The prodigal Son - How does his father describe him

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Feb 24, 2015
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#1
The story of the prodigal son is the man who says he does not like
his fathers household, and wants money to go and live his own way.

So off he goes.
He later returns, humbled and desires just a job.

His father says

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found
Luke 15:24

The story was told to show the father attitude to the lost son.
The son is dead, without hope, but now has been found and has a future.

So the analogy is we are born as children of our heavenly father and go out
into the world with what we have to do what we like without regard to Him.

We are doomed to judgement, but if we seek Him out, he will take us in
and treat us as long lost sons, who have returned home.

Some may have used the parable to also talk about those who loose faith,
walk away and some return later to faith.

They want to say of all these people they are still saved.
Nothing in the parable would suggest that, just that they came initially
from the Fathers home.
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#2
Naw...not even close. :rolleyes:
 
Feb 24, 2015
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#3
Naw...not even close. :rolleyes:
I am not sure what you are referring to. Close to what? Your understanding.

As the prodigal son story has been told for 2000+ years, with a general similar
interpretations, taking this kind of line suggests you do not know what you are
talking about.
 
G

Gr8grace

Guest
#4
The story of the prodigal son is the man who says he does not like
his fathers household, and wants money to go and live his own way.

So off he goes.
He later returns, humbled and desires just a job.

His father says

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found
Luke 15:24

The story was told to show the father attitude to the lost son.
The son is dead, without hope, but now has been found and has a future.

So the analogy is we are born as children of our heavenly father and go out
into the world with what we have to do what we like without regard to Him.

We are doomed to judgement, but if we seek Him out, he will take us in
and treat us as long lost sons, who have returned home.

Some may have used the parable to also talk about those who loose faith,
walk away and some return later to faith.

They want to say of all these people they are still saved.
Nothing in the parable would suggest that, just that they came initially
from the Fathers home.
Really? I mean REALLY?

So many scriptures completely ignored with this interpretation, It is kinda scary.

And it all stems from not having a grasp of the Gospel of grace.
 
G

Gr8grace

Guest
#5
I am not sure what you are referring to. Close to what? Your understanding.

As the prodigal son story has been told for 2000+ years, with a general similar
interpretations, taking this kind of line suggests you do not know what you are
talking about.
Peter. Please give me a teacher or theologian that has your interpretation of the prodigal son.

I would like to see it from others. I have never seen a bent such as yours on the prodigal son.

Born into the Fathers house as sons, leave and become not son's, come back and become son again or for real son's? That is twisted.
 
Feb 24, 2015
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#6
Matthew henrys concise commentary

15:11-16 The parable of the prodigal son shows the nature of repentance, and the Lord's readiness to welcome and bless all who return to him. It fully sets forth the riches of gospel grace; and it has been, and will be, while the world stands, of unspeakable use to poor sinners, to direct and to encourage them in repenting and returning to God. It is bad, and the beginning of worse, when men look upon God's gifts as debts due to them. The great folly of sinners, and that which ruins them, is, being content in their life-time to receive their good things. Our first parents ruined themselves and all their race, by a foolish ambition to be independent, and this is at the bottom of sinners' persisting in their sin. We may all discern some features of our own characters in that of the prodigal son. A sinful state is of departure and distance from God. A sinful state is a spending state: wilful sinners misemploy their thoughts and the powers of their souls, mispend their time and all their opportunities. A sinful state is a wanting state. Sinners want necessaries for their souls; they have neither food nor raiment for them, nor any provision for hereafter. A sinful state is a vile, slavish state. The business of the devil's servants is to make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof, and that is no better than feeding swine. A sinful state is a state constant discontent. The wealth of the world and the pleasures of the senses will not even satisfy our bodies; but what are they to precious souls! A sinful state is a state which cannot look for relief from any creature. In vain do we cry to the world and to the flesh; they have that which will poison a soul, but have nothing to give which will feed and nourish it. A sinful state is a state of death. A sinner is dead in trespasses and sins, destitute of spiritual life. A sinful state is a lost state. Souls that are separated from God, if his mercy prevent not, will soon be lost for ever. The prodigal's wretched state, only faintly shadows forth the awful ruin of man by sin. Yet how few are sensible of their own state and character!
 
G

Gr8grace

Guest
#7
Matthew henrys concise commentary

15:11-16 The parable of the prodigal son shows the nature of repentance, and the Lord's readiness to welcome and bless all who return to him. It fully sets forth the riches of gospel grace; and it has been, and will be, while the world stands, of unspeakable use to poor sinners, to direct and to encourage them in repenting and returning to God. It is bad, and the beginning of worse, when men look upon God's gifts as debts due to them. The great folly of sinners, and that which ruins them, is, being content in their life-time to receive their good things. Our first parents ruined themselves and all their race, by a foolish ambition to be independent, and this is at the bottom of sinners' persisting in their sin. We may all discern some features of our own characters in that of the prodigal son. A sinful state is of departure and distance from God. A sinful state is a spending state: wilful sinners misemploy their thoughts and the powers of their souls, mispend their time and all their opportunities. A sinful state is a wanting state. Sinners want necessaries for their souls; they have neither food nor raiment for them, nor any provision for hereafter. A sinful state is a vile, slavish state. The business of the devil's servants is to make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof, and that is no better than feeding swine. A sinful state is a state constant discontent. The wealth of the world and the pleasures of the senses will not even satisfy our bodies; but what are they to precious souls! A sinful state is a state which cannot look for relief from any creature. In vain do we cry to the world and to the flesh; they have that which will poison a soul, but have nothing to give which will feed and nourish it. A sinful state is a state of death. A sinner is dead in trespasses and sins, destitute of spiritual life. A sinful state is a lost state. Souls that are separated from God, if his mercy prevent not, will soon be lost for ever. The prodigal's wretched state, only faintly shadows forth the awful ruin of man by sin. Yet how few are sensible of their own state and character!
What about a teacher or theologian that has your interpretation? I would like to see one.
 
