THREE VIEWS OF SALVATION

Luke 15

  1. Intro.
    1. this chapter is one parable having three views of the same picture
      1. it shows the condition of the lost
      2. it shows the persons seeking the lost
      3. it shows the kind of sinners that Christ will receive
      4. it shows how He will receive them
    2. the reason for this parable – 2
  2. the lost
    1. the lost sheep – 4-6
      1. represent those who are lost and know it
      2. lost because of curiosity; they wandered away and don’t know how to get back
      3. represents the foolish, unthinking kind of wandering from God
    2. the lost coin – 8-10
      1. had no consciousness of being lost
      2. the lost condition caused neither discomfort nor anxiety
      3. lost because of bad handling or unconsciously dropped
      4. lost at home (in a Christian home or church)
    3. the lost son – 11-32
      1. deliberately, willfully, consciously rebelled against God
      2. he had a craving for independence
      3. all he wanted to do was fill his belly, and fulfill his sensual desires – 13
      4. "feeding swine" for a Jew was as low as a person could go – 15-16
      5. when men and women identify with and feed upon the garbage of the world, it is as low as one can go
      6. happily the story changes – 17
  3. the seekers
    1. the shepherd- 4-6
      1. represents Christ and His sacrifice
      2. with much pain and sacrifice He seeks for the wandering sheep
      3. He seeks for the lost sheep as if it were the only one He possessed
    2. the woman – 8-10
      1. an illustration of the Holy Spirit working through the church
      2. much work [sweeps the house]
      3. doesn’t quit till the job is done [seeks diligently till she finds it]
    3. the father – 11-32
      1. represents our heavenly Father seeking us with all His love
      2. broken hearted over the lose of a son
      3. the heart of the father went out to the missing one in spite of his wickedness
    4. Jesus is seeking, the Holy Spirit is working, and the Father is waiting
  4. the salvation
    1. of the sheep – 5
      1. help had to be accepted
      2. no one can save themselves
    2. of the coin – 8
      1. after much work and a diligent search it was found
      2. people do not get saved by chance
    3. of the son – 11-32
      1. he had a change of heart- 17 (repentance – 7 & 10)
        1. he realized that his rebellion against God was madness [came to himself]
        2. observe the change of his heart
          1. "give me" - 12
          2. "make me" – 19
      2. the compassion of the father - 20-23
        1. "had compassion" means his heart beat quickly – 20
          1. He is eager to welcome the returning and repentant sinner
          2. He goes more than half way to met him – 20
        2. the father saw him a long way off – 20
          1. the father was waiting and watching
          2. his love for the lost son had never diminished
          3. once the son came home all his sins were forgotten – 22
        3. the sons speech of contrition was never completed – 18-19, 21-22
          1. he was re-instated to full son-ship
          2. rags were removed and given "the best robe" – 22 (robe of righteousness)
          3. a ring, the symbol of wealth and dignity
          4. the shoes for his feet showed that the father desired him to be treated as a son, and not a servant
  5. the rejoicing
    1. the joy of the shepherd – his sacrifice was not in vain – 6-7
    2. the joy of the woman – her labor was not in vain, a reward for the search – 9-10
    3. the joy of the father – a lost son had returned
    4. the joy of the son – for being received as a son and all was forgiven
    5. this joy was obvious to others – 25-26
  6. the other son – 25-32
    1. this was for the religious leaders because they criticized Jesus for showing sympathy to sinners
    2. the two sons mentioned at the beginning are now seen in great contrast
      1. the younger leaves home, and the elder stay at home (though never at home) – 29
      2. the younger returns home, and the elder refuses to enter the home – 28
      3. the elder son was as much a lost son as the younger
      4. the younger came back to the father’s heart and home, while the elder was in the far country of resentment and self-righteousness
    3. the spiritual condition of the elder son is clearly seen
      1. the joy and rejoicing made him angry - 28
      2. he would not go into the house – 28
      3. he saw himself as self-righteous – 29
      4. "this thy son" show that he would not own him as a brother – 30
    4. the father tries to get the elder son to receive the younger son as a brother – 31-32
      1. he calls him "son" (compare this to "this thy son" – 30)
      2. tells him "all that I have is thine" – 31
        1. if he will receive it and come in
        2. the father points out that his actions were just – 32
  7. conclusion
    1. all the excesses of the younger did not shut him out of heaven because he repented
    2. all the virtues of the elder could not get him into heaven because of his pride
    3. this parable shows clearly that Jesus receives sinners, and not the self-righteous
    4. this parable show clearly the need of repentance for salvation