freeatlast,
You are partially correct about prodigal son of Luke 15:11-32.
Remember, you have to read whole context of Luke chapter 15. Christ tells us, the three parables.
First, the parable about a shepherd owns 100 sheep. Shepherd counts them all to enter the gate, make sure NOT miss one. Bu, he realizes, he MISS one sheep, that mean sheep became lost. THis sheep was belong to shepherd's in the FIRST PLACE. So.... the shepherd would HAVE TO look for the lost sheep. Then, finally find a lost sheep, shepherd becomes rejoice bring sheep home. Shepherd apply pastors, not only pastors, also, deacons, matured Christians who are responsible to disciple baby Christians. Many pastors and matured Christians failed to discipline baby Christians to growing in the Lord. They allow them draw away into lost. They allow them become lst on the way to hell daily. - Luke 15:4-7.
Christ tells the second parable about a woman OWNS 10 pieces of silver. One day, she decides want go to store to buy something, so, she needs 10 pieces of silver, but she realizes, one piece of silver is MISSING. So, she would HAVE TO look for a lost piece anywhere in her place. She then finally find lost piece of silver, she rejoices.
Same as parent have a daughter, parent called daughter's name somewhere in their house. But, they realize daughter does hear them, clear she might be lose. SO.... they looking for their daughter everywhere in their house. they can't find her. So, they call Police, to looking for their daughter. Also, they call their friends as neighbor, nedd their help to look for daughter. So, Police, and neighbors are looking for parent's daughter. Then, later, Police finally find a lost daughter. Police become rejoice, bring girl home. Parent become relief and very excite to see their daughter, then parent called to all their friends - neighbor, tell them good news that their daughter is found. All friends are REJOICE same time, same with Luke 15:6,7, 9, 10.
Luke 15:7 tells us, the 99 JUST persons need no repentence, because they already right with the Lord and remain faithful, but one sinner REPENTETH, that why they happy to see one person get right with the Lord again. Same with Luke 15:10.
Now, I am discuss on Luke 15:11-32 - third parable, Christ talked on it. Christ says, father owns TWO SONS at the FIRST PLACE. One day, a son decides want to leave his father's house go on his own ways. Prove that God does not make us robot. Bible teaches us, that we all have freewill choices, obivously conflict with calvinism. Calvinism do not believe in freewill.
A son asks his Dad for the will or money, so, Dad give the will or money to his son, Dad LETS his son GO. Same with God LETS person go in their own freewill choice. Dad can't force his son to stay with him at home. Same with God can't force a person to be remain and abide in him all the time. God allows person go in their own way.
Son goes in his own way, and spend all money with fun and pleaseant with friends good time. Then later, he realizes, that he miserys and depress, that his own self way is already out of control and LOST. He realizes, that he HAVE TO repent and return back to his father - LUke 15:17-19. SO, son detrmines return back to his Dad's home- Luke 15:20. That is his freewill decision. God does not make us robot without any decision. God allows us to make decision same with Joshua 24:15. LUke 15:11-32 conflicts with calvinism doctrine. Calvinism do not believe in freewill.
While son walks toward his Dad's home. Dad sees his son walking home toward his house, does Dad still disappoint with his son. And Dad refuses let his son return because of rebellion. Dad would saying to his son, "NO! I don't want you come to my house ever again!" Does God doing that? NO. Dad IMMEDIATELY RUN toward his son, and HUGE him - Luke 15:20. Christ is ALWAYS READY to forgive us anytime 24 hours - 1 John 1:9.
Son says to his Dad, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am NO MORE worthy to be called thy son." - Luke 15:21.
Dad quickly forgive his son's sins, son receive blessing again and restore again - Luke 15:22-23.
Dad says, "For this MY son WAS DEAD and is ALIVE AGAIN. LOOOOOOK! It says, alive AGAIN. Word, means 'AGAIN', obivously, Dad already own TWO sons at the FIRST PLACE. Dad continues, "He WAS LOST, and is FOUND." Obivously, when a person forsakes God, person ALREADY lost - period.
When ad's another older son return to Dad's house, he becomes puzzle, and want to know what's up, and going on there with noise and many people around his home. So, he asks one of the servant, what's up, going on? Servant tells him, his brother has return home. THen, he become very upset and obsses on his brother. He says, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither do any wrong things at any time, obey Dad's commandement, yet you not give me any honor with blessing."- Luke 15:29 Obivously, brother is very jealous of his younger brother, seem, that his younger broher more special than him. So, his Dad urges his older brother to meet his younger brother, and he says to elder son, "for this THY BROTHER WAS DEAD, and ALIVE AGAIN; and WAS LOST, and is FOUND."
Christ tells us, very clear, Dad already owns two sons in the FIRST PLACE. Son decides want leave his father, go on his own way. Same with God allows person go on their own way - freewill decisoon. God does not make us robot. Calvinism do not believe in freewill. Also, Christ tells us, God does not force person to be remain stay in his place all the time like as robot. God allows person go in own decision, become lost.
Often OSAS pastors use John 10:28-29 to prove that NO one person can lose salvation, because God have power to secure our salvation all time - security salvation. I love John 10:28-29 is wonderful promise for us. BUT, OSAS pastors not really emphasis on John 10:27 - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they folllllllllllow me:"
Christ tells us, we have eternal life IF IF we follow Him.
Many Christians sing the popular song - "I decide to follow, no turn back". Often, Christians saying, "I follow Chirst", but many of them are not follow Christ faithful. Many of them turn away from the Lord. Same with God looses person out of his hand, let person go and lost. Same with the parable of the prodigal son, God allows person go in own way become lost again.
The mainly key word on the context of Luke chapter 15, that Christ emphasis is REPENTANCE.
If suppose the prodigal son decides want stay in his own way, and remain in lost all the way through his life without repent, he might be remain always lost TILL death, then go to hell remain lost!
2 Peter 3:9 tells us, God is longsuffering toward all people, that He does NOT want them go to perish, but want ALLLLLLL people come to REPENTANCE
Is the prodigal son - lost on the way to hell? Yes, Christ said, "For the Son of man is come to SEEK and to SAVE that which was LOST." - Luke 19:10.
Does that mean, Christ is not omniscience whole on earth, that he not know which person is saved or not saved? No. He making point that he came to earth to seek person who become lost, he would HAVE TO find lost person, to save person from lost. Same with Luke 15:4-7. Chist's example that our responsible to bring lost people to Christ through REPENT.
One more verse - Christ said, "I came NOT to call the righteous, but sinners to REPENTANCE." - Luke 5:32, also read Matt. 9:13 and Mark 2:17 too.
Often in the Bible emphasis us, repent, repent, repent, repent. Why? God is holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16 commands us that we BE HOLY, because God is holy. We ought obey his commandment. If we disobey him, then God disown us.
Bible is very clear teaching that we have conditional salvation, not unconditional salvation ,and security salvation too.
Bible commands us to obey His commandments all the time, of we disobey his commandments, and stopped believing in Him, He might removed us from salvation - John 15:6, Romans 11:19-23.
If suppose a person heard the gospel and believed with receive the gospel, and did actually repent of sins, person did walk with God, but for a WHILE, then turn away, forsake God, already become lost, IF person never repent of sins after that till death, person remain lost while in hell. Bible commands us, we ought to repent our sins to God, because God is holy.
Bible is very clear teaching us we could lose salvation IF we do not repent our sins, also, IF we worship the Antichrist, receive the mark of the beast, will go to lake of fore - period! - Rev. 13:9-18 and Rev. 14:9-12.
In Christ
Rev. 22:20 - Amen!
