It's Time to Come Home

I. The Folly of Sin

A. Sin Caused him to Show Disrespect for his Father

1. There was no Respect for the Life of his Father

a. The life his father had given him. He had a good life

b. A life that was built on righteousness, rules, and respect

2. There was no Respect for the Love of his Father

a. He was about to turn his back on the greatest love he would ever know

b. At the father’s house there was unconditional love, sacrificing love

3. There was no Respect for the Loyalty owed his Father

a. Because he was a son he owed his father his loyalty

b. Because of who the father was he owed his loyalty

B. Sin Caused him to Selfishly Desire his Freedom

1. Sin had Promised a Life of Enjoyment

a. Temptation had corrupted his thinking.

b. It had caused him to grow weary or maybe even resent the rules of his father’s house. Sin will always try to make you believe you’re being held back and withheld from. You’re supposed to be enjoying yourself.

c. It had allured him to thinking what he may be missing out on. Sin will always seek to make you feel as though you’re not living or haven’t lived until you’ve done this.

d. Perhaps he felt as though he deserved to indulge himself in the pleasures of life. Sin will say “go on you do deserve to feel good, after all you have needs, your wants and desires are important too.”

e. Perhaps he coveted the lifestyle of others and their superficial appearance of happiness. Thinking I’ll never enjoy my life or have what they have as long as I’m here.

f. Sin had promised him pleasure, power, popularity and plenty.

2. Sin Promises us the same things

3. Many times we feel just like this son (other things look so good)

Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

C. Sin Caused him to Sink Despairingly in his Folly

1. Sin had Provided a Life of Enslavement

a. Sin had stripped him of his Responsibility

1. Sin had taken away his ability to think rationally

2. It will completely capture your mind and focus you entirely on self indulgence

b. Sin had stripped him of his Resources

1. The scripture says he wasted his substance. All the father had given him was gone. He wasted it all on self indulgence

2. Many people live a life of waste. They were created to glorify God, but instead wasted their lives. Opportunities that have come and gone, never fulfilling the purpose they were created for.

3. He began to be in want. All the money, all the pleasures, all the excitement has left him with nothing but emptiness and unfulfilled. That is where sin will leave you.

c. Sin had stripped him of his Dreams

1. He had entertained the thought of I can make just fine without my father

2. I’m going to be a man of importance and power

3. I’ll make my own way, my way

d. Sin had stripped him of his Dignity

1. He wound up serving a man that didn’t care if lived or died. Ironically he wanted out from serving his father in a place where he had family and friends; people that loved him.

2. He ended up in a pig pen. The most degrading place a Jew could be.

e. Sin had Promised him Much but only Provided him Misery

1. There he was: Hungry, Homeless, Helpless, and Humiliated.

2. That is where sin will leave everyone that chooses to believe its lie

“Sin will take you farther than you ever intended on going, it will make you stay longer than you intended on staying, and it will cost you more than you intended on paying.”

II. The Forgiveness of the Savior

A. He Realized his Fatal Condition

1. The bible said he came to himself. He understood where he was.

2. He was no longer blinded to his condition. This is referring to him returning from a state of insanity. Sin causes people to lose all sight of what is right and rational.

3. He saw himself for what he was and where he was; in a pig pen.

4. He knew that his end would be death if he continued in that state.

5. He realized the goodness of His father and that there was satisfaction with him

6. He realized that the servants were taken care of and had plenty

7. He realized the what he went out find in the world, he already had in the father.

B. He Repented of his Filthy Conduct

1. He said “I will arise and go to my father”

a. He made a choice b. He made a confession c. He made change

b. True repentance involves all 3. It will never leave you where you are.

c. By his confession he had realized what he had done and he was sorrowful.

d. He had sinned against God. He wasn’t just remorseful that his plans fell through or sorrowful of where he was, he was sorry for his sins.

e. We see this by how he now viewed himself; someone who was unworthy, but was in desperate need of his father.

2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

C. He Received his Father’s Compassion

1. His father was looking for him waiting for his return. What a precious picture Jesus painted about the heart of God longing for those to return.

2. He ran to meet him. Old men of the east didn’t run. God is ever ready to run to meet you not in condemnation but compassion and forgiveness.

3. No doubt the son had feared of what his father my do. At the least he could have been pronounced unclean and shunned because of where he had been.(pig pen) or worse stoned to death.

4. The father embraced his son and kissed him, a sign of welcome and acceptance. No matter how dirty and broken he was received.

5. God will receive you just as you are.

6. He Clothed him in Royalty

The robe was reserved for the guest of honor it was superior to all others. Not slavery rags but the best robe. He covered the shame of his son’s past.

The ring was the family signet ring in which only the family could wear. This ring says you belong to this family.

The shoes= slaves didn’t normally wear shoes

7. He Completely Restored Him to son ship

8. He Celebrated his Return

God rejoices and all of heaven when one sinner repents, it thrills the heart of God to show compassion.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

By sin he found misery, but at home he found mercy