What if the Prodical Son left and came back AGAIN!?

[Seeker]

I'm sure most of you know the story of the prodical son right?  Well here's my question....

What would happen if the prodial son left AGAIN (after his father was so happy and had the family celebration)?

If he came back, after once again turning away from his Father, what would his "Father" do?

I haven't posted in a long time, but this question has been on my mind for a LONG time.

Thanks,
Marie

[alihaymeg]

That is a great question.

     For me, it would be dificult to further reject the Father after having been recieved of Him in such a loving and complete way. I see the key to the story as being the prodigal's repentance. Being completely broken, he returned to the Father expecting judgment and a reduction to a servant. That is true repentance; a complete lack of pride. But, when he was recieved with open arms as a son and heir, the true depth of the Father's love for him was revealed. After that kind of experience, I don't think there is any turning back.

     If the son rejected his Father again, he never experienced true repentance in the first place.

[Nathan]

For me, I don't see it that way . . .repentance is repentance. . . how many of us have come to repentance and still 'choose' to sin?  Is that to say that I never received "true" repentance in the first place?

God's grace is "unconditional".  If I repent, I walk away from the sin AND TURN TO CHRIST.  If I turn away from Christ . . .I mean, you don't know specifically "what" you would to should you experience a life-changing trauma in your life . . .you may just walk away from everything . . . you don't know until you experience it.  But say you "did" walk away and later came back again . . . I believe God's grace doesn't have conditions . . .his grace covers your sin "as long as you stick with him".  For me, that's a condition.

Jesus had this discussion with Peter about how many times should one forgive another . . . 7 times?  Jesus response?  No, 70 times 7.  What's that?  490 times.  Was Jesus teaching that we should keep track and when that offending person reaches that pinnical of 491 times . . .we can finally breathe fire of condemnation on the idiot?  Or . .. could it have more of a symbolic meaning to it?

70 x 7 . . .hmm . . . isn't that 70 weeks?  Hows about Daniel 9?
24`Seventy weeks are determined for thy people, and for thy holy city, to shut up the transgression, and to seal up sins, and to cover iniquity, and to bring in righteousness age-during, and to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the holy of holies

Forgiveness has come in the "now" to all who have experienced the grafting in as a spiritual Jew into the family of God "through" the blood of the Lamb.  God had set aside a window of time specifically for his chosen people.  When you see it done in the flesh, you know it's because it was "already" done in the spirit.  This prophecy is complete . . .interestingly enough . . .the same wording used for the "sealing up" of sin is used for the prophecies.  Jesus "fulfilled" EVERYTHING with his blood at the cross.

I would have to then conclude that every prophecy given up to that point . .up to the cross . ..was fulfilled through the cross.  Anyone trying to claim that there are still prophecies yet to be fulfilled, would then be denying the complete work of the cross.  However, this is not to say prophecies concerning Christ given "after" the work of the cross are fully complete.  Just a thought.

But the original point here is . .. Forgiveness isn't temporary, nor is it conditional.  If you receive it . . .walk away from it . . you're really not walking away from anything because it's "in" you . . .your mind may "think" you separated from it . . .but just because we are unfaithful . . .doesn't mean that God doesn't remain faithful "inspite" of us.

He knows we're weak.  He knows we'll fall and perhaps think we're going to walk away, but his love endures forever.  Does this mean I can live however I choose?  You could do that before.  It may change your consequences when you do, but it doesn't change your righteousness.  Abraham was called righteous "before" he was circumcised.  Live however you choose, just know that your choices can often add to, or take away from, the temperature of your hell . .. remember hell is to purify . .to purge . .the more you choose to live by your flesh, the more God will need to purge from you . . .but yeah . . . it's your choice.

And if you should stop pursuing Christ and pursue your "self" only to later realize that, that was a really dumb choice and you "come to yourself" and decide to return back to the Father . . .the response will be the same as it was the last time you came to him . .his love never changed.

[alihaymeg]

We are on the same page more so than you think.

     I assumed we were talking about completely rejecting the Father once more which is what the parable is talking about. I was not suggesting that the person would never disapoint the Father again. We are still human after all. But, those little slips are not the same as running off with no contact and trying to live your life without Him. That is what I was talking about, not messing up. We all mess up.

     Let me give you an example of what I mean.

If I turn away from Christ . . .I mean, you don't know specifically "what" you would to should you experience a life-changing trauma in your life . . .you may just walk away from everything . . . you don't know until you experience it.

