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21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
The younger son can now look back and see his sins and the abomination of desolation (Mat 24:15) which caused his spiritual death. The Man of Sin is revealed to him (2Thes 2:8). From this knowledge, the son laments that he is “not worthy” of being called a son. But the Father has great compassion and love for him. He brings forth the best robe (white raiment), shoes (walk by faith) and a ring which represents His Elect status. The “fatted calf” is then slaughtered and eaten. This feast represents the son receiving the spiritual nourishment he has been craving.
Like the marriage analogy used in scripture, the conversion event presented in verses 20-22, is the equivalent of the Marriage Ceremony and the feast presented in verse 23 is the equivalent of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
In verse 24, the Father declares that there is great reason to be merry because his son who was dead is now alive again.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things mean. 27 And he said unto him, thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.
The elder son represents believers who have been called out from the world but not chosen. They have received their portion of the inheritance (Early Rain), however, they remain unconverted. They are still governed by their carnality and are still approaching Christ by their own “works”. For this reason, the elder son is shown to be “working” in the field when he hears the news about his brother. When the elder son realizes what has happened, he becomes angry and will not enter the Father’s house (Kingdom of Heaven). Even after the Father entreats him, the elder son’s heart is hardened by his anger.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
The elder son, in answering his Father, says that in all the years that he has served his Father, he has never transgressed his commandments.
This statement is reflective of the elder son’s “works” based belief system which still rules in his heart and mind. He simply cannot understand why his “works” have not earned him favor with his Father. The elder son hasn’t yet learned that the only way to be acceptable to his Father is by faith. His “works” based approach to his Father keeps him under the Law of the Old Covenant. He is still practicing “lawlessness”:
Mat 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
The only way a person can practice lawlessness is to be under the Law. And even though the elder son believes that he never transgressed his Father’s commandments, he did. No man is without sin when they are governed by their carnal nature.
Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Paul said that when a believer tries to make themselves acceptable to Christ by following even just one point of the Law, they become debtors to keeping the whole Law.
Gal 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Turning to “works” is the only sin that leads to a believer’s spiritual death. We all commit this sin shortly after being called out from the world (Early Rain). At that time, because of our remaining carnality, we quickly develop a “works” based belief system. This is RELIGION and it will not save us. Even the Elect commit this sin that leads to death after they are called out. For that reason, the Father said his son was dead (v. 24). The younger son spiritually died in the “far country” and lost his salvation. Once a believer falls away from faith as the younger son did, they will come under the Old Covenant of Law (“works” based belief system) and will fall from grace.
Christ taught this truth in this short parable below:
Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
All believers after they are called out from the world (Early Rain) have “no root” nor are they able to bring forth “fruit to perfection”. This is true because the believer’s carnality is still alive and governing them. The earnest of the Spirit is not sufficient to kill the Old Man.
It is the carnal spiritual nature which veils the truth of God from all mankind. Without God’s truth, Satan will come to the believer and deceive them via the spirit of anti-Christ (Mat 12:43-45). With the spirit of anti-Christ indwelling the believer, the deadly head wound will be healed (Rev 13:3).
For the reasons I have explained above, it is necessary for Christ to “come again” and give the chosen believer the Latter Rain of the Spirit so that they can be saved in this age.
Jam 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the EARLY and LATTER RAIN. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will COME AGAIN, and receive you unto myself (gathered together, Mat 24:29-31); that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:7 Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you (with the Latter Rain).
Only with both the Early and Latter Rains of the Spirit will the child of God be born. It is this child who will have an “honest and good heart”. He is the only one who will be able to keep the Word of God and bring forth spiritual fruit.
Because mankind is spiritually flawed and carnal, they will never be able to produce the spiritual fruit Christ requires of His children. For that reason, mankind must die and be “reborn”.
John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
The old vessel must be made into a new vessel:
Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Mankind truly has a loving and merciful Savior who will never cease His work until the last of mankind is converted and saved. When that day arrives, His name will be praised by all of creation!
Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for the ages of the ages.
Joe
