"Father, I have sinned against heaven and before
you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."
Luke 15:21 ESV
This past Thursday was my turn to teach a Bible study class in the prison's chapel...
you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."
Luke 15:21 ESV
This past Thursday was my turn to teach a Bible study class in the prison's chapel...
The Lord, I believe, had me do a study on Jesus's story of the Prodigal Son. It's one of my favorites, and probably one of the most well-known parables in the New Testament. In fact, it's so popular that even people of other faiths, as well as those who have never read the Bible, are at least somewhat familiar with it.
So after our opening prayer and allowing time for several men to share what we like to call "praise reports" short testimonies of answers to previously spoken prayers), we opened our Bibles to the fifteenth chapter of Luke's gospel account in the New Testament. And from here we read the story of the "prodigal son," which to me, is one of the most beautiful stories in the Scriptures.
I told the men that for the most part, the story of the prodigal son is a story of forgiveness, mercy, grace and restoration. And it truly is. But I also told them there's even more to it than these central and obvious themes.
While the story reveals God's character and His desire to forgive the transgressions of those who are repentant, it's also a story about honesty, and of taking responsibility for one's sins.
We looked at what I chose as the key verse for this particular study. "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son." Here in this one verse is contained the stinging effect of sin. This being that whenever we commit a sin, that sin is not only done against another person by word, thought or deed, it is also a sin against ourselves, too. "And not only this," I told my brothers, "It’s also
a sin against God Himself." Heaven is where God has His throne.
The wayward son caused his father untold grief when he left home and went to live a life of debauchery. And he also brought pain and shame to himself, as well.
Nevertheless, the prodigal son went on to give us a perfect example of what repentance is about. When he finally came to recognize how damaging his sinful actions were, even affecting the Lord, he then made an honest confession. He admitted and took full responsibility for his wrongdoings, while making no excuses for his actions.
The lesson, I told my students, is to always confess our sins to Jesus with an honest heart. When we admit our guilt, as the word of God declares, He will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
D.B.
So after our opening prayer and allowing time for several men to share what we like to call "praise reports" short testimonies of answers to previously spoken prayers), we opened our Bibles to the fifteenth chapter of Luke's gospel account in the New Testament. And from here we read the story of the "prodigal son," which to me, is one of the most beautiful stories in the Scriptures.
I told the men that for the most part, the story of the prodigal son is a story of forgiveness, mercy, grace and restoration. And it truly is. But I also told them there's even more to it than these central and obvious themes.
While the story reveals God's character and His desire to forgive the transgressions of those who are repentant, it's also a story about honesty, and of taking responsibility for one's sins.
We looked at what I chose as the key verse for this particular study. "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son." Here in this one verse is contained the stinging effect of sin. This being that whenever we commit a sin, that sin is not only done against another person by word, thought or deed, it is also a sin against ourselves, too. "And not only this," I told my brothers, "It’s also
a sin against God Himself." Heaven is where God has His throne.
The wayward son caused his father untold grief when he left home and went to live a life of debauchery. And he also brought pain and shame to himself, as well.
Nevertheless, the prodigal son went on to give us a perfect example of what repentance is about. When he finally came to recognize how damaging his sinful actions were, even affecting the Lord, he then made an honest confession. He admitted and took full responsibility for his wrongdoings, while making no excuses for his actions.
The lesson, I told my students, is to always confess our sins to Jesus with an honest heart. When we admit our guilt, as the word of God declares, He will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
D.B.