tonight to Luke chapter 15. Luke chapter 15 and beginning
with verse number 11. And he said, a certain man had
two sons and the younger of them said to his father, father, give
me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided
unto them his living. And not many days after the younger
son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country. and there wasted his substance
with righteous living. And when he had spent all, there
arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself
to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields
to feed swine. And he would fain have filled
his belly with the husk that the swine did eat, and no man
gave unto him. And when he came to himself,
he said, how many hired servants of my father's have bread enough
and to spare? And I perished with hunger. I
will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, father,
I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am no more
worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of the hired servants. And he arose and came to his
father. But when he was yet a great way
off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and
fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said unto him, Father,
I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more
worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants,
bring forth the best row, put it on him, put a ring on his
hand and shoes on his feet and bring hither the fatted calf
and kill it and let us eat and be merry. For this my son was
dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found and
they began to be merry. I find myself in the minority
among preachers and Bible pastors and books you read on the parables
because I believe personally that our Lord told one parable
that is divided into three parts. But as I said, I'm in the minority. Most people see three parables
here. And this last parable or this
last one that we've just read is called the Parable of the
Prodigal Son. The word prodigal is not in the
parable, but the work of the younger son is the very definition of the word prodigal, that is
extravagant conduct, wasteful and extravagant conduct. That's the definition of the
word prodigal. And that's what he did. But I have two observations I
want to make to us tonight. And my prayer is that the Lord
would warm our hearts as we look at this Once again, this wonderful
story as it was told by the Lord Jesus Christ. My first observation
is this. I in no way consider this to
be a summary of the gospel. And I've heard men and I've read
men make statements about these verses that I've just read and
they will say that's all the gospel that I need and that I
desire. I don't agree with that at all.
There are two things we're going to see, possibly three, that
are missing in this story that tells us this is not all the
gospel that I need, or you need, or all the gospel that we desire. First of all, there's no gospel
apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. And where do you see Christ in
this parable? Where do you find him in this,
if this is one parable, where do you find the Lord Jesus Christ
here? Keep your places here, but look
over a few pages in Romans chapter one. And Brother Streeter made
reference to this verse also this morning in Bible class.
But here in Romans chapter one, we see Paul's definition of the
gospel. Paul, Romans 1.1, Paul, a servant
of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, Now notice, separated
unto the gospel of God, which he had promised afore by his
prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning his son. Let's just read that leaving
out verse two, that parentheses. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, concerning
his son, Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of
David according to the flesh and declared to be the son of
God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection
from the dead. So how could these words, these
verses, which are referred to as the parable of the prodigal
son, how could that be all the gospel that we need when we don't
see Christ here, when He's not here. The gospel, as Paul tells
us, concerns God's Son, God's Son. And then Paul explains God's
Son is both God and man. You see that? Concerning His
Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, which was made of the seed of
David according to the flesh. His human nature, according to
the flesh, he was the son of David. But that's not all he
was or is. He was man, no doubt about that,
but he's also God. He's God-man, declared to be
the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by
the resurrection of the dead. So for a person to say, well,
that's all the gospel I need. That's all the gospel I desire.
No, not at all. Not at all. Because the Lord
Jesus Christ is not presented to us in those verses. I think
personally, one reason that even the world loves this story. Lost
people love this story. This story called the parable
of the prodigal son. But one reason they do so is
because Christ is not there. Because Christ is not in those
words. The world loves this parable
because they do not understand that they need a mediator. That
God, people make God to be like we are. And we just feel like,
well, we're equal to other people. We're one with other people.
We're one with God. We can approach God. We don't
need a mediator. God is not that holy one that
the scriptures declare him to be. We could just go into the
presence of God any time, any way. We don't need a mediator. The world loves to think like
that. Why? Because, first of all, The world
doesn't see God to be the holy one that the scriptures declare
him to be. The holy one, absolutely holy. And they don't see a need. They
don't see a need for a mediator. I need someone who is on terms
with God, good terms with God, and can also be on good terms
with me. I need a mediator, and so do
you. The world loves this story, but
they don't love the gospel that speaks to us of God being manifest
in the flesh. God, the eternal son of God coming
into this world, his world, which he had created and living among
us as a man, tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. A second thing, first of all,
there's no gospel apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, and I
don't see him here in those verses. And second, there's no gospel
apart from an atonement. You know that. There's no gospel
apart from an atonement. And where do you see an atonement
here in this story? The scripture is very clear from
Genesis 1, 1 all through the Word of God that without the
shedding of blood there is no remission. Where do you see blood
here in this story? The gospel message is one of
great joy just because there is forgiveness of our sins through
the blood of Jesus Christ. We sang the hymn this morning,
Under the Blood of Jesus. And that's the only place of
safety. That's the only place of refuge for a sinner is in
the person of Jesus Christ. And that's another reason I believe
that the world loves this story so much is because there's no
blood here. There's no blood. There's no
atonement. And lost men, natural men, they
don't see that they have to have an atonement. that their sins
has to be put away and there's only one way that sin may be
covered. That's what the word atonement
means, isn't it? A covering, a covering. And he has covered our sins with
his blood. It's clear to me that this parable
does not contain all the gospel that I need and all the gospel
that I desire. I need a gospel, and you do too,
you know this. I need a gospel which reveals
to me that there is a mediator. There is a mediator between God
and my soul. I need a gospel that tells me
that very clearly, that there is a mediator between God and
myself, a mediator who can bring me to God, who can bring me to
God. I need a gospel which clearly,
clearly shows how through his blood, God may be just and justifier
of the ungodly. And that's only through his blood.
