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Back to the original point "Don't mix the LAW and GRACE"
We can't serve two masters so it is true that we can't be both under the consequence of the Law and under grace at the same time but can we serve one and then serve the other. Yes people do, including myself which isn't right we should continually believe we are under grace. But does that mean the LAW is void? The Law is still 100% in place but while under grace we aren't under it's condemnation. We should serve the Lord and keep the law by grace and through grace because we are saved and love the Lord.
We can't serve two masters so it is true that we can't be both under the consequence of the Law and under grace at the same time but can we serve one and then serve the other. Yes people do, including myself which isn't right we should continually believe we are under grace. But does that mean the LAW is void? The Law is still 100% in place but while under grace we aren't under it's condemnation. We should serve the Lord and keep the law by grace and through grace because we are saved and love the Lord.
A common misconception is that "grace" only came with Messiah's advent. Many today think the Jews are under the "age of the law," which is obsolete by yielding to the age of "grace." Many believe a doctrine that has never been true, teaching that you're either under the one or the other and the two cannot mix. They will use this verse, attempting to prove this falsehood.
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:17
The big problem with this idea is that John himself bears strong witness against this falsehood.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.The same was in the beginning with God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:1-2 and 14
The origin of Jesus is clearly before Moses existed. In fact, as the Word, His origins go back before humans even existed.
"Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Micah 5:1-2
Genesis 49:10 tells that the scepter will not depart from Jesus' tribe of Judah. Put simply, Aramaic writings very easily correlate the ancient values of "grace" or "mercy" that is not understood with the service of the vehicle used in the Greek (vehicular) language.
"And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, (rakhem רהם) and have compassion (rakhem רהם) upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;" Deuteronomy 13:17
rakhem (רהם) is the signal Aramaic word, in almost 40 additional passages, used for mercy, "grace," and compassion.
In the New Covenant writings, "rakhem" is the overwhelming word of choice for "grace" appearing nearly 200 times, and interestingly enough, the same word also means "love." So, since our Almighty God has always loved us, we have also always had access to His "grace" if we admit our failings and seek Him with all our hearts. It is not truth to attempt to separate God's attributes (His name) from His spoken Word. If we willingly attempt to separate His "grace" from His "law" we are taking His "Name" in vain.
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." Exodus 20:7
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:17
The big problem with this idea is that John himself bears strong witness against this falsehood.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.The same was in the beginning with God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:1-2 and 14
The origin of Jesus is clearly before Moses existed. In fact, as the Word, His origins go back before humans even existed.
"Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Micah 5:1-2
Genesis 49:10 tells that the scepter will not depart from Jesus' tribe of Judah. Put simply, Aramaic writings very easily correlate the ancient values of "grace" or "mercy" that is not understood with the service of the vehicle used in the Greek (vehicular) language.
"And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, (rakhem רהם) and have compassion (rakhem רהם) upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;" Deuteronomy 13:17
rakhem (רהם) is the signal Aramaic word, in almost 40 additional passages, used for mercy, "grace," and compassion.
In the New Covenant writings, "rakhem" is the overwhelming word of choice for "grace" appearing nearly 200 times, and interestingly enough, the same word also means "love." So, since our Almighty God has always loved us, we have also always had access to His "grace" if we admit our failings and seek Him with all our hearts. It is not truth to attempt to separate God's attributes (His name) from His spoken Word. If we willingly attempt to separate His "grace" from His "law" we are taking His "Name" in vain.
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." Exodus 20:7
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"Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers. 30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents. 31. Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful; Romans 1:29,30,31
It is very interesting to see some of the things included in this list of abominations that many people would not consider sin, or certainly not a "bad" sin like others on the list. For instance, the word "debate" means "to quarrel or argue" Some people think it's perfectly ok, but Paul lists it right along with murder and sexual sins.
YIKES The word "Whisperers" means "gossips" a "backbiter" is a person who slanders the character or reputation of another. Pride is listed among these sins that are an abomination to God, as well as being disobedient to parents. A "covenant breaker" is a person who can not be trusted to keep his word.
Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable O man, whosoever thou art that judges; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
From a human perspective some people have obtained a level of holiness that gives them the right to judge others. However, when viewed from God's standpoint, we are all people who sin and one who sins has no justification for condemning someone else.. We may not be doing the exact same transgressions but we are guilty of being lawbreakers (Jas.2:10) and are, therefore, disqualified from being the judge.
Also, whenever one condemns another, he is showing that he has a knowledge of right and wrong and therefore can no longer claim ignorance for his own offenses. As vs 2 explains, we are better off to leave the judging to God.
While I am not saying these verses are specifically for believers, it still should be a rule of life for us as believers not to judge another brother or sisters heart. That is to be left up to God. I for one have to read these verses for myself and then when I'm considering my words typed out in these posts, I need to make sure I leave the judging to God.
I hope to share information for the edification and encouragement of other Christians on these forums but specifically on this thread as the OP at this time. (however short or long this thread may last). I wholeheartedly believe what I'm sharing and desire to see others free from the condemnation of the law and to walk in the the gospel of grace.
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Romans 1:2 The concept of the gospel was not new. Gal.3:8 says that the Lord preached the gospel unto Abraham. Also, Moses gave the conditions of the gospel in Deuteronomy 30:11-14 Which Paul quoted in Rom.10:6-7 he explained faith as the ONLY condition to receiving God's grace. Jesus Himself said that the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms were full of prophecies concerning Him. Lk.24:44
The "gospel" is weaved throughout the OT scriptures. The job of the OT law was to shut us up or constrain us towards the gospel Gal.3:19 "Why the law then? It was added because of he transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator,until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made." NAS
----until the gospel could be put into effect by the sacrifice of Jesus.
The conflict between law and grace comes WHEN people try to MIX the two. As Jesus described in His parables about the new wine in the old wine skin and the new patch on the old garment. The two covenants are NOT compatible.
"The OT law paved the way for the gospel and pointed men towards the gospel. If the law is used to point out man's need and bring him to his knees through hopelessness of self-salvation, then the gospel is used to provide salvation and relationship, there is NO conflict. Conflict arises ONLY when individuals refuse to use faith in God's grace as the ONLY means of salvation and insist that some degree of adherence to law is required for justification.". . .Study Bible and Commentary The Romans Edition....
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Shoving down throats? LOL Id say posting a link to joseph prince HERESY and neglecting to tell people who it is to begin with is underhanded and not being forthright!
But I suppose that I wouldnt tell people who the link portrayed either if I was propagating heresy! Its not arrogant and its not assumption when one is putting forth truth ie BIBLE TRUTH. You just see it that way because your flesh desires to cling to a heretics teaching. I personally do not want my ears tickled but then thats just me.
I am not trying to mislead anyone. As soon as the link is opened, it's clear who is preaching. This is not about a certain preacher or teacher, it's about the Bible. I use many different Bible commentaries along with my NAS, KJ and Amplified Bible. Joseph Prince is just one of many preachers I like and read. I am also glad to read Willie also has read one of his books and that he and I had that in common.
The words --underhanded, not being forthright, heretical...heresy.,-- are wrong to say about my motives and the things I'm seeking to share here. I would most gladly sit down and reason together with you. That is what I'm seeking to do here in this thread. It is wrong for you or anyone in this thread to judge mine or anyone's motives because as was stated before, Only God knows the motives thoughts and intents of our hearts.
Noone said keeping the commandments is to BUY anything except perhaps you and all the hyper grace movement.
. .We know that circumcising oneself makes Jesus' atonement cancelled out for lack of better words..
Since I am fairly new to the forums :
Let me be crystal clear here so EVERYONE knows exactly where I stand: I obey my savior because I love him . I obey my savior because I have a new nature in Christ. I obey my saviors commands because he has written them on my heart. I cannot earn anything. That would be works righteousness wouldnt it ?