     I actually do know what I would do in a situation that is life changing. I lost a child 8 years ago. There was a split second where I contemplated what it would be like to reject God and everything I believed about Him. It only lasted that split second though. He had revealed enough of Himself to me that I could not ignor it. I couldn't immagine living one day on Earth without Him by my side. It was because of His grace and love for me and the peace that immediately entered into my heart and revealed that my baby was fine.

[AJ]

My initial response after reading the title was:

the same thing if the lost coin that was found got lost again....it would be found again....again and again.

the same thing with the lost lamb....the shepherd will go out and find it again and again...

[Seeker]

AJ-Do you really think Jesus would keep looking for the lost lamb, no matter how many times it runs away?  Or do you think it is more complicated than that?

[firstborn888]

AJ-Do you really think Jesus would keep looking for the lost lamb, no matter how many times it runs away?  Or do you think it is more complicated than that?

Actually, it is much simpler than that IMO. The father is in the son and ultimately, the son will 'come to himself' before all is said and done.  :Sparkletooth:

[Taffy]

AJ-Do you really think Jesus would keep looking for the lost lamb, no matter how many times it runs away?  Or do you think it is more complicated than that?

Actually, it is much simpler than that IMO. The father is in the son and ultimately, the son will 'come to himself' before all is said and done.  :Sparkletooth:

:thumbsup:

[Nathan]

We are on the same page more so than you think.

     I assumed we were talking about completely rejecting the Father once more which is what the parable is talking about. I was not suggesting that the person would never disapoint the Father again. We are still human after all. But, those little slips are not the same as running off with no contact and trying to live your life without Him. That is what I was talking about, not messing up. We all mess up.

     Let me give you an example of what I mean.

If I turn away from Christ . . .I mean, you don't know specifically "what" you would to should you experience a life-changing trauma in your life . . .you may just walk away from everything . . . you don't know until you experience it.

     I actually do know what I would do in a situation that is life changing. I lost a child 8 years ago. There was a split second where I contemplated what it would be like to reject God and everything I believed about Him. It only lasted that split second though. He had revealed enough of Himself to me that I could not ignor it. I couldn't immagine living one day on Earth without Him by my side. It was because of His grace and love for me and the peace that immediately entered into my heart and revealed that my baby was fine.

But the answer is still the same.  To say that my decision to walk away from God is the deciding factor to my destination in the end would be saying my mind is stronger than the cross.  What if you didn't have that thought for just a second, but you actually acted on it . . . you left all of your beliefs behind and just walked away from it all . . . are you saying that God's mercy only affects those who live in obedience to his voice?

This reminds me of one of the minor prophets . . .when I first read the book, I felt really sorry for the guy because he was really new at being a prophet and his first assignment that God gave him was to marry a harlot.  Not someone who "used to be" a harlot . .but an active harlot.  And when he did . .she kept leaving him to go back to her own lusts . . .and every time, he would go and find her and bring her back . . .so I'd still have to say yes, it is the nature of God to forgive no matter how many times, no matter how far away from him we think we're running . . .his grace is just that great.

But again, let me follow that up by also saying that in no way am I saying to pursue your carnal desires . . .even though grace is still strong enough to forgive, consequences aren't so forgiving.  There are always consequences to our actions . . .they're just not able to affect God's mercy and grace . .and his desire to continually bring us back to him.

I've learned it is the nature of people to convince themselves that they've gone to far to turn back to God . . .there are many things that we may find ourselves in that is beyond the point of no return . .but as for coming back to God . . .I go out of my way to let them know . . .God doesn't think like we do.  Regardless of how many times or how far away we run . . .the distance between us and God remains the same.  His Grace is just that great.

[alihaymeg]

I absolutely agree!

     The ages will go on as long as it takes for ALL to be brought back into the fullness of His grace, regardless of our choices here.

[firstborn888]

This reminds me of one of the minor prophets . . .when I first read the book, I felt really sorry for the guy because he was really new at being a prophet and his first assignment that God gave him was to marry a harlot.  Not someone who "used to be" a harlot . .but an active harlot.  And when he did . .she kept leaving him to go back to her own lusts . . .and every time, he would go and find her and bring her back . . .so I'd still have to say yes, it is the nature of God to forgive no matter how many times, no matter how far away from him we think we're running . . .his grace is just that great.

Wow Nathan. Powerful.

[Seeker]

I had forgotten about the prophet who marries a harlot, what was his name???  The harlot kept betraying him and he would go find her and bring her home again and again.  She even had children that weren't his and took them as his own.  How merciful God is!!! I'm glad, because I AM the harlot.   :sigh:

Marie

[Nathan]

I believe it was Hosea

[Paul Hazelwood]

What if the Prodical Son left and came back AGAIN!? 