I said there may be three truths that are missing in this parable.
The person of Christ, I don't see him. The blood of Christ,
I don't see that. And I don't see the work of God,
the Holy Spirit. I don't see the work of God the
Holy Spirit in this. Now, some people may say, well,
look at verse 17. When he came to himself, he came
to himself. You know, a lot of men come to
themselves. A lot of men who have been drunkards,
who have been just rascals of all kinds. And they come to themselves. Someday, one day, I should say,
one day they just said, you know, I shouldn't be like this. And
by their sure willpower, their willpower, they make a change. But they're apart from the work
of God, the Holy Spirit. Only God, the Holy Spirit is
able to give a person a new heart. a new heart that hates sin and
loves righteousness. Men make changes just like this
man did there in the hog pen. He came to himself. He reasoned
with himself what he had left and what was there in his father's
house. And so he makes a beeline back to his father's house. So
this parable, as it is called, isn't enough. It isn't enough
to reveal the gospel. Now, if you put it with the other
two, I can see the gospel. And if
you look back here in Luke chapter 15, the reason the Lord spoke
these words in verses one and two, then drew
near unto him, all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, this man receiveth
sinners and eateth with them. And he spake this parable," singular,
this parable, saying. Now, I see Christ in that first
story, don't you? The shepherd who goes out and
he seeks and he finds his sheep. And doesn't, or didn't, I should
say, didn't the Lord Jesus Christ say, the Son of Man is come to
seek and to save that which is lost. And then in that second
story, I can see God, the Holy Spirit, through the church, the
woman, and through the word, the light, searching till she
finds that which is lost. And the church of the Lord Jesus
Christ, we are here, And that's one purpose that we are here,
to glorify God and to hold out the light, the gospel light,
to let the light shine that God's people may be found. But my second
observation is this. I'm able, in these words, to
see several truths that are a great comfort to me and I think to
all of God's children. The first truth that I see is
these words speak of a father's love. Of a father's love. And you and I know that if it
were not for the father's love, there would be no gospel. There
would be no gospel at all. Look with me in Romans 5. I see in this father a man who had great love for his
son. In Romans chapter five and beginning
with verse six, the apostle said, for when we were yet without
strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely
for a righteous man will one die. I brought a message one time
years ago, and I think I asked this question, for whom did Christ
die? People like to discuss that,
don't they? Like to argue over it. Well,
it tells us here very clearly for whom he died. He died for the ungodly. Oh,
I don't like to think of myself like that. Well, you've got a
problem. because Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous
man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even
dare to die, but God commendeth his love toward us in that while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Christ died for the ungodly,
Christ died for sinners. Can you put yourself in that
category? You see yourself in that category?
Ungodly by nature, a sinner by birth and by choice. Christ died
for the ungodly, died for sinners. For if, notice verse 10, for
if when we were enemies, oh no. I've never seen myself, I never
thought myself to be an enemy of God. I know, I've always loved
God. Really? Christ died for those
who were his enemies. Why is anyone an enemy of God? Because we're sinners. That's
why. Sinners. For if, when we were
enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,
much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Look at what the death of Christ
accomplished. You know, that verse says he
commendeth his love toward us. Verse 8, but God commendeth his
love toward us. He showed forth his love. He
exhibited his love toward us by giving him to die for sinners. But look what his death accomplished. It accomplished our justification. Therefore, we are made just through
the blood of Jesus Christ. We've been saved from our sins.