But I am also aware that the hyper grace movement is just as dangerous as works righteousness because it gives the false assurance of salvation. If we are not changed and therefore continually striving for holiness; are we being sanctified by the spirit? If we do not strive for righteousness are we therefore righteous? According to Christ we arent!
Dead to Sin, Alive to God
Romans 6:1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?… <<< ANTI HYPER GRACE , OSAS
Romans 6:15
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! ANTI OSAS doctrine! Anti HYPER GRACE
Hebrews 10:26
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Hyper grace espouses to not needing to repent ever again because past,current, and future sins are covered. That may be true with a saint that only falls to sin and not someone who was never really converted to begin with. And furthermore, the saint that falls to sin(didnt seek it out) repents and repents often! God has instructed us to examine ourselves to see that we are in the fath.
Joseph Prince is recorded as saying repentance is "being positive" !! Its on video on TBN with his pal mr smiley joel.
Jesus spoke about keeping his commandments did he not?
1 John 3:10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."
John 14:23
Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
John 15:10
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.
1 John 2:3
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.
1 John 5:3
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
2 John 1:6
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Galatians 5:12I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves. 13For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh( HYPER GRACE), but through love serve one another. 14For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."…
[h=4]Commentary on Romans 2:25-29 > Matthew Henry
[/h] (Read Romans 2:25-29)
No forms, ordinances, or notions can profit, without regenerating grace, which will always lead to seeking an interest in the righteousness of God by faith. For he is no more a Christian now, than he was really a Jew of old, who is only one outwardly: neither is that baptism, which is outward in the flesh: but he is the real Christian, who is inwardly a true believer, with an obedient faith. And the true baptism is that of the heart, by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Ghost; bringing a spiritual frame of mind, and a willing following of truth in its holy ways. Let us pray that we may be made real Christians, not outwardly, but inwardly; in the heart and spirit, not in the letter; baptized, not with water only, but with the Holy Ghost; and let our praise be, not of men, but of God.
And finally:
2 Corinth 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Another commentary of Matthew Henry ( I like the way he explains things)
13:1-6 Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine power. So the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to the world, yet, as instruments, they manifested the power of God. Let them prove their tempers, conduct, and experience, as gold is assayed or proved by the touchstone. If they could prove themselves not to be reprobates, not to be rejected of Christ, he trusted they would know that he was not a reprobate, not disowned by Christ. They ought to know if Christ Jesus was in them, by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit, by his kingdom set up in their hearts. Let us question our own souls; either we are true Christians, or we are deceivers. Unless Christ be in us by his Spirit, and power of his love, our faith is dead, and we are yet disapproved by our Judge.
May we all allow the Lord to teach us his precepts. I pray we all grow in wisdom from the LORD and not following our own deceitful hearts. Amen
. .We know that circumcising oneself makes Jesus' atonement cancelled out for lack of better words..
Since I am fairly new to the forums :
Let me be crystal clear here so EVERYONE knows exactly where I stand: I obey my savior because I love him . I obey my savior because I have a new nature in Christ. I obey my saviors commands because he has written them on my heart. I cannot earn anything. That would be works righteousness wouldnt it ?
But I am also aware that the hyper grace movement is just as dangerous as works righteousness because it gives the false assurance of salvation. If we are not changed and therefore continually striving for holiness; are we being sanctified by the spirit? If we do not strive for righteousness are we therefore righteous? According to Christ we arent!
Dead to Sin, Alive to God
Romans 6:1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?… <<< ANTI HYPER GRACE , OSAS
Romans 6:15
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! ANTI OSAS doctrine! Anti HYPER GRACE
Hebrews 10:26
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Hyper grace espouses to not needing to repent ever again because past,current, and future sins are covered. That may be true with a saint that only falls to sin and not someone who was never really converted to begin with. And furthermore, the saint that falls to sin(didnt seek it out) repents and repents often! God has instructed us to examine ourselves to see that we are in the fath.
Joseph Prince is recorded as saying repentance is "being positive" !! Its on video on TBN with his pal mr smiley joel.
Jesus spoke about keeping his commandments did he not?
1 John 3:10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."
John 14:23
Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
John 15:10
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.
