HomeUncategorizedThe Son Brought a Legal Proposal. The Father Brought Bear Hugs and Kisses    

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The Son Brought a Legal Proposal. The Father Brought Bear Hugs and Kisses — 17 Comments

  1. Have never enjoyed reading/studying the prodigal son story like this write up. Indeed what a great big love the Father has for us and awaits us with a big bear hugs and kisses 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗.

    (18)
  2. Well said William. What you have outlined aligns far more consistently across scipture - including Isaiah 53:5 summary statement that by His stripes were are healed rather than acquitted or pardoned. Healed is a reconciliation and restoration concept - not a legal one.

    (21)
  3. Thank you, William, for this amazing perspective. It has truly blessed me and I shall share it with others. Bear hugs and kisses...Daddy truly loves us! Amen.

    (15)
  4. This parable really demonstrates the LORD's love but does not cover all the aspects of atonement, the Word of the LORD uses many other metaphors to help us understand.
    If we only concentrate on one we will not have the full picture of the character of the LORD and His Plan of Salvation.

    AREA - PROBLEM - SOLUTION - TEXTS
    PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS Broken Relationships Reconciliation Estranged from God 2 Cor 5:18-20 Rom 5:10-11 Rom 5:1
    FINANCES Debt Cancelled overwhelming Mt 6:12 Rom 4:7 Mt 18:23-35
    TRAVEL/DIRECTION Lost Found sheep, coins, son Lu 15:6-7 Lu 15:9-10 Lu 15:24
    RICH Kidnapped Ransomed buy back Heb 9:15 Mk 10:45 Acts 20:28
    POOR Pawned goods Redeemed exchange Gal 3:13-14 Heb 9:12-14 1 Cor 1:30
    FAMILY Orphan Adopted loved Eph 1:5 Gal 4:5 Rom 8:15-16
    DANGER Life Threatened Saved/Rescued drowning, fire John 3:16 Luke 19:10 Rom 1:16
    VISION Darkeness/Blind Light/Sight guidance 2 Peter 1:19 John 1:4-5 Rev 3:18
    HYGIENE Dirty Cleansed wash/purify 1 John 1:9, 7 Titus 3:5 Heb 9:14
    SOCIETY Slavery Freedom Released Rom 8:15 Rom 8:21 John 8:31-36
    MEDICAL Sickness Healed Sanctification 1 Peter 2:24 Matt 10:8 Luke 6:18
    LAW COURT Guilty Pardon/Acquital Justification Rom 3:19-25 2 Cor 5:10 1 Peter 4:5

    (11)
  5. Your retelling of this story is such good news. It brought me tears of joy and a full heart. And you are entirely right about the sanctuary service telling exactly the same story.

    (7)
  6. Hi William,
    thank you so much for this wonderful interpretation of God's love.
    I grew up in an Adventist family but my experience of 'love' was more in the vein of accepting my parents constant punishments, including sexual abuse from the age of 7, beatings, isolation. It has taken many years to find my way to accept love from any person and especially God. The thing that stayed with me all those years, as well as the abuse, was the verse that hung in the church-
    Matthew 11:28. I did not know what God's rest and love meant but I kew that one day I would understand. I now make God the centre of my life and although I have to balance my family, none of whom worship, God's love is always available. I know He forgives when I sometimes have to do things that I would rather not to show my children and grandchildren that I love them but I claim HIs love as He has promised. 😊

    (8)
    • The law is a transcript of the character of the LORD, His desire for us is to be conformed to His image/character, however if we fall short of His character and we confess we have come short of His Character, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us of all our shortcomings.

      (7)
    • There are unfortunately too many people that have grown up experiencing what you experienced Jane.

      I wonder about the things you mention in your last sentence that you feel you need forgiveness from God for. I am only guessing, but I suspect what God gives you is compassion and understanding because forgiveness is not needed for those things if they are done because you love your children and grandchildren (ie, have their genuine best interests at heart) - which I am also guessing is in fact what you are doing.

      (4)
    • Dear Jane, thank you for sharing your experience. It's so encouraging to see from your comments that God has healed you and is continuing to heal you from horrific childhood experiences and has made you a shining example of His love.
      From your comments I perceive that you have a good understanding of the character of God.
      I pray that He may continue to shower you with His blessings and open opportunities to minister to others who may be struggling with some of the issues in your own past.
      Thank you for being with us. 😊

      (7)
  7. God does not need a legal setting? Legal record keeping in heaven is not for the Father?

    Elder Earnhardt, you may be right, but I humbly feel it is rather presumptuous to think that we definitely know what God wants. He is too immense for us to understand. Isn't Deuteronomy a set of contracts? Doesn't Revelation mention some record keeping in heaven (Revelation 20:12, 15)?

    (1)
    • Dear Name Retained?

      Thank you for your comment. I never intend to make absolute statements or claim infallibility. In reading my other writings I suggest thhere is way more to the atonement than we can comprehend and we should never get stuck in only one camp of thought. I did not mean to deny there is record keeping. Still the records you refer to in Revelation 20 are looked at by humans during the thousand years. Many times we keep records to provide accountability. So does God.

      PS using “Name Retained” does not offer accountability. 😀

      (6)
    • Hello Name Retained,

      “Isn't Deuteronomy a set of contracts?”
      “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV.) Does this sound like a contract? I do not think so. And the second great commandment is like it. “You shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18b). That does not sound like a contract either. These commandments sound like Jesus, the Giver of Love and Life. (Matthew 22:37-40.)

      Doesn't Revelation mention some record keeping in heaven (Revelation 20:12, 15)?
      It sure does. But to whom do these “books” apply? To the saints? No. The saints are raised in the first resurrection and they reign with Christ for a thousand years. Judgement is committed to the saints during that period of time, not to God. (Revelation 20:4.) They are the ones using the books.

      Then comes the second resurrection and judgement is executed. This is a very sad time. Despite God’s revelation of Love through his son Jesus, those who chose self-centred rebellion against the principles of Life and Love will have the consequence of their choice: the second death—they cease to exist forever more.

      Afterward, God will wipe away all the tears of the saints. But who will wipe away God’s tears? (Revelation 21:4.)

      Richard

      (3)
  8. Beautiful theme, William, and an awesome quotation to lead it off! Clearly, the prodigal son was proposing a legal arrangement because that was all he dared hope the father would give him. He failed to anticipate the kind of reception he would find.

    That said, I believe that you are mistaken in saying that the atonement is only ever couched in legal terms so that we legalistic human beings can relate to it -- that it has nothing to do with God. By means of the cross, God made a way to show us mercy without at all compromising the justice that is equally a part of His character of love. So the legal aspects of the atonement have to do with God's justice. The price for our sins had to be paid.

    (6)
  9. Much of the commentary I read on this week's Sabbath school lesson sounded to me like, "Finally, a stern word. No more cheap grace." So when I read the title of your post I paused thinking, "Wait a minute. Is he on the right lesson?" What a joyful reminder that no one who is actively pursuing a relationship with God will be lost even if it seems like he has "fallen away". The writer of Hebrews seems to be describing a total turning away from God's way of salvation with never a thought of "I have sinned against my father and is no longer worthy to be called a son." Thanks for the post.

    (4)

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