Further thoughts on Luke 15 and parable of the Prodigal son and the lost sheep of the 99.
As believers we can truly have Godly sorrow that leads to repentance ( 2 Cor. 7:10). Such is the case with a new believer; but parables such as these show how we should continue as His sheep to live with such a love for our heavenly Father.
The primary point I wish to emphasize here is how a man's heart can harden to the point where a conscience is seared; hence beyond hope (1 Timoty 4:2). This is serious business; and we see it with professing believers and the world alike. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 gives us a list of the unrepentant sins; more specifically lifestyles which will end up with the sinner in hell. When sin happens it needs to be acknowledged as such; a personal offense to God; other people we know and society at large particularly in the categories of sexual sin; or mental and physical attacks on others. The man who covers up his sins ( Proverbs 28:13 will not prosper; therefore the verse states we should confess in order to obtain mercy. Somehow as believers it seems like it is a one time thing many times to ask for mercy; to beg for forgiveness or to seriously consider how tender His mercies truly are.
Consider Lamentations 3:22-23. In the midst of the most harrowing; graphically detailed description of God's city of Jerusalem being overcome by famine; disease and war we see this statement showing that God still holds out mercy; despite most of these calamities being a result of deliberate sins warned against by the prophets for many years. The parable in Luke 15 in regard to the older brother is almost the opposite scenario; someone who has an abundance of material wealth and still complains as to his father's forgiveness of his younger brother. This goes to show that spiritual blessings are not dependant on material wealth; and when we have success financially it isn't necessarily appreciated if we have a godless spiritual existance.
As believers we can truly have Godly sorrow that leads to repentance ( 2 Cor. 7:10). Such is the case with a new believer; but parables such as these show how we should continue as His sheep to live with such a love for our heavenly Father.
The primary point I wish to emphasize here is how a man's heart can harden to the point where a conscience is seared; hence beyond hope (1 Timoty 4:2). This is serious business; and we see it with professing believers and the world alike. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 gives us a list of the unrepentant sins; more specifically lifestyles which will end up with the sinner in hell. When sin happens it needs to be acknowledged as such; a personal offense to God; other people we know and society at large particularly in the categories of sexual sin; or mental and physical attacks on others. The man who covers up his sins ( Proverbs 28:13 will not prosper; therefore the verse states we should confess in order to obtain mercy. Somehow as believers it seems like it is a one time thing many times to ask for mercy; to beg for forgiveness or to seriously consider how tender His mercies truly are.
Consider Lamentations 3:22-23. In the midst of the most harrowing; graphically detailed description of God's city of Jerusalem being overcome by famine; disease and war we see this statement showing that God still holds out mercy; despite most of these calamities being a result of deliberate sins warned against by the prophets for many years. The parable in Luke 15 in regard to the older brother is almost the opposite scenario; someone who has an abundance of material wealth and still complains as to his father's forgiveness of his younger brother. This goes to show that spiritual blessings are not dependant on material wealth; and when we have success financially it isn't necessarily appreciated if we have a godless spiritual existance.
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