Sermon
Vicar Lang Yang, J.D.
“Father I have Sinned”
Youth Gathering – Worship Service
Our
1-13-08
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Luke 15:21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called you son.” This is the word of God.
Illustration “Sin” How many of you can raise your hand and say you have NO sin?
How many of you can raise your hand and say you HAVE sin?
I. Most of us have played the part of the lost son (daughter) at some time in our lives. That’s why its so easy for us to understand this parable. Perhaps that’s why Jesus told it. Our relationship with our heavenly father is not much different than our relationship with our earthly father. Just as we disobey our parents, we also disobey God. Just as we ignore father’s advice and counsel, we ignore the counsel of the Holy Scripture. And just as our earthly father understands our youthful rebellion, our heavenly Father eagerly forgives the sins of our youth. In the parable of the Lost Son we have a loving father.
When the young men ask for his share of inheritance, what did the father do? The father simply divided up his property and gave his youngest son his share. Not long after that he spend all his money on wild living life style.
Jesus is telling us about our heavenly father in this parable. He’s describing how God treats us. In the parable the father let his son go off and do what he want to do. His father didn’t force him to stay home. God, our heavenly father let us go our own way. He doesn’t force us to obey. He did not create us to be robots or puppets on a string. If we want to leave him and go live a life of sin, he’ll let us. If we insist on ruining our bodies with drugs, he’ll le us. If we want to lie, cheat, and steal, he’ll let us. Judas insisted on betraying Jesus, and Jesus let him. Jesus let Peter deny him. He let Saul persecuted the church. He didn’t force any of them to do what was right.
Look at the lost son how he lavish on the life style of partying.
God will let us sin, if we insist on it. But he will also let us suffer the consequences. Sometimes that’s the only way we learn. If we insist on jumping into the sewer, God will let us get dirty. He’ll let us experience the misery and despair of sin.
II. Sometime we have to hit bottom before we realize how bad our sins are. That’s what it takes to wake us up and bring us to repentance. The Bible says that the Lost Son came to his senses. He wasn’t a pig.
He was a person. He was a son. He understood that sins bring misery. When the Lost Son repented, he said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” “Father, I have sinned.” He confessed. He knew it was his fault. He took responsibility for his actions. He could have blamed his father for letting him go, blamed his drinking buddies, blamed his brothers, and others that had tricked him into wasting all his monies. But instead, he said it was his fault. “Father, I have sinned. I am no longer worthy to be called you son.” That is a true repentance – a proper confession for every Christian should say: “Heavenly Father, I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. I am not worthy of the least of your mercies.”
“But while he was still along way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him… the father said to his servants, ‘Quick bring the best robe and put in on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Lets have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.”
The father welcomed him back with open arms. He didn’t give him the cold shoulder. He didn’t give him a lecture on righteous living. He knew that his son had learned his lesson. All he needed was forgiveness and acceptance. All he needed was love.
III. Our heavenly Father does the same for us. When we come to him on humble repentance, he doesn’t scowl or scold. He doesn’t shake a finger and say, “I’ll forgive you, but this is the last time.” He just welcomes us back into his kingdom of grace with open arms. What did Jesus say? “I tell you the truth – there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents that over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)
The Lost Son father showed his love by killing the fatted calf. Our heavenly Father also spared no expense for our salvation. He sacrificed his only Son. He gave his dearest treasurer to suffer and die on the cross for you. The Apostle Paul summed up this extravagant love with these words: “In his we have redemption thru his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the richest of God’s grace which he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1:7) The father’s love for us is so great that he was willing to pay any price to redeem his lost sons and daughters.
- 18All
this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has
given us the ministry of reconciliation;
- 19that is, in Christ God was
reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against
them,
- and entrusting the message of reconciliation
to us.
- 20So we are ambassadors for Christ,
since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to God.
- 21For our sake he made him to be sin
who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- Are you in Christ?
- Have you become a new creation?
- Are you becoming a new creation?
- Has everything old passed away?
- Is everything old passing away?
Our heavenly Father loves us enough to let us learn from our mistakes. He loves us and eagerly watches for us to return and say that we are sorry. Most of all, he loves us and welcomes us back in an open arm in the name of his Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
May the peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.
“Father, I have Sinned”
Luke 15:21
5. Our heavenly Father _______ us enough to let us learn from our mistakes. He loves us and eagerly watches for us to ________ and _______ that we are sorry. Most of all, he loves us and __________ us back in an open arm in the name of his Son, our __________ and Savior Jesus Christ.