G

Gr8grace

Guest
#11
Which aspect of the interpretation are you talking about?
That we are born into the Fathers house as son's, leave and become not a son, return and become son's again or real son's.
 
Jan 27, 2013
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#12
no you were born into the joy of opinions vary.

his problem is the same as most.

42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.Acts 10:

logic of an idiot , will not understand, the dead are not dead yet. lol
but eye witness to what you do. lol the joy of study . xxx
god bless all. rome 5 etc
 
Feb 24, 2015
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#13
That we are born into the Fathers house as son's, leave and become not a son, return and become son's again or real son's.
All humans are born into humanity, sons of Adam, Gods creation.
We all choose to go off into the world without asking God for help.
We all fail and those who have sense ask God for forgiveness.

If you take the lost sheep parable, the sheep is part of the flock but gets lost.
The lost coin was owned by the woman before it was lost.

In a real sense everything in Gods creation had an original intension and relationship
with God.
 
Mar 23, 2016
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#14
PeterJens said:
So the analogy is we are born as children of our heavenly father
This is not true, Peter.


Ephesians 2:

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)



Our natural birth in is ---

Vs 1 – dead in trespasses and sins

Vs 2 – according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience

Vs 3 – in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath
 
G

Gr8grace

Guest
#16
All humans are born into humanity, sons of Adam, Gods creation.
We all choose to go off into the world without asking God for help.
We all fail and those who have sense ask God for forgiveness.

If you take the lost sheep parable, the sheep is part of the flock but gets lost.
The lost coin was owned by the woman before it was lost.

In a real sense everything in Gods creation had an original intension and relationship
with God.
Can you give me a link or teacher or theologian that has your particular interpretation of the prodigal son?

Particularly, where we are born into this world as son's in the Fathers house.
 
Feb 24, 2015
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#17
Can you give me a link or teacher or theologian that has your particular interpretation of the prodigal son?

Particularly, where we are born into this world as son's in the Fathers house.
The problem with the prodigal son story is the idea the son is a son in his fathers house who wants
out.

Now Jesus could be referring to the people of Israel born into Gods family by birth, yet want to waste
their inheritence. The problem we have being gentiles is we are not born into this family.

But then again if you are born into a christian family, in Pauls view the believing parent sanctifies the
child through their faith.

Often people go to church, have sunday school, come to some kind of faith, and then walk away.

Extrapolating this to everyone in the world may be too far.
There is a sense in which the commonality of mankind, but I am probably taking the parable too far.

But it sounds like the idea of pushing parables is a touchy subject. Why is that?
The principles behind them are scriptural, unless ofcourse you follow a different model.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#18
Prodigal son

1. He was born into his fathers house. In this instance, the father is god, Thus this person has been "born again" into his fathers house ie, he was dead, and was made alive.
2. He left with his inheritance thinking he could do it on his own now. he did not need his fathers help. But HE WAS STILL THE FATHERS SON.
3. He returned, and determined, even if he could only come back as a slave, it would be better than what he had now. His fathers reply. YOUR STILL MY SON.

the prodigal was the son from before he left. Continued to be the son after he left (although he was as good as dead as he did not have access to his fathers help) and he was still the son when he returned.

The funny thing is, The son who was there, Is the one who GOT MAD.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#19
to the OP. Are you going to answer their question, Like them, I have never heard that all men and women are born into Gods family.. I always understand according to scritpure. we were born into Adams family, and dead, not Gods.
 
Feb 24, 2015
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#20
Interesting problem - Who is the father? Is it an allegory or theological truth.

The lost sheep is about search out sinners to bring them into the Kingdom.
The lost coin is about searching out something of great value to bring them into the Kingdom.

The prodigal son is a sinner. He ends up with pigs, a definate symbol of defilement.
But he goes back to the father.

Why does this speak to me strongly of God our Father?

My attitude to God has been effected to my biological father. My Father in heaven
has become my real Father, and through Him I see love in my dad and his weaknesses and
forgive them, and desire blessings as much as possible.

The prodigal son is almost everyones experience of leaving home, of making our own way,
of desiring to be different, of self confidence that fails.

And the resolution of going home, also seems to fit both with God and with ones own family.
Parables are stories which have shadows of many realities.

It is why I find them such a mystery and also so powerful.

What I find instructive is how unyielding some peoples interpretations are.
I wish life was so straightforward, and solutions simple.

So God is the father to all creation, as the creator, but only as a real emotional
father to those in the Kingdom.

When we preach, we are calling out to people on the basis they can become a
child of God, so this adoption is a very real reality.