Sunday 1:17:10

My hope for us above everything else is that we’ll have a vibrant, dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. Individually and corporately that we’ll be caught up in loving and pursuing Him. But I know what you know, this is a battle. Jesus said that the road that leads to life is narrow. It’s easy to miss. It’s easy to be on one side of the road or the other and miss the road. Jesus told a parable about two sons. It’s probably the most famous parable Jesus ever told. Luke 15:11-20a – the first part of the parable describes the actions of the younger son. v. 12 – unusual request. Usually the estate was not divided and given to the heirs until the father could no longer manage it. Showed lack of concern for the father. v. 13 – distant country. Jesus was criticized for associating with sinners. The younger son represents the sinners, people far away from God. They have a desire to live apart from the father’s influence. The younger son represents sinners – people who want to live apart from God, to do their own thing. No desire for God’s influence in their lives, no desire to live with God. Something happens. In their low condition, some recognize their need for God and return to him in humility. Luke 15:20b-24 – the second part of the parable describes the father’s response. v. 20 – the Father’s response – filled with compassion, forgiving, restores the son. v. 23 – the feast. Jesus intentionally used the banquet (feast) motif. He had previously spoken of a banquet to symbolize the coming kingdom. Luke 13:29 29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Luke 15:25-32 – the final part of the parable describes the attitude of the older son. v. 28 – the older son represents the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They did not like the idea that sinners would be part of the kingdom. They were jealous and judgmental of sinners. v. 29 – “slaving”. Reveals the older son’s attitude. He thought he had a relationship with his father by his work. He served his father not out of love, but out of a desire for reward. v. 28 – notice that the older son refuses to go into the banquet. This is significant. While the older son was with the father, he refused to join the banquet. The Pharisees refused to enter the kingdom Jesus offered. They had a privileged position as leaders of God’s chosen people, but missed out on grace. Both sons almost missed the banquet. They almost missed the grace and mercy of the father. The younger son would have missed the banquet for his sin. The older son missed the banquet for his self-righteousness. Notice v. 28 – “The father went out and pleaded with him.” The father went out to the younger and the older son. While the younger son was obviously far away from the father, the older son was close in proximity, but was farther the younger because of his self-righteous attitude. Why didn’t the father have a son who was with him, loved him, loved to do his work. Because we all are corrupted by sin. Everyone of us. Romans 3:10-12 10As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." We all know you can miss out on God’s grace by being in sin, but you can also miss out by being too good (self righteous). Romans 3:21-24 21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Don’t be like the younger son in his sin, wandering away from the father. Don’t be like the older son in his self righteousness and judgmental attitude. Embrace the grace that comes through Jesus Christ.