And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. Today, I testify to the greatness of my Shepherd, that He would allow me to hear His voice. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one anothers feet. He could make the truth simple; the Pharisees made it mind-bogglingly complex. No more groveling for this repentant son. Luke 15:4-6 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. (7) In both cases, I believe, the parable is not primarily intended as a picture of Gods seeking after lost men, but of men seeking after lost things. The shepherd relentlessly searched until at last he found his sheep. 1. So many people think they can lose their salvation, but what does the Bible say about eternal security? The things that make us happy reflect our values or what we consider important. Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More. My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back. Therefore they could not passively accept the opposing view of spirituality of our Lord, which enabled Him to have contact with sinners, and yet not be defiled by it. And they began to be merry. Today, if you will trust in Christ, you can have the security that God promises through His Word and that not one will be lost whom He has chosen to save (Eph 1). He was lost. The younger brother left his father, his family, and even his nation to have a good time. (Verse 25) Peter reminds his readers of what they were before Jesus Christ became their Savior and Lord: For you were like sheep going astray., Wiersbe expounds: Every lost sinner is like a sheep gone astray; ignorant, lost, wandering, in danger away from the place of safety, and unable to help himself., Barclay writes: Men are all prone to wander and go astray, like silly sheep, which describes the condition of Peters readers before their conversion [repentance and trust in Jesus Christ which leads to their following Jesus].. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! 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. 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!. 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. The words of the older son are the key to understanding his desires and attitudes. All these years Ive been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. 9. In response to the fathers words to the oldest son, My child, you have always been with me, the older sons response, though unstated, seems to have been, So what? or, Big deal!.. Praise His Holy Name! For you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). (Verse 25) Peter reminds his readers of what they were before Jesus Christ became their Savior and Lord: For you were like sheep going astray. He was lost, and is found. Then they began to celebrate. 9. Jesus maintained His holiness and yet sinners seemed comfortable in His presence. Look in the back of your Bible; it may have a Bible concordance (index) which will direct you to a few verses that contain each word that you find in the concordance. He uses the illustration of a family with seven children, where one is deathly ill, but then recovers. Notice that he does not speak of my son but of your brother. Morris, p. 244. He sent His Son to secure your redemption by His blood. Its just a story, of course. 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. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Hamartiology (Sin), Soteriology (Salvation), Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. What are some of the worlds seemingly greener grasses that attract lost sheep and appeal to them to remain lost? A person who says, I believe in Jesus, but who does not repent of his sins, has not truly believed in Jesus unto salvation. Mark 10:21 ("one thing thou lackest") and Luke 10:42 ("one thing is needful"). There are really three persons in focus in this parable, not just one: the younger brother, the father, and the older brother. Heavens joy at the salvation is surely appropriate, and, in one sense, it is like the joy of the woman who found her one lost coin. Give attention to those things which this son mentioned to his father, which are the basis of his actions, his anger, and his protest: (1) I have worked hard, but you gave me no banquet. WebI once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see. That was my part. It was only when he ran out of money and friends, and when he began to suffer hunger pangs that the young man came to his senses. Repentance begins, then, with seeing things straight, with seeing things as they really are. If you like what you're reading, you can get free daily updates through the RSS feed here. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular. You cannot have one with. They might have tasted the goodness of the word of God and shared in the heavenly gift (Jesus Christ! I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Quick! Jesus grants them their premise, not because it was true, but because He wished to keep the focus on the issue at hand. 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 father ran to meet the son. 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. 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. because this my son was dead, and did live again, and he was lost, and was found; and they began to be merry. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate. They need to tell them not to rejoice until the sinner dies and goes to heaven, because they may be rejoicing too soon. From, tuphoo; opaque, i.e. Believers can have their joy robbed too by living in such fear, and for no good reason (1 John 4:18). WebVerse 25. 5 For a Jew no occupation could have been more distasteful. Spurgeon takes the 99 righteous persons who need no repentance to refer to those who have already been justified by grace through faith (Twelve Sermons, p. 27; Charles Simeon takes the same view, Expository Outlines of the Whole Bible [Zondervan], 12:537). He knew that this would necessitate facing his father, and so he rehearsed his repentance speech, one that he was never allowed to finish. 