We were studying about the foolish Galatians and how they began in the Spirit, but having been bewitched by another doctrine, were now trying to be perfected in the flesh (Galatians 3:l-3). As the Holy Spirit was moving us back and forth through the Scriptures, showing us about Grace, Law, Righteousness, Works, and Father Abraham (the Father of our Faith), we found ourselves on Romans 4:4, 5. At this Scripture the Holy Spirit turned on the Light, and gave us understanding, about the two sons in the Parable of The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). We hope that we can explain it to you clearly.
To begin with we’ll show what the Holy Spirit spoke to us about in the two Scriptures in Romans 4:
:4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”
This laborer’s wages are not considered a gift, but something owed him.
This Scripture is speaking of the elder son in the Parable. He did not walk after the Spirit, but trusted in his own works.
:5 “Now to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.’
This man was acceptable to God, because his faith fully trusted the one who justifies the ungodly, as a gift of His Grace.
This Scripture is speaking of the younger prodigal son in the Parable. He was exposed as the greater sinner, but through the kindness of God was granted repentance and came to his senses, escaping the power of the devil over his life.
Now begins the parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15:11-32, beginning with verse 20.
:20 Beginning in the middle of the story, the prodigal son had come to the end of himself and recognized his need to come to his Father (God), in repentance, and become a servant. But when the son was yet a long way off, the Father who is patient, not wanting His sons to perish, saw him and had compassion, and ran and hugged and kissed him, because of His great love with which He loved His son.
:21 And the son said to Him, `Father, I have sinned (but now I have turned away from sin and turned to Your Grace 1 John 1:9). I am not worthy to be called Your son.’
:22 But the Father said to His servants `bring forth the best robe (the robe of righteousness, Revelation 19:7,8), and put it on him; and put a ring (covenant seal, Ester 8:8; Ephesians 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:19) on his hand, and shoes (the Gospel of Peace, Ephesians 6:14,15) on his feet.’
:23 And bring the fatted calf and let us eat (this represents the covenant meal, John 6:53-58), and let us rejoice and be merry.
:24 The reason for the rejoicing and merrymaking was because the Father’s younger son who had been dead (Ephesians 2:1-5) in his sin, had turned back to the Father, coming to life again (John 3:3-7)-being born again.
:25,26 When the Father’s elder son came to the house, he heard the music and dancing and asked a servant why these things were taking place.
:27 The servant answered, “Thy brother is home; and thy Father has killed the fatted calf (thy brother has become One with the Father, through the Covenant of Peace, Ephesians 2:12-15), because the Father has received him safe and sound” (he has been made whole again, 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
:28 But the elder brother was angry (he was under the law of sin, James 1:20), and would not go in (to receive the free gift of The Father, which is the Gospel of Grace through Faith, Ephesians 2:8). Therefore his Father called for him (Proverbs 1:23-25).
:29 Look! The son said, all these years, I have served you and have never (1 John 1:8) neglected a command of yours (he was blind to his own nature of self righteousness, having not served the Father under the law of love, James 2:8); and yet you have never given me a calf that I might make merry with my friends (The natural man does not understand the things freely given him by God, 1 Corinthians 2:14).
:30 But when your son came who has devoured your wealth on harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him (every son of the Father has devoured His wealth on harlots, James 2:10; Romans 3:10,19)
:31 And the Father said, Son, you have always been with Me, and all that I have is yours (In Christ, God came to His own, and those who were His own, did not receive His offer of Grace; in his darkness, the son did not comprehend his opportunity (John 1:4,5,9-11).
:32 When your brother came back to Me, we had to rejoice (Luke 15:10), for he was dead in sin just as you are now. But the good news is he has repented and turned to the Power of the Gospel of Grace (Titus 2:11-15), and now he has begun to live in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:17,18); he was lost in the world without God, but now he is alive again (born again, 1 John 5:18-21); he was lost, and is found.
This parable reveals the character of two sons. One son walked after a high standard of behavior that did not achieve the righteousness of God. This is to be compared to the man today, who walks after a religious standard, but one that is not by faith in the Gospel of Grace. God’s standard is the Law, and the Law is Spiritual and Holy. High standards in a church denomination, or a home, can not lead a church, or a family to fulfill the Law of God. Our standards are not Gods standards. The purpose of God’s standard, the Law, is to turn us to Christ. The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is the only power that can set a man free from the Law of Sin and Death. The only way to fulfill the Law is to have the Divine Nature of God, which is given to us by Faith in His Promises. The elder son did not hear or understand His Father’s offer, when he was called to come and eat of the fatted calf, with his brother. This was the bread of life, the covenant meal, the Gift of God to man.
The younger son, having recognized his hopeless condition and knowing the Father is Good, laid aside all of his own ways to live his life, and cast himself on the mercy of the One who was able to save Him from sin and death. Fixing his eyes on his Father, he laid aside every sin and every encumbrance that had so easily beset him, in order to be under his Fathers discipline, so that he could share His holiness; which is the hope of eternal life. For by the mercy of his Father he was saved through Faith in the Gospel of Grace, and that was not because of anything that he had done, but it was a gift from his Father. It was not by works, as his older brother had believed, and had boasted to the father of his labor, but it was a gift, a free gift of Grace from his Father alone.
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through Christ; by whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we now stand in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1,2).
The Parables are the Hidden Wisdom of God. Wisdom is for the purpose of exposing darkness. This Parable teaches us this:
Today the gospel being taught in the world is like the standard of the elder son; it seems good, but it never leads to the Righteousness of God. Today’s Gospel is actually hostile towards God, in that it does not lead a man to walk after the Spirit, putting to death all the deeds of the flesh. In fact, today’s gospel does not even teach that death to all sin is possible or necessary in order to live in the Eternal Kingdom with God. This is a fatal error, as Scripture teaches that the wage of sin is death.
The outline of the true Gospel may be found and clearly understood in Titus 2:11-15.