Come Home, Come Home

But when this son of yours who has squandered your inheritance with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him! (Luke 15:30)

The story of the prodigal son tells us of a son who went out and squandered his inheritance, but then when feeding pigs and living off of pig slop he comes to his senses and returns home. The father when he sees the son from afar, which implies he had been waiting and watching for his son to come home, runs to him and welcomes him home.

Some people say that all men are created in the image of God, referring to all mankind. It is true Adam was created in the image of God but he sold his inheritance for a piece of fruit. Mankind fell into sinful nature, no longer in the image of God. Christ came to reconcile mankind to God. The new covenant is a ministry of reconciliation, and we are being transformed from glory to glory into the image of God. In Christ, the image of God in mankind that was corrupted is being restored. John tells us Jesus came to give us the right to become children of God. Those who are chosen by God predestined for adoption as his own, birth of the Spirit a new creation, of God's image, also that reflected in Christ, the second Adam.

In this light coming home has new meaning to me. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, for example, he was a son of the Father. Yes, he squandered his inheritance much like Adam, but he was a son of the Father, and when he came home the Father said, he was dead but now alive, he was lost but now he is found. Can we as children of God wander away from God? Once we were dead and made alive but can we wander from the fold? I think the plea to come home applies to all the children. "See, on the portals he is waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. Come home, come home, you who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling O sinner come home." The father is watching from his portal for the prodigal sons to come home.

The lost sheep was of the fold, and became lost. The Good Shepherd left the ninety-nine who did not need saving to save the one lost, which there were one hundred sheep. One hundred percent were saved, not one was lost. "And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me" (John 6:39). Christ is the good shepherd and we are his sheep, the scriptures say that he has made sure that not a single one of his flock will be lost (John 18:9).

celebrate and rejoice because this your brother existed dead and is alive, also lost and is found (Luke 15:32)

We are chosen, lost until we are found, until we hear the gospel of our salvation and believe and are sealed by the Holy Spirit as his own. But can we be sheep and wander away from the fold? I think so, and to both Jesus calls, come home, you who are weary and heavy burdened, come home. And when they do, rejoice and celebrate, have a feast, this your brother has come home!

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body in Biblical Understanding The human being, as depicted in the Bible, is a multifaceted creation, often understood through the distinct yet interconnected components of spirit, soul, and body. While some theological perspectives lean towards a bipartite view (soul and body), which we do see in the Old Testament, a careful examination of the New Testament scripture reveals a compelling case for a tripartite understanding, where each is divided into or composed of three parts. Let’s explore the biblical distinction between spirit, soul, and body. The Body: Our Earthly Vessel The body is the physical form that interacts with the material world. From the very beginning, Genesis 2:7 states, " Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being ." This verse clearly establishes the body's origin from the earth, emphasizing its connec...

Blessed Are The Forgiven

Blessed! the one whose lawless deeds are forgiven and the one whose sins are covered over, blessed is the man whom sin, the Lord will not consider . * Paul writes David foresaw and spoke " blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered . * Blessed, is the one whom sin is not considered, this word considered means "to credit, count, reckon, to set down as a matter of account; regard, think, consider." This blessing comes through faith and according to grace, " also David speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God considers righteousness apart from works ." * The word for lawless deeds speaks of the violation of the Law and the word for sin speaks of missing the mark of God's righteousness. Blessed are those who (by faith in Christ according to grace) have been forgiven. In Him receiving the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses according to the riches of His grace . * This fundamental ...

Lord, Stand By Me

"... present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness ." 1 This word for present means "I bring, present, come up to and stand by," it is parístēmi (from pará, "from close-beside" and hístēmi, "to stand") – properly, stand close beside, i.e. ready to present (exhibit). I pray Lord stand by me which expresses that I put my trust in Him, or I come up to and stand by Him. We use phrases like surrendering or bowing at the cross to explain such a moment, surely it is a coming to the end of ourselves and it is desirable that I find His will acceptable, but it is important to understand that it is about trust, not my will power, the key is that it is in Christ. The terminology the scriptures use is "present yourselves to God," or come up to and stand by and walk with Him. "... present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this...

Spirit of Life

" Indeed, the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus liberates from the law of sin and death ." 1 This word for liberates "I free, set free, liberate" is from a root word meaning free, exempt, not bound by an obligation. As partakers of God's divine nature, being born of Spirit, we are no longer obligated to the sinful nature but to righteousness which is God's nature. When we believe we receive the Spirit of promise, a guarantee of our inheritance, a great testimony that we are His children, it is a Spirit of Life. " Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." 24 The Son came not to condemn the world but to save it. "One trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. " 6 " He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and wa...

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective Throughout Scripture, God's compassion for widows is evident. He is portrayed as their defender, provider, and source of justice. The Bible repeatedly calls believers to care for widows, reflecting God's own heart for the vulnerable. However, in his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul provides a specific definition of a "true" widow, emphasizing the church's responsibility in supporting those who are genuinely in need. God's Compassion for Widows The Old Testament is rich with passages that reveal God's concern for widows. In Exodus 22:22, God commands, "You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child." This verse underscores His protective nature, ensuring that widows are not mistreated or neglected. Similarly, Deuteronomy 10:18 declares, "He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing." Here, God is depicted as a just and loving prov...

All Who Are Thirsty

“ Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. .." (Isaiah 55). " Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price ." Buy is defined as to acquire the ownership of by giving an accepted price or consideration therefore; to accept or believe as true .[ 1 ] When we buy something we consider the price that we must pay, we accept this and purchase the thing we have considered worthy of the sacrifice we make in payment. W e can not buy, with money or price, redemption from t his tragic flaw we are born into. However Jesus paid the price for us, so we buy or accept through consideration, the Greek word is logizomai.[ 2] ...

So That You Have Life

the thief comes but to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that having life and having it more so (John 10:10) The next few verses give us context of the realm of life and death that Jesus speaks of. The wolf comes, no doubt referring to Satan, he attacks the flock to kill, steal, and destroy. But Jesus came that we may have life, he lays his life down for the sheep. The life he gives is eternal, but he said it is living water, like a fountain that gushes up unto eternal life, thus we experience life in this mortal body, unto its fullness. Jesus became flesh and blood like his brethren to save them, this is how God demonstrates his love. "I know my own and they know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:14). Jesus came so that we may have life. but you do not believe because existing not of my flock. My sheep listen to my voice and I know them and they follow, just as I give them eternal life and no not per...

Freedom from the Mosaic Law: A Deep Theological Exploration of New Testament Teaching

Freedom from the Mosaic Law: A Deep Theological Exploration of New Testament Teaching Introduction: The Question of the Mosaic Law and Christian Identity One of the most significant theological debates and practical challenges for the early church was the place of the Mosaic Law in the life of believers in Jesus Christ. This question remains alive today, particularly in communities and churches that quote the Old Testament as if its legal prescriptions still directly obligate Christians. The apostolic writings, especially those of Paul, provide the primary lens through which the New Testament resolves this matter. Paul’s letters—rich in both theological reflection and ecclesiastical urgency—not only confront false teaching but chart the path of new covenant living by the Holy Spirit. This essay seeks to offer a doctrinal synthesis on why believers are no longer “under the Mosaic Law,” supported by original-language insights, harmonized scripture references, and commentary drawn...

Maturity In Christ and Into His Image: An Exhaustive Exegetical Report

The "Consummation of the Believer" signifies the ultimate and total achievement of the believer's transformed nature and position within Christ. This theological concept is founded in Christian doctrine, specifically engaging with the philosophical study of being (ontology) and the definitive fulfillment (consummation) of the salvation process.

Theological Comparison of the New Covenant of Grace and the Old Covenant of the Law

Theological Comparison of the New Covenant of Grace and the Old Covenant of the Law: A Detailed Study Rooted in Ephesians 2:11–22 Introduction The theme of covenant is central to the biblical narrative, shaping God’s relationship with humanity from creation through redemption. The new covenant is called by Paul a ministry of reconciliation, righteousness, and of the Spirit. The shift from the old Mosaic covenant—rooted in the Law given to Israel at Sinai—to the new covenant of grace established in Christ, fundamentally redefines how people approach God, community, and salvation. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, particularly 2:11–22, provides a remarkably clear and rich theological exposition of this transition, addressing not only the spiritual implications for Jews and Gentiles but also the very nature of the church as God’s new creation. This report develops an in-depth, paragraph-driven theological comparison between the old and new covenants, structured around nine key themes de...

Love Fulfilled Ministry

Search This Blog