We've been reconciled. But it's all very concisely held
in that one verse, for God so loved the world. that he gave
his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life. So that's the first thing I see
here is that the father loves his people. This parable speaks of a father's
love, his great love. And second, This parable, these
verses speak of acceptance into a family. You know, when this
young man or this man came to himself, he thought, well, I'll
go home and I'm gonna tell my father, I'll just be one of your
hired servants. Just make me like one of your
hired servants out there. Well, the father wouldn't hear
it. He wouldn't hear it at all. This parable speaks of acceptance
into a family. The prodigal son is accepted,
not as a servant, not as a servant, but as a son. When the father
told the servants, bring the robe, bring the ring, bring the
shoes, you know, every one of those things pictured that he's
not a servant, he's a son. Putting that robe on his shoulders
and that ring on his hand and those shoes on his feet showed
he, no, no, he's not a servant. Look at him. See how I've dressed
him. He's one of the family. He's
a son, my son. You know, there are two things
that everyone desires. I don't care who you are. I don't
care where you are, when you live. are two things that every
individual desires. Number one, to be loved. To be
loved. All, all people want to be loved. And second, to be accepted. And that's exactly what we see
here in this parable. We see the father's love and
we see his acceptance. You know, the key to the parable,
like Matthew Henry said about another parable, the key is hanging
right on the door, right above the door. You know, years ago
you might go to a house and you had every right to enter it,
but the door was locked and you'd just feel up there on the casing
there and there'd be a key up there. And most of the parables
of our Lord The key's right at the door, right at the door.
And what is the key here? He receives sinners. That's it, isn't it? We look
back, and that's the reason he spoke this parable, because he
was being criticized because this man receiveth sinners. Well, there's the key to the
whole thing, all of the parable, right? That's the thing that
the Lord is teaching. That's the word that we are to
get. The third thing, this parable
speaks of being merry. Let us eat and be merry. And
as I said just a moment ago, this parable has three parts. And notice these three things
are the same in every part of this parable. Number one, something
is lost. First it's a sheep, then it's
a coin, then it's a sun. And we see the value, the value
growing each time from a sheep to a silver coin to a sun. The second thing that is alike
in every one of these parts is that something is found. The sheep is found, the coin
is found. The father said, this is my son
who was lost and is found. And the third thing, in each
and every one of these parts, there's joy. There's joy. Look back at the first part. When the shepherd who had gone
out looking for his sheep, It says in verse six, and when he
cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying
unto them, rejoice. Rejoice with me, for I have found
my sheep, which was lost. I say unto you that likewise,
now notice this, joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that
repented. Over one sinner that repented.
Ring the bells of heaven. There is joy today, for a wanderer
has come home. We sing those words sometimes,
don't we, that hymn? Well, our Lord said, likewise,
in heaven there's joy. You say, well, who has joy? Well, everyone in heaven has
joy. The angels rejoice. They rejoice. And no doubt the souls of believers
who've gone on, they rejoice. There's rejoicing when something
that was lost is found. The same thing if you notice
in the second part of the second story. We read in verse 10, likewise
I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels
of God. Who's in the presence of the
angels of God? Notice that, in the presence
of the angels of God. Who's in the presence of the
angels of God? Well again, I say the souls of
the redeemed who've already gone home, They're in the presence
of the angels, but isn't God? They are in His presence. But
is our Lord showing here in this parable that He rejoices, that
God rejoices? I know one thing, one thing for
sure, He's showing that God is willing to save, that He's ready
to save anyone and everyone who trusts in his son. And in the
last part of the parable, the father says, let us be merry.
Let's kill the fatted calf. Let's eat and be merry. What do we take away from this
parable? I know there's many lessons,
but one of the lessons that was a blessing to me as I thought
about this again is Now God saves the lost and he delights in saving
the lost. He delights in saving the lost. You know, there's a verse in
the book of Nehemiah. I'm gonna read it to us here
in just a moment, but it's truly amazing. It's truly amazing. So much of the word of God is
amazing, isn't it? But Jeremiah, inspired by God
the Holy Spirit to write this, he said this about God. Thou art a God ready to pardon. Isn't that something? He's ready.
He's ready. He's ready. Thou art a God ready
to pardon. Gracious and merciful, slow to
anger, and of great kindness. Isn't that a wonderful statement
about our God? He's ready to pardon, He's gracious,
He's merciful, He's slow to anger, and He is of great kindness. And each and every one of us
have experienced His kindness, haven't we? So many times, and
it's grace, and it's mercy, and it's pardon. He's ready to pardon. If there would be any sinner
here tonight who looks for pardon, well, I'm telling you from the
word of God, God's ready. God's ready to pardon. And he
can do that and does that. because of the work of his son,
Jesus Christ, dying in the place and in the stead of his people. I pray the Lord would bless these
words to us here this evening.