“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith"

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 15:20-32:

In our previous lesson, we were introduced to someone who was openly irreligious; whose eyes were wide open to his state. The riotous living was more than the squander of money; it was his whole vile state.

As is often the case with those who put their trust in passing things, as tragedy struck; he found himself at the mercy of strangers that had no true compassion for him. In the misery of the low state he has found himself, he has become self-aware of the true reason for his present state.

The beginning of true repentance is the acceptance of guilt. This guilt leads to a sorrow and that sorrow leads to true humble repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

He is now determined to return to his father and humbly beg him to be just a servant in the house that he was once an honored son. Repentance, without action is useless. He could just as easily come to himself, yet remain in the mire; unless he does something to change the circumstances surrounding his present condition, his realization is useless.

We now pick up with his journey back to his father.

Text #1:

Luke 15:20-23 “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. 21 And 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. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;”

He Arose and Came: Here in the text, repentance is pictured as a journey. The prodigal son has left the wasted living that he sought and has now journeyed back to his father; returning to the source of his sins to beg forgiveness.

At the coming of his father, the lost son acknowledged his sins before him and showed his humiliation and dependence on his father.

The father's joy is expressed at just the sight of the returning son; however, it is not until the confession of his sin that restoration occurs. The feast that is thrown in his honor is representative of the Lord's statements in vs. 7 and 10. It is symbolic of the sweet assurance of complete forgiveness and restoration.

Note: This parable revolves around one who represents a child of Israel who knew the laws of God, but selected to waste his inheritance on prodigal living (apart from his God). However, the scriptures teach that all men must repent and come to God in order to enter the kingdom.

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 17:30 “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,”

Once in the kingdom, the maintenance of our citizenship demands that we continuously repent of our errors, and penitently confess to our Father in heaven; our sins, through the one who has become an Advocate for us (Acts 8:14-25; 1 John 1:5-2:2). It is important to note that the self awareness of our condition and the humble journey and confession of our weakness to God are universal to true repentance.

Text #2:

Luke 15:25-32 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.'
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'”

The Lost Hypocrite: We are now introduced to the last class of sinner depicted in the parables of the Lord. This one thinks himself righteous because he is simply doing what is expected of a son; yet, his heart is full of unrighteousness.

1)  He angrily refused to be party to the proceedings! This shows his exclusive, self righteous and proud nature.

2)  Jesus will teach and show, by the effort of the father of these sons, the effort put forth to win the proud, exclusive, self righteous spirits of the Pharisees and the scribes.

This oldest son responds in a truly Pharisaic spirit. His self professed justification was as proud (see: 18:11-12) as the prodigal's confession was humble.

His complaint shows that had it not been for selfish restraint, he would have been just as guilty as his brother of riotous living. This self indulgent righteousness will not even allow him to recognize the prodigal son as a brother (vs.30), which was the recognition of the opening thoughts –

“And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” (vs. 2)

Paul warns us, as Christians, to consider our individual weaknesses and not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to:

Romans 12:1-3 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

In addition, he would teach that true spiritual devotion is practiced in the restoration of those who are overtaken and that if we can practice mutual love, we might even avoid being overtaken:

Galatians 6:1-5 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.”

James would mimic the Lord's teaching as he teaches Christians their responsibility towards the work of restoring the erring:

James 5:19-20 “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

The entire teaching of the Lord and that of His Apostles are starkly contrasted against the behavior of the oldest son (Pharisees and scribes). In the summary, we are not told how the older son (Pharisees and scribes) would respond to the words of the father; however, we know that by the next Passover, their hatred of Jesus would cause them to seek His death. This shows that in their self-righteous state, they would not be pacified.

Next: “The Parable of the Greedy Steward”