Another great Party!!!!

[Seeker]

Hosea!!! That is it!

Paul, if your right, then it's party time!

[jabcat]

I feel like I've done it many times.  And although I trust I'm still in God's hands, sometimes when I leave there are natural consequences (reap/sow) that have caused damage.  Our God does heal though, and for the most part, He's brought healing of my foolish decisions...I do think though He's allowed some things to remain from those "wayward journeys" that on one hand may look like carnage, but on the other hand, He uses to grow and protect me from taking a "next trip"...you know, once you've experienced certain pain, you're not quite so anxious to go there again.

[alihaymeg]

Not only that, but you are now a more useful tool for helping those who go through the same things.
He who is forgiven much, loves much. Only a person who has "been there" can show true altruism and empathy.

[Paul Hazelwood]

Hosea!!! That is it!

Paul, if your right, then it's party time!

You have the right idea about what I see in my own life.   I'm a prodical son almost daily, I go my way, think I have it figured out, doesn't work out like I want and at the end of the day I'm going, "what now Lord?"

Too many people are trained to see their day as a failure when just the realization that we need to turn to the Lord for anything is returning home.   :)

[willieH]

For me, I don't see it that way . . .repentance is repentance. . . how many of us have come to repentance and still 'choose' to sin?  Is that to say that I never received "true" repentance in the first place?

God's grace is "unconditional".  If I repent, I walk away from the sin AND TURN TO CHRIST.  If I turn away from Christ . . .I mean, you don't know specifically "what" you would to should you experience a life-changing trauma in your life . . .you may just walk away from everything . . . you don't know until you experience it.  But say you "did" walk away and later came back again . . . I believe God's grace doesn't have conditions . . .his grace covers your sin "as long as you stick with him".  For me, that's a condition.

Jesus had this discussion with Peter about how many times should one forgive another . . . 7 times?  Jesus response?  No, 70 times 7.  What's that?  490 times.  Was Jesus teaching that we should keep track and when that offending person reaches that pinnical of 491 times . . .we can finally breathe fire of condemnation on the idiot?  Or . .. could it have more of a symbolic meaning to it?

70 x 7 . . .hmm . . . isn't that 70 weeks?  Hows about Daniel 9?
24`Seventy weeks are determined for thy people, and for thy holy city, to shut up the transgression, and to seal up sins, and to cover iniquity, and to bring in righteousness age-during, and to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the holy of holies

Forgiveness has come in the "now" to all who have experienced the grafting in as a spiritual Jew into the family of God "through" the blood of the Lamb.  God had set aside a window of time specifically for his chosen people.  When you see it done in the flesh, you know it's because it was "already" done in the spirit.  This prophecy is complete . . .interestingly enough . . .the same wording used for the "sealing up" of sin is used for the prophecies.  Jesus "fulfilled" EVERYTHING with his blood at the cross.

I would have to then conclude that every prophecy given up to that point . .up to the cross . ..was fulfilled through the cross.  Anyone trying to claim that there are still prophecies yet to be fulfilled, would then be denying the complete work of the cross.  However, this is not to say prophecies concerning Christ given "after" the work of the cross are fully complete.  Just a thought.

But the original point here is . .. Forgiveness isn't temporary, nor is it conditional.  If you receive it . . .walk away from it . . you're really not walking away from anything because it's "in" you . . .your mind may "think" you separated from it . . .but just because we are unfaithful . . .doesn't mean that God doesn't remain faithful "inspite" of us.

He knows we're weak.  He knows we'll fall and perhaps think we're going to walk away, but his love endures forever.  Does this mean I can live however I choose?  You could do that before.  It may change your consequences when you do, but it doesn't change your righteousness.  Abraham was called righteous "before" he was circumcised.  Live however you choose, just know that your choices can often add to, or take away from, the temperature of your hell . .. remember hell is to purify . .to purge . .the more you choose to live by your flesh, the more God will need to purge from you . . .but yeah . . . it's your choice.

And if you should stop pursuing Christ and pursue your "self" only to later realize that, that was a really dumb choice and you "come to yourself" and decide to return back to the Father . . .the response will be the same as it was the last time you came to him . .his love never changed.

Just a doggone GOOD POST, my friend!   :goodpost:

Peace--icles... Hey! its winter here in Spokane!  :help:

In JESUS ...Name above all names...
...willieH  :laughing7:

[Molly]

Abraham was called righteous "before" he was circumcised.

That's because Abraham was circumcised in the heart.

He was a Gentile, and the father of Gentiles.

And, there has only ever been one covenant.



5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

6And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

--Gen 15