Luke 15:11-24

Luke 15:11-24

1. We see a man following the natural bent of his own heart.
2. We see man finding out that the ways of sin are hard, by bitter experience.
3. We see man awaking to a sense of his natural state, and resolving to repent.
4. We see man turning to God with true repentance and faith.
5. We see the penitent man received readily, pardoned freely, and completely accepted with God.

"We are all naturally proud and self-willed. We have no pleasure in fellowship with God. We depart from Him, and go afar off. We spend our time, and strength, and faculties, and affections, on things that cannot profit."

"Sin is a hard master, and the servants of sin always find it out, sooner or later, to their cost."

"Conviction is not conversion, but it is one step, at any rate, in a right direction. The ruin of many people's souls is simply this, that they never think at all...One caution, however, must always be given. Men must beware that they do not stop short in "thinking." Good thoughts are all very well, but they are not saving Christianity."

"The man in whose heart a true work of the Holy Spirit has begun, will never be content with thinking and resolving. He will break off from sin. He will come out from its fellowship. He will cease to do evil. He will learn to do well. He will turn to God in humble prayer. He will confess his iniquities. He will not attempt to excuse his sins."

"Let this boundless mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ be engraved deeply in our memories, and sink into our minds. Let us never forget that He is One "that receives sinners."

Questions:

1. The first lesson we learn in this parable is that the younger brother reflects the heart of us all, and Ryle says that anyone who does not yet know this has much yet to learn! Do we know this of our own hearts, and the hearts of those around us?

2. Proverbs 13:15 tells us that the way of the transgressor is hard. What are some of the areas in our lives where we have had to learn this?

3. Ryle says that ‘conviction is not conversion.’ True Christianity is more than mental assent to certain truths but a heart change. How does this strike us?

4. True repentance requires action to the thoughts and convictions and results in a breaking from sin. Truly, how can we love Jesus and love the sin he died for that separated us from Him at the same time?

5. Jesus vividly paints the picture of His heart toward repenting sinners, that of full acceptance and love. Do we struggle with whether God loves us or not? What other proof do we need if we belong to Him?