1 John 2:3
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.
1 John 5:3
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
2 John 1:6
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Galatians 5:12I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves. 13For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh( HYPER GRACE), but through love serve one another. 14For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."…
[h=4]Commentary on Romans 2:25-29 > Matthew Henry
[/h] (Read Romans 2:25-29)
No forms, ordinances, or notions can profit, without regenerating grace, which will always lead to seeking an interest in the righteousness of God by faith. For he is no more a Christian now, than he was really a Jew of old, who is only one outwardly: neither is that baptism, which is outward in the flesh: but he is the real Christian, who is inwardly a true believer, with an obedient faith. And the true baptism is that of the heart, by the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Ghost; bringing a spiritual frame of mind, and a willing following of truth in its holy ways. Let us pray that we may be made real Christians, not outwardly, but inwardly; in the heart and spirit, not in the letter; baptized, not with water only, but with the Holy Ghost; and let our praise be, not of men, but of God.
And finally:
2 Corinth 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Another commentary of Matthew Henry ( I like the way he explains things)
13:1-6 Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine power. So the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to the world, yet, as instruments, they manifested the power of God. Let them prove their tempers, conduct, and experience, as gold is assayed or proved by the touchstone. If they could prove themselves not to be reprobates, not to be rejected of Christ, he trusted they would know that he was not a reprobate, not disowned by Christ. They ought to know if Christ Jesus was in them, by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit, by his kingdom set up in their hearts. Let us question our own souls; either we are true Christians, or we are deceivers. Unless Christ be in us by his Spirit, and power of his love, our faith is dead, and we are yet disapproved by our Judge.
May we all allow the Lord to teach us his precepts. I pray we all grow in wisdom from the LORD and not following our own deceitful hearts. Amen
Way, way, way , WAY too much clutter for a forum post. (I know you can type... no need to try to prove it) So I will answer just the most obvious misunderstanding.
Yes REPENTANCE is exactly that.... Making a decision that there is a spiritual kingdom, and that Christ is king of that kingdom..... and being positive of it.
Biblically, THAT is repentance.... MAKING A DECISION, and being positive of that decision. REPENTANCE is NOT what we have tried to make it.... a demonstration of remorse and sorrow that will earn us a place back in fellowship with God. We do NOT fall from fellowship for doing dumb things (sinning). You are just as much in fellowship with God as you were that day, years ago, when you REPENTED (made a decision to believe in Christ).
What on Earth do you think the whole parable about the Prodigal Son is all about?
Yes REPENTANCE is exactly that.... Making a decision that there is a spiritual kingdom, and that Christ is king of that kingdom..... and being positive of it.
Biblically, THAT is repentance.... MAKING A DECISION, and being positive of that decision. REPENTANCE is NOT what we have tried to make it.... a demonstration of remorse and sorrow that will earn us a place back in fellowship with God. We do NOT fall from fellowship for doing dumb things (sinning). You are just as much in fellowship with God as you were that day, years ago, when you REPENTED (made a decision to believe in Christ).
What on Earth do you think the whole parable about the Prodigal Son is all about?
Do you want to see how your heavenly Father responds when you have failed? Look at the parable of the prodigal son which Jesus shared:
Luke 15:11–24
11“A certain man had two sons. 12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’” 20“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
We see a father who runs toward his prodigal son to embrace him the moment he sees him from a distance. Do you know that the father’s behavior is actually contrary to the law of Moses? I was studying this sometime back and I found that according to the law, if a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who refuses to heed his parents, that man is supposed to bring his son to the elders of the city, and all the men of his city are to stone his son to death, so that they can put away the evil from among them, and all Israel shall hear and fear. (Deut.21:18-21) That’s the law of Moses.
When Jesus shared the story of the prodigal son, all the Jewish people who heard Him would have been familiar with this law. However, instead of the condemnation and punishment that the rebellious son deserved under the law, Jesus revealed the Father’s heart of grace and forgiveness in the new covenant. At that point, Jesus had not yet died to establish the new covenant of grace and the people listening to Him were all still under the law of Moses. Jesus was giving them a taste of what was to come. He was showing them the reality that we enjoy today.
