And it ends with, Nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Everything in between is the Holy Spirit’s work in transforming our hearts into the image of God’s One Son.
Grace and Forgiveness by One Son to Finish the work Begun.
Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called. Whom He called, these He also justified. And whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Philippians 1: 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; …9 that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment. 10 That you may approve the things that are excellent. That you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Hebrews 12: Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us. And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 2 Looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith. Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Why Parables?
Luke beautifully records the parables of Jesus throughout his gospel. Perhaps as a physician, he was among the most educated. Thus he recognized the beauty, as well as the value of the parables. It was a way to give a glimmer of light to eyes formerly closed to truth. Some would grasp on and come to follow Christ through hearing these. Others would not. In fact, some would only harden their hearts further. Parables presented the truth of God in terms easy to understand. Parables spoke truth by means of day-to-day life events. People could relate to this. Yet, without the help of the Holy Spirit to guide and a willingness to hear, their application remains lost on ears who cannot or will not hear. Jesus Himself said when asked by the disciples why He spoke in Parables.
Matthew 13:11-17
“Because it has been given to you to know the [a]mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. But to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive.
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing.
And their eyes they have closed.
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I [b]should heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. 17 For assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Grace and Forgiveness by One Son
An antinomy is a contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are in themselves reasonable. Broken down it is two laws that appear to contradict; however, both are true even when we do not understand them fully. That is what election and choice are. The same could be true in our understanding of how a guilty sinner can be counted fully righteous because of the sacrifice of One Son—God’s only begotten son. Because of that we who believe are adopted into the family of God where we have full fellowship and heirship with Jesus Christ. A privilege far beyond what we could dream of or hope for in this world. If we know Jesus Christ as our Savior, we must have already come to know our utter inability to earn salvation by our own hands.
Therefore, realizing the depravity of our own heart, we came to Him repentant of our sin, believing that He is our only hope of salvation. We acknowledge that Jesus is co-creator of the world as part of the Triune God. Believing that He bore our sins on the cross and that He was resurrected from the grave through the power of God the Father and the Holy Spirit, we accept His gift of salvation. Therein we are given the greatest of His power, that same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
Ephesians 1:19-20
That we might know and comprehend, “what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe. According to the working of His mighty power. 20 Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. And seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. 21 Far above all principality[g] and [h]power and [i]might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet. And gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
So, with all that, let us now look at this parable and break it down; but first we will pause to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us. Then, we will take it up in a verse by verse fashion in the next post. For today, let me close with this question. Do you know the one son? Have you ever come to Jesus, in full repentance and faith to bow before the cross and be cleansed by His blood shed for you? If not it all begins there. Will you not come today while He is still calling?
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Disclosures
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.