- The father in the parable was speaking metaphorically and not literally. The son was never physically dead and never became physically alive again. If you are going to argue that the son was spiritually dead and became spiritually alive again, then you are also arguing that he did it 100% on his own and we do not need a savior, we just need to save ourselves ... like the son did using his own free will and personal strength.
Jesus was speaking for this entire parable.
Jesus was putting words into the mouth of the father.
Because Jesus' parables are metaphorical does not make them incorrect. I like the word ANALOGY better, but either one will do.
Whoever said the son was physically dead?
Who said we do not need a Savior?
You ADD ideas to statement that are just not there.
The son, as all of us, need a Savior, this is why God sent His only Son to atone for our sins.
But it is our FREE WILL reply that allows us to make use of Jesus' sacrifice or not. BELIEVE and you will be saved.
Jesus died to free us from bondage to satan....
we have to ACCEPT that atonement sacrifice.
Of what purpose is the New Covenant if we need make no decision to be a part of it?
Why did Jesus have to die if it's God that does the choosing of who will be saved?
Jesus said if He died, He would draw all men to Himself...
GOD DRAWS
WE REPLY
or we'd have universalism....
HOW does the NEW COVENANT differ from the MOSAIC COVENANT??
- [Luke 15:17 NASB] 17 "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
- Commentary from Matthew Henry:
- A sinful state is a state of madness and frenzy. This is intimated in that expression (v. 17), when he came to himself, which intimates that he had been beside himself. Surely he was so when he left his father's house, and much more so when he joined himself to the citizen of that country. Madness is said to be in the heart of sinners, Eccl. 9:3. Satan has got possession of the soul; and how raging mad was he that was possessed by Legion! Sinners, like those that are mad, destroy themselves with foolish lusts, and yet at the same time deceive themselves with foolish hopes; and they are, of all diseased persons, most enemies to their own cure.
I'd say most sinners are not crazy, as the image you paint above....but this goes to total depravity and not free will.
- Different topic....
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- I propose that God alone has the power to cure the spiritual blindness that affects the lost. That is why Ephesians 2 describes how God makes us alive while we were still dead. God made the first move by healing the “insanity” that had blinded the Prodigal Son. Regeneration precedes faith.
- [Act 2:37 NASB] 37 Now when they heard [this,] they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
- [Act 16:14 NASB] 14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
[*]
Yes, God alone can heal spiritual blindness.
And the Father is always waiting for us to return.
We've gone into Ephesians 2 numerous times.
God makes the first move...agreed.
Regeneration does not precede faith.
Acts 16:14 Lydia was ALREADY a worshipper of God...
14A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
And as to Acts 2:37
You forgot to post the entire verse....
What was the answer to BRETHREN, WHAT SHALL WE DO?
Here it is:
Acts 2:37-42
37Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
38Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
42They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Peter said:
1. REPENT
2. BE BAPTIZED
3. FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE RECEIVED
So the order is:
repent
THEN the Holy Spirit will be received.
This is ALWAYS the order.
First comes BELIEF
THEN REGENERATION