Did the son sin against his father? Yes, most definitely. But did the father heap guilt and condemnation on his son before he received his son? No, he did not. In fact, the father did not even give his son the opportunity to finish his rehearsed speech. The father interrupted his son before he could ask to be made one of his hired servants. The father interrupted him not to condemn him for sinning against him, but to instruct his servants to bring out the best robe, put a ring on his son’s hand and sandals on his son’s feet!
Did it matter to the father that his son’s intentions may not have been all that good? We all know that the son was not returning to the father’s house because he had realized his mistake. He was returning because he was hungry! When he was feeding the pigs, he remembered that even the hired servants in his father’s house had more than enough food to eat. That was when he decided to head back to his father’s house. But the father did not care what his son’s intentions were. When the prodigal son “was still a great way off ” (and the father had no way of determining why his son was returning), his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his son’s neck and kissed him. What a wonderful picture of God’s heart of love!
Who was the one sharing the parable of the prodigal son? It was Jesus. I think Jesus knows His Father really well, wouldn’t you agree? We are hearing an eyewitness account of what God the Father is like, and Jesus should know! See how He described God’s response to those who have sinned. How is it that the father saw his son even when he was still a great way off? That’s because the father had been waiting and longing for his son to return. He must have kept his eyes on the horizon daily, hoping that each day would be the day his beloved son returned home.
Can you see His heart of love for you even when you have failed Him? You just have to take one step toward God and your loving Daddy in heaven will run toward you with no condemnation. He wants to fall upon you, kiss you, and lavish you with His love and blessings! He is waiting to clothe you with the robe of righteousness, put the signet ring of authority back in your hands and shod your feet with the sandals of right standing. He wants to reinstate you, wash you and throw a party because you came home! Our God is a God who will run toward you with NO CONDEMNATION.
Let’s cast aside our religious ideas about God. Take that one step toward your Daddy even when you have failed, and He will run to you and embrace you. He loves you and accepts you just as you are. He has all the power to help you when you fail and feel defeated.
Rejoice, my friend — there is now no condemnation for you because you are in Christ Jesus!
Your Daddy loves you and accepts you just as you are, and He has all the power to help you when you fail and feel defeated.
Luke 15:11–24
11“A certain man had two sons. 12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’” 20“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
We see a father who runs toward his prodigal son to embrace him the moment he sees him from a distance. Do you know that the father’s behavior is actually contrary to the law of Moses? I was studying this sometime back and I found that according to the law, if a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who refuses to heed his parents, that man is supposed to bring his son to the elders of the city, and all the men of his city are to stone his son to death, so that they can put away the evil from among them, and all Israel shall hear and fear. (Deut.21:18-21) That’s the law of Moses.
When Jesus shared the story of the prodigal son, all the Jewish people who heard Him would have been familiar with this law. However, instead of the condemnation and punishment that the rebellious son deserved under the law, Jesus revealed the Father’s heart of grace and forgiveness in the new covenant. At that point, Jesus had not yet died to establish the new covenant of grace and the people listening to Him were all still under the law of Moses. Jesus was giving them a taste of what was to come. He was showing them the reality that we enjoy today.
Did the son sin against his father? Yes, most definitely. But did the father heap guilt and condemnation on his son before he received his son? No, he did not. In fact, the father did not even give his son the opportunity to finish his rehearsed speech. The father interrupted his son before he could ask to be made one of his hired servants. The father interrupted him not to condemn him for sinning against him, but to instruct his servants to bring out the best robe, put a ring on his son’s hand and sandals on his son’s feet!
Did it matter to the father that his son’s intentions may not have been all that good? We all know that the son was not returning to the father’s house because he had realized his mistake. He was returning because he was hungry! When he was feeding the pigs, he remembered that even the hired servants in his father’s house had more than enough food to eat. That was when he decided to head back to his father’s house. But the father did not care what his son’s intentions were. When the prodigal son “was still a great way off ” (and the father had no way of determining why his son was returning), his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his son’s neck and kissed him. What a wonderful picture of God’s heart of love!