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. I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. He put it securely on his shoulders and carried it home. (Charles Spurgeon, Twelve Sermons on the Prodigal Son [Baker], pp. Thats no better than what the world offers. This father gave the son what he had asked for. The Pharisees found no joy in repentance of sinners at all. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 1:4, 5). He reminded this older brother of the blessings which he had in staying home. But the angels rejoice when a sinner repents because that sinner will now spend eternity glorifying God and His grace in heaven. 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 (2) In both parables, the owner takes the initiative, seeking the lost. If a man decided to make gifts, he normally gave the capital but retained the income. 'Twas grace has brought us safe thus far. I would say it this way; He sought me, He caught me, He bought me, and He taught me what I ought to be. I was blind but now I see!' The Pharisees cared very much for that which was lost, and they rejoiced greatly concerning the recovery of what was lost. Sometimes I have spent hours trying to track it down, even after Ive decided not to use it! A sinner. He became very angry and refused to go in to celebrate with the rest, even though this celebration was called for by the father. As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. For this my son was dead, and is alive again! They could not find their way; they would have forever remained lost, had it not been for the Shepherd. And they began to make a simcha. Why were they unwilling to seek to save sinners and unable to rejoice at their repentance? I hope that none of you identify yourselves with that first family because even though they are Christians, they are not much like the Lord Jesus Christ. (3) The younger lost his inheritance; the older did not. As you well know, the story of the prodigal son is one of the most familiar stories in the Bible. Jesus always looked at the heart. The second family had nothing to do with God. 25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. His self-righteousness is so strong that he resents the grace of God and refuses to rejoice in it. It is not that they did not need repentance for themselves, but rather that they thought that they were good enough not to need repentance. The bottom line was that the Pharisees wrongly believed that it was good works which merited Gods favor, rather than His grace manifested toward sinners. All rights reserved. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but dung, that I may win Christ. This is why they could not rejoice at the repentance of lost sinners. He was lost, but now he is found! So they began to celebrate. This young man deserted his family, permanently lost his portion of the inheritance, and left his father in a potentially precarious position (he had just lost 1/3 of his fathers resources, and had lost his ability to look after him). 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! The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). When weve been there ten thousand years, The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/a/m/a/amazing_grace.htm), Hymnary.org (http://www.hymnary.org/text/amazing_grace_how_sweet_the_sound). 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. Let me summarize several pertinent characteristics of the Pharisees, as our Lord exposed them: (1) The Pharisees loved the place of honor at banquets (Matthew 23:5). Impossible! For more than 30 years I ran away from God as fast as my sins could carry me. I sit in a house that once resonated with life and laughter, but now sits as an empty shell of silence. Next week we will study the parable of the lost (or prodigal) son. 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! Lets say, then, that five sheep and perhaps a couple of goats are slaughtered, not to mention the cost of the other food. It was the right thing. Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. He sent the Holy Spirit to pursue you with the good news that Christ died for your sins. (5) Both sons were slaves. Luke 14:7-11). He places the two things in contrast. But it will be for him who walks that way. In the same way, the Good Shepherd goes after every sheep whom His Father has given to Him, that none will be lost (John 17:2, 6, 9), but that all will be brought safely into His fold. (6) The younger repented; the older resented. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More, Acts 11:18), and is inextricably bound up with saving faith. This is the final lesson in a nine part study for children on the parables of Jesus. I am, exist. The older brother was angry with the father because he felt he did not get what he deserved (a banquet), while the younger brother got what he didnt deserve (a banquet). Any that leave the faith never had the faith in the first place. WebMy son was dead, but now he is alive again! The reason is that the full impact of the third parable (that of the prodigal son) is best grasped in the light of the setting (vv. (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. Luke 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. Then Old Testament had very specific legislating to assure that the inheritance of each family was kept within the family, and that the children cared for their parents. 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). And they began to be merry. And who is adequate for these things? Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 10. Explain what it means to be lost without Jesus. But if youre up for it, lets have respectful conversations. Bring the best robe and put it on him. I fear that our failure to reach such pagan unbelievers with the gospel and then to integrate them into our churches is due to our twisted concept of spirituality. Let us seek to have the mind of Christ in warmly receiving sinners, like us. When the father came out to his older son, to appeal to him to join in on the celebration, the older son refused. (4) The younger did not any longer feel worthy of his fathers blessings; the older did. This is what the third parable will tell us. 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. But he answered his father, Look! But, thank God, He has intervened! What does it mean that good works are the result of salvation? That time, I felt that I am No, for the authors conclusion was that we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls (Heb 10:39). Is salvation by grace plus works a false gospel? One line in the familiar hymn Amazing Grace says, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. We may have sung it a thousand times without God is the One Who preserves us and keeps us in His name. If we understand the grace of God, we will welcome sinners as those, like us, who are unworthy of Gods favor, and rejoice when they experience grace as we have. Let us seek to enjoy our heavenly Father for who He is. The older brother failed to see that he was a sinner, and he also failed to understand that God has provided salvation for all sinners who truly repent. They smoked and drank to excess and used marijuana to mellow out. They cursed and fought loudly with one another. Whether the person knows it or not, the Bible describes every person who does not know Jesus Christ as being lost. (3) Both sons seemed to feel that joy and celebration were not possible with their father. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. (6) In both cases, it is not men who are lost, but things, and it is man (generically speaking, for there is both a man and a woman) that seeks diligently to find what is lost. They failed to see themselves as unworthy sinners (like the prodigal did), and thus they not only rejected Gods grace, they disdained it. And all men began to eat [And all began for to eat gladly]. They declare that he has not been healed. He may have groveled with the swine, and before his slave master, but he would not grovel before his father for he had repented. We get the impression that she would not stop until the lost coin were found. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! 9:16f. That one lamb may well have been killed, or it might never be found. The father, on the other hand, is apparently waiting and watching for the younger sons return. They had ears to hear what the Savior was teaching. No, there is not, at least not until the celebration. Come on and let us strike at him with our tongue, and let us give no heed to any of his words., Now the donkeys of Kish, Sauls father, were lost. WebVerse Concepts 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; 2 Corinthians 5:13 Verse Concepts I am no longer empty and lifeless. Unless they repent of that, there is only a fearful expectation of fiery judgment. Then they said, Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. 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). This last observation is the most crucial one for us. (2) Both sons wanted to celebrate WITHOUT THEIR FATHER. How can we do the same? ), in which case he was bound by the provisions of the Law. The sons repentance touched the heart of his loving father, and paved the way for his restoration and rejoicing. On a cold night in England many years ago, a group of children slipped into a church to get warm. God loves each of us as if there were only one of us"- Augustine. Explain what it means to be saved (rescued) by the Shepherd (Jesus Christ). The young man realized his folly and he returned to face his father. Let me illustrate this, to be sure that my understanding of this issue is clear. WebYou were like sheep that had lost their way, but now you have been brought back to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of your souls. After checking with all the nearby mechanics and turning it in to the police for the required time, I claimed it as my own. p. 241. 2 The occasions is the Pharisaic criticism of Jesus association with outcasts (sinners has a connotation that goes beyond our usual moralistic interpretation and involves a disreputable social status).Charles H. Talbert, Reading Luke: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the Third Gospel (New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1984), pp. If you are still diliberately sinning after hearing the truth, you are not saved. (3) In both cases, the owner seeks diligently and persistently. Whenever I lose something, even if its not of great value, it drives me crazy until I find it. Peter was not a shepherd by trade; he was a fisherman. The Good Shepherd knows His sheep by name (John 10:3). 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? One of my best finds was a C4 automatic transmission, laying right in the middle of the road. The older brothers works didnt work, but the younger brothers repentance did. This emphasis on works is the error of the Pharisees as well. 10:30 am 2nd Service Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. When Jesus taught simply, He threatened to undermine the complicated, technical teaching of the Pharisees, and thus they opposed people pursuing Him to hear His teaching. Web22 But the father said to his servants, Quick! Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. WebI Once W as Lost, But Now Am Found Isaiah 53:6; Luke 15:1-10 February 10, 2008 Intr oduction: Bunny-Lovey Being Lost In these two parables, Jesus powerfully shares with us who we really are. As such, it is a picture of a lost sinner. WebI once was lost But now I am found Was blind but now I see CHORUS: Oh I can see You now Oh I can see the love in Your eyes Laying Yourself down Raising up the broken to life VERSE 2: You take our failure You take our weakness You set Your treasure In jars of clay So take this heart Lord Ill be Your vessel The world to see Your life in me BRIDGE: Jesus did receive sinners and eat with them, but He never minimized sin. Their kids were honor students. WebJohn 9:25 ESV He answered, Whether he is a sinner I do not know. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Q. It was a different matter with the Pharisees and scribes. Is it not abnormal to notify all of ones neighbors as to the finding of but one sheep, and to expect them to celebrate this with him? If you know that there are sins in your heart that need Gods merciful forgiveness, put your name in there. Jesus, by association with the masses, the hoi polloi, threatened to pollute this pure group of pious people. How much like the Heavenly Father he is. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship. Should one abandon the 99 sheep, leaving them vulnerable to getting lost or to attack by wild animals? Explain what it means to be saved (rescued) by the Shepherd (Jesus Christ). Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. But Jesus answered and said to them, You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. But the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling, This man receives sinners and eats with them. What a great word of hope that is for sinners! 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. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: John 9:25 He therefore answered I don't know if (Jhn Jo Jn). If God so rejoices when sinners repent, should not we? He had to go without sleep because the longer the sheep remained lost, the greater the risk of its being destroyed. Luke 5:27ff.). Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular. Lets have a feast and celebrate. 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. Sinning, sinful, depraved, detestable. The apostle Paul was motivated by joy, even in the midst of great suffering, danger, and tribulation (cf. The Pharisees were out of sync with heaven. From eu and phren; to put in a good frame of mind, i.e. And, behold, the second family split up and moved away. John says that they went out from us because they werent really of us in the first place (1 John 2:19). Great was the celebration which followed her recovery. Didnt you do your part before God did His? The new Christian jumped to his feet and said, Oh, yes, I did. When we finally found her, we were so thankful and relieved. For related ideas, search our website for "Parables of Jesus." Grace, 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). (7) Both sons were sinners. Fourth, the first two parables speak of mens zeal in searching for and finding lost possessions, not lost people. This is because, at the moment, it is the return and reception of the lost which is at issue, not the righteousness of the righteous. Thus, the words of the son to his father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight (v. 18, NASB). He could sell the capital if he chose, but the buyer could not gain possession until the death of the donor.4. What does death mean to a lost sheep (someone without Jesus Christ)? For us, this story may seem to be a very heart-warming incident, only slightly tarnished by the sulking older brother. I understand this parable in its context as Jesus response to the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes because of Jesus acceptance of and rejoicing with repentant sinners. They wanted to keep the saved to a very small number, and to keep the undesirable element out. The Jews, as a group, felt superior to the Gentiles, but the Pharisees felt superior to other Jews (John 7:45-49). We, like the Pharisees, seem to think that our holiness is measured by the distance we keep from sinners. The Bible speaks of holiness in terms of the closeness we keep to Christ. Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular. He did not even allow the son to finish his confession.6 The father quickly restored the son to his position as a son.7 The father commanded that there be a celebration. He did not need to work to win his fathers approval or blessing, he need only be a son. God was going to bless His people in the land. Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. He does not know of the younger brothers return until his attention is aroused by the sounds of celebration coming from the house. What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? True worship is enjoying God for who He is, not just for what He gives. Repentance means turning to God from our sins. Slaving seemed to be the principle governing him in his relationship with his father, not celebrating. For less than $5/mo. Second, let us look at the characteristics of the younger brothers repentance. To recover life. Jesus owns up to the Pharisees charge and defends Himself by telling three parables that all make the same point, although with different emphases: God goes to great effort to seek lost sinners and He greatly rejoices when they come to repentance. This is why I plead with you today to repent and put your trust in Christ. He was lost and now he is found. She didnt go to the stream to wash her laundry. He didnt say, Whoever believes in me will have eternal life unless they blow it. When Jesus says They have eternal life, it is in the Greek form of a present tense or present possession. This is, of course, the flip side of the first protest. I am not especially fond of artists pictures of Jesus, but I do like the one that shows the smiling shepherd with a lamb on his shoulders. Take a moment and pray for the lost sheep. 147-148. And someone said to Him, Lord, are there just a few who are being saved? And He said to them.

Best's Gunner, James Francis Murray, Protest In Newtown, Pa Today, Vportal Northwell Ilearn, Highway 34 Greeley, Co Accident, Articles I