Understanding the Message of Christ: Grace
The Message of Christ takes a glorious turn from mankind's inability to reflect the image of God with the offer of unconditional love. The Bible is the love story of God’s revelation of Himself in pursuit of wayward humanity. This pursuit reaches its climax with the gift of God the Son, Jesus Christ.
Luke 15:11-24
A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me. So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men. So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his slaves, Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to celebrate.
The story of the Prodigal Son is a path appreciating how we have hurt God and received His grace. The son did knew life was better in his father's house. He acknowledged his sin to some extent. But he still had the audacity to make a request to be a hired hand on the father's staff. The son did not know his full failure till the grace of his father was shown. Only in the face of pure love does the son know the reality of real repentance.
While the Son focused on his unworthiness, the father is absorbed with his joy over the son's return. God wants us to take our eyes off our disqualification and look into His face and see His affection for and delight in us. The good news is that way is open to come home. It is the way of the cross.
Take your eyes off your failures and sins and embrace complete grace and mercy from the Father who loves you. Embrace the relationship that God has made through Jesus and the cross.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden
Luke 15:11-24
A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me. So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men. So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his slaves, Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to celebrate.
The story of the Prodigal Son is a path appreciating how we have hurt God and received His grace. The son did knew life was better in his father's house. He acknowledged his sin to some extent. But he still had the audacity to make a request to be a hired hand on the father's staff. The son did not know his full failure till the grace of his father was shown. Only in the face of pure love does the son know the reality of real repentance.
While the Son focused on his unworthiness, the father is absorbed with his joy over the son's return. God wants us to take our eyes off our disqualification and look into His face and see His affection for and delight in us. The good news is that way is open to come home. It is the way of the cross.
Take your eyes off your failures and sins and embrace complete grace and mercy from the Father who loves you. Embrace the relationship that God has made through Jesus and the cross.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden