Prodigal son - eternally saved or the lost who found God

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Feb 24, 2015
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#1
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Luke 15:11-31


The prodigal son
1. Took his rights - Father, give me my share of the estate
2. He went his own way - got together all he had, set off for a distant country
3. He realised his mistake - he came to his senses
4. He repented and returned to his father - Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son
5. The fathers response was - son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found

Now some suppose the son was always a son.
Jesus is saying the son sinned and disowned all he had and who he was. He
walked away for the safe secure and blessed place with his father.

To his father he was now dead, lost, gone forever.
Restoration was because the son came back, accepted servant hood, admitted sin
and wanted forgiveness, which the father was willing and joyful to give.

Some suppose to leave the father, to rebel, to sin is not why judgement is coming,
rather you are still a son so saved.

This is pure universalism.
As sons we inherit the authority of our Father, so equally if we rebel against Him,
we inherit his anger and judgement. You cannot have one without the other.
 
J

JustinDVW

Guest
#2
I am not understanding what you are asking so forgive me

I heard this teaching at a gospel festival before. However as far as universalism I do believe (some) not including everyone, or just anyone, will eventually inherent some kind of smaller kingdom if or when or if they make it to heaven. I believe that only the saints that God elects will be able to have their own kingdom, but still be under the King of All Kings Jesus God or the Son. the majority will be followers or citizens of which ever one of God's cities or nations. God is king of all kings the saints are just servants themselves also.

This is my teaching, and my own opinion by the way
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#3
The Father wasn't angry...he mourned a dead son,

Did the son ever stop being a son?

We should examine this parable closer and not add your asssumptions to the story.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
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#4
This is pure universalism.
What is pure universalism ?
Do you believe in pure universalism?
Are you preaching against universalism?

You got me totally confused..
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#5
The prodigal son
1. Took his rights - Father, give me my share of the estate
2. He went his own way - got together all he had, set off for a distant country
3. He realised his mistake - he came to his senses
4. He repented and returned to his father - Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son
5. The fathers response was - son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found
Okay nice summary

Now some suppose the son was always a son.
he is always called a son...dead versus living son..but always a son.

Jesus is saying the son sinned and disowned all he had and who he was.
where? What verses does it day he was disowned?

It says he wasted away his inheritance. It says he died, but does not say he was disowned.

He walked away for the safe secure and blessed place with his father.

To his father he was now dead, lost, gone forever.
Restoration was because the son came back, accepted servant hood, admitted sin
and wanted forgiveness, which the father was willing and joyful to give.
yet the Father didn't make him a servant,

Some suppose to leave the father, to rebel, to sin is not why judgement is coming,
rather you are still a son so saved.
look at Abraham's children...Ishmael and Isaac.
Are both sons saved?

This is pure universalism.
no it's not, but it is annoying that you label anything you don't agree with.

As sons we inherit the authority of our Father, so equally if we rebel against Him,
we inherit his anger and judgement. You cannot have one without the other.
Chastenment is different from judgement.

What verses in this parable shows God's anger or judgement?

It's a false image many have of an angry God.

God watches dead sons and daughters and calls them back to life because of HIS LOVE AND MERCY not anger or judgment.
 
Feb 24, 2015
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#6
Was the prodigal son lost to the father if he did not return and repent?

The answer for me is yes.
Because this is the state of humans. We take what we are given in life
and actively choose to spend it on ourselves and our indulgences.

We are dead to God and dead to where we have come from.
And for this we are under judgement for sin.

To say the prodigal son will actually be accepted back by God even when
not repentant, is missing the point. Live is the halfway house between
blessing and judgement, with an open door for return.

Jesus is saying "I am here, come to me and I will give you rest."

The day will come when blessing will cease, realities will close in and everything
will grind to a halt.

Hell is the ultimate destination for those who choose to walk their own way
and not turn to God. If everything was just left to run, it just gets worse.
Without God, purity and righteousness ruling, things will destroy themselves.

People get judgement wrong. It has never been obey my rules or else, it is
without love you will destroy yourselves and all you hold dear around you.
Judgement is just clearing the decks of the chaff that is left behind.

I wonder how many see this or accept it. Would the world just trundle on
fine with sin, independence and mortality forever?
 

nowyouseem033

Senior Member
Jul 17, 2014
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#7
The prodigal Son is a story of the Fathers love for his Son. It is not didactic teaching but a parable to convey an expression of love.
 
Feb 24, 2015
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#8
where? What verses does it day he was disowned?
'Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
Luke 12:12-13

The son did not ask for advice, he demanded his share of the estate before it was due.
This is unusual, as until the father dies, they do not inherit the land.

It appears this is equivalent to saying he wished his father was dead.
Not only this he sold his inheritence for money, a double insult.

So I think the son disowning his father, and disowning the land given to him by God himself.

Inheritance Practices in the First Century

The father counted his son as dead. He also gave generously to his son, what would be his
right on his fathers death, but not before, which is pure grace and love. And he gave with the
foreknowledge his child would miss-use it and squander it, and cause the father great pain and
loss.

This is a true parable of our Father in heaven, and His generous giving to us as people and sinners
in rebellion against him. Yet he has hope that we the lost children will repent and return.
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#9
Does the fact that something is away from who it belongs to make it lose it's value? Does a son that is away from communing with his father make him an un-son now? Does he stop "being a son" - of course not.

