The Christian Message

  A Story of Forgiveness  Lesson Text: Luke 15:11-24  Related Scriptures: Luke 15:25-32; Romans 12:9-21; II Corinthians 5:17-21  TIME: A.D. 30 PLACE: probably Perea  GOLDEN TEXT —“This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:24).  Introduction  On this particular day, Jesus was speaking to a mixed audience. Two distinct groups are mentioned (Luke 15:1-2). Tax collectors and others considered to be sinners by the religious elite were there for the specific purpose of hearing Jesus teach.  Since tax collectors worked for the Roman government, they were viewed as traitors and outcasts. The problem for the religious leaders was that Jesus sat and ate with these less-than-desirable people! Such action indicated identification and welcome, something they avoided at all costs. In their minds, Jesus was also guilty because of His association with such bad people of low reputation.  Because of their condescending attit...

Rejoicing—he came to the father (vv. 20–24). Here Jesus answered the accusations of the scribes and Pharisees (Luke 15:2), for the father not only ran to welcome his son, but he honored the boy’s homecoming by preparing a great feast and inviting the village to attend. The father never did permit the younger son to finish his confession; he interrupted him, forgave him, and ordered the celebration to begin! Of course, the father pictures to us the attitude of our heavenly Father toward sinners who repent: He is rich in His mercy and grace, and great in His love toward them (Eph. 2:1–10). All of this is possible because of the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. No matter what some preachers (and singers) claim, we are not saved by God’s love; God loves the whole world, and the whole world is not saved. We are saved by God’s grace, and grace is love that pays a price. In the East, old men do not run, yet the father ran to meet his son. Why? One obvious reason was his love for him and hi...

  Forgiving One Another  Lesson Text: Matthew 18:21-35  Related Scriptures: Luke 6:27-38; 17:1-  TIME: A.D. 29 PLACE: Capernaum  GOLDEN TEXT—“Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” (Matthew 18:32-33).  Introduction   While all the principles for living included in God’s Word are important, the principle of forgiveness is one of the most rewarding. It is also one of the most difficult for many people to put into practice, maybe because of the have-it-your-way philosophy of the culture we live in. We are repeatedly told that we have the right to experience all the pleasure we can get and that no one has the right to reach into our area of enjoyment and diminish it in any way whatsoever. We live in an extremely self-centered society.  Abraham Lincoln was onc...