The Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son
Repentance
- What do we understand about this word?
- Missing jewel of much Christianity today
- The three parables speak about repentance
- The parables move from 1:100 to 1:10 to 1:1
- God has written these parables (maybe different to how we would)
- It is the act of the individual through God's enabling
- More than resolution or restitution but a real return to God
Condition
- Sheep:
- Humans follows each other, just like sheep
- Sheep often get into difficult and dangerous situations
- Only the shepherd can save the sheep
- Only the True Shepherd can rescue us
- Coin:
- Precious to the lady (but maybe not to others)
- Humans are precious to God
- Son:
- He didn't think of his responsibilities to his parents, the ties to his brother or the love of his family
- He rebels, just like Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden
- He descends into ungodly living being selfish
- Humans are selfish, pleasing and living for themselves
- Humans are lost
Conversion
- Sheep:
- Rejoices when the sheep is found
- A picture of conversion: God picks us up, He carries us, we are precious to Him
- Coin:
- God is drawing people to Himself
- People may be a long time in sin, but they will be found
- Son:
- The thought and knowledge of a loving father brings him back
- God is a loving father (cf Ps 51)
- Had sinned greatly against his father, he was aware of his sin
- He came to repent to his father
- Humans must repent and not just be sorry
- Humans must return to God
- You cannot improve your condition before God, He will restore you
Celebration
- Son:
- A joyous celebration in heaven by the angels and the Father, Son & Holy Spirit
- The father runs towards the son: a sign of his unconditional love
- Extravagant love: the best robe, a ring, sandals, a fatted calf
- Very satisfying to come back to the father
Have we come back to the father?