Does a lost sheep make that sheep lose who it belongs too? Does the sheep ever stop being a sheep in this process? Does a lost coin mean that the coin itself has lost it's value and who it really belongs too? Does the coin ever stop being a coin just because it is lost?

Does the thief who comes to take away something ever really own what he stole from another?

Once people come to Christ they are eternally sealed with the Holy Spirit. False teaching about the nature of God - such as He will forsake and leave you can make your emotions and mind all screwy but true faith is of the heart and in that new heart we have been created a new creation - created in righteousness and holiness. Jesus Himself is joined by the Holy Spirit as one spirit with us forever. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will be in us and with us forever. John 14:16

We belong to the Father and will forever be a son because it is based on what Christ has already done. Get this wrong - and we create a religion of self-works.

The son that belongs to the Father is no more eternally lost then Daffy Duck and Donald Duck are the 2 witnesses in the book of Revelation.

It is this type of teaching that brings more harm to the body of Christ then any other false doctrines. It attacks the very nature and character of God and what He has done in Christ.

Let's preach the gospel of the love and grace of God for it is the power of God for salvation - this hearing of Christ will supply the nutrients for us to grow up in the Lord and be fruitful as He bears His fruit in and through us to reflect to others His true nature towards them.
 
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Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
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#10
Was the prodigal son lost to the father if he did not return and repent?

The answer for me is yes.
I agree.. Without Him deciding to come back and repent his dads love for him was not going to be of any benefit to him.. He would have starved to death if he remained separated from his dad.
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#11
The prodigal Son is a story of the Fathers love for his Son. It is not didactic teaching but a parable to convey an expression of love.

Exactly. The whole purpose of the parable was to show the Father's love towards His son. To make it a heaven or hell destination is foolishness and missing the whole purpose of the parable.

It's funny how man views the parable as "The Prodigal son" when it should be really called "The parable of the Fathers love and total acceptance of both sons."

The older brother was just as alienated from his father's true nature as the younger one was.
 
Aug 15, 2009
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#12
Lost is lost.....

Dead is dead.....

Oh, we need to symbolize it..... dead's not really dead, & lost isn't really lost.

BTW, Hell isn't really hell, judgment's not really judgment, and of course, sin's not really sin, so it doesn't matter.

There, there, now..... you're going to Heaven 'cuz you said "I accept Jesus" when you were 10, & you shook the preacher's hand.....

Go back to sleep..... it wuz all jus' a dream.
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#13
I agree.. Without Him deciding to come back and repent his dads love for him was not going to be of any benefit to him.. He would have starved to death if he remained separated from his dad.
Perhaps. But he would have still remained his father's son.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#14
I am saddened that people want to turn a parable used to show Gods love, and twist it to support their attempt to earn salvation by their own power.

1. The prodigal son has his fathers blood. No matter how far away he left. He still had his fathers blood. Thus he was and will always be his fathers son. (we as Gods children have the blood of Christ. thus as children will always be his son, no matter how far away we go, but remember, We can not go anywhere God is not.. soo..)

2. The prodigal son did what all who walk away and try to do things on their own do. Find that trying to live apart from your fathers gifts and blessings does not go very well. The longer away you stay, the further you will fall.. Fail to return, and you may even die. but you will always be the son.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#15
I agree.. Without Him deciding to come back and repent his dads love for him was not going to be of any benefit to him.. He would have starved to death if he remained separated from his dad.
Physical death is not the same as spiritual death.
 
Dec 1, 2014
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#16
No one ever found God, they simply return home to where He's always been.
 
Aug 15, 2009
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#17
Perhaps. But he would have still remained his father's son.
Why, because he's called the prodigal son?
His own father said he was dead & lost.....What does it take to get you people to just read your Bibles, & not read into them?
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#18
Search the scriptures for the word "prodigal."

It is not there - it is a man-made traditional term based on our own interpretation of the parable.

Actually in context this parable and the one about the lost coin and sheep was in response to the Pharisees didn't like the way Jesus was relating to sinners.

Jesus was using this parable to rebuke the Pharisees for their harsh, self-righteous, and unforgiving attitude toward sinners.
 
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Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
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#19
Perhaps. But he would have still remained his father's son.
So? That still does not change the fact that if He did not come back to His dad he would have died..

To be saved we must repent and believe in the Way our Father in heaven has made to save us.. If we don't then we shall die the first and the second death..
 
Feb 24, 2015
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#20
twist it to support their attempt to earn salvation by their own power.
This is not an argued point, it is an accusation.
Many people throughout church history have been prodigal sons, and they very much
felt lost and dead to God.

There are many different ways you can take parables.
It is up to the listener to listen and hear.

Whoever has ears, let them hear
Matt 13:9

Some here are in complete opposition to any views or insights
that contradict their view and want to add their own additions.

All humans are created from God, so all humans will be saved? No.
All children of parents will agree and be reunited with their parents even in rebellion? No.

We are born into a Kingdom of division and chosen allegiance.

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.
Matt 10:34-36

He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Matt 12:48-50

We are in the kingdom because we do the will of our Father.

So it is false teaching to teach otherwise.