Jesus demonstrated God’s love to us not only through how he lived but also through whom he chose to live with.
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Who is welcomed in God’s circle?
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Luke 15v1-3
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable…
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Luke 15v11-13
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
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Luke 15v14-15
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
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Luke 15v16-19
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
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Luke 15v20
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
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The father’s affection and embrace are not based on his performance.
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Richard Beck
“No conversation about sin, purity, or holiness can begin until human dignity has been secured beyond all question or doubt.”
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Luke 15v20
…while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him;
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Luke 15v21
The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
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Luke 15v22-24
But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
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Luke 15v28-32
The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’
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Luke 15v1-2
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
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The issue the religious leaders had was not Jesus’ teaching; it was his dinner guests.
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Jesus demonstrated God’s love to us not only through how he lived but also through whom he chose to live with.
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Are ________ welcomed in God’s circle?
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What kind of father is inviting us into his circle?
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