Who was the one sharing the parable of the prodigal son? It was Jesus. I think Jesus knows His Father really well, wouldn’t you agree? We are hearing an eyewitness account of what God the Father is like, and Jesus should know! See how He described God’s response to those who have sinned. How is it that the father saw his son even when he was still a great way off? That’s because the father had been waiting and longing for his son to return. He must have kept his eyes on the horizon daily, hoping that each day would be the day his beloved son returned home.
Can you see His heart of love for you even when you have failed Him? You just have to take one step toward God and your loving Daddy in heaven will run toward you with no condemnation. He wants to fall upon you, kiss you, and lavish you with His love and blessings! He is waiting to clothe you with the robe of righteousness, put the signet ring of authority back in your hands and shod your feet with the sandals of right standing. He wants to reinstate you, wash you and throw a party because you came home! Our God is a God who will run toward you with NO CONDEMNATION.
Let’s cast aside our religious ideas about God. Take that one step toward your Daddy even when you have failed, and He will run to you and embrace you. He loves you and accepts you just as you are. He has all the power to help you when you fail and feel defeated.
Rejoice, my friend — there is now no condemnation for you because you are in Christ Jesus!
Your Daddy loves you and accepts you just as you are, and He has all the power to help you when you fail and feel defeated.
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K
I think you have been taught the wrong definition of repentance.
For the biblical definition of repentance is a change of mind toward your former sinful self leading you to turn from those ways.
Repentance is not a simple change of mind from unbelief to belief, that is a false teaching of repentance, because if you go and pull all scriptures from the NT about repentance you will see they all refer to sins. When you repent of a sin then the fruits that come in your actions have to meet with that repentance, meaning that if you continue to commit that sin you are not producing fruit met for repentance.
Matthew 3:8
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
The prodigal son which we have been through before was used by the Lord on how salvation works, and it says when the son walked away from the father he was dead. But when he returned he was alive again, when placed in the understanding of salvation the believer when he walks away from God is spiritual dead and only when they return to the Lord by repentance are they spiritually alive again (eternal life).
K
You keep saying and focusing on Jesus did not die to establish the new covenant, but all of Jesus teachings were for the new covenant.
He taught parables and gave teachings on how salvation works, and when He died on the cross that just official started the new covenant. Everything the Lord said in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is very much valid for the believer to follow today.
And Jesus even shows that unless you can handle those teachings He gave in those 4 gospel books, you can not handle the rest of what He had to say that was given later by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles.
It is interesting to see what we see of God's love for his children.... Just take our own human experience for an example - any parent worth their salt will show their displeasure and punish their children when needed (when they do wrong - do not follow their parents wishes).
Yes, It is very true that when you are a child of God, no matter what you do, God will not love you any less, because the love he has for you is not based on anything you do or have done - but on the work of his son. When he see's you he see's his son. However, When you dwell upon sin, and continue in sin you will bring upon yourself his displeasure and you grieve the Holy Spirit in you..
God will bring you back, he may punish you, you will still suffer the consequences of your sin..But God will still love you,
Just to put some balance on the subject!
Yes, It is very true that when you are a child of God, no matter what you do, God will not love you any less, because the love he has for you is not based on anything you do or have done - but on the work of his son. When he see's you he see's his son. However, When you dwell upon sin, and continue in sin you will bring upon yourself his displeasure and you grieve the Holy Spirit in you..
God will bring you back, he may punish you, you will still suffer the consequences of your sin..But God will still love you,
Just to put some balance on the subject!
K
Nice try to turn this around and use OT scriptures speaking on when God repented !!!
Once again what I said is pull out all of the "NEW TESTAMENT" scriptures about repentance for us.
The biblical definition for repentance for us is a change of mind from our old sinful self to no longer walk in those ways !!!
You can try and twist and say something I didn't, but it won't work because you can not compare the way God repented in the OT to how we are told and what we are told to repent of in the NT.