Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-32

Joe Edminster is my dad. I am born of Joe Edminster. There are tests that will prove that Joe Edminster is my dad and he will forever be my earthly dad. If I get in an argument and fall out of fellowship with my dad: am I still my dad’s son? Yes. If I deny my dad as my dad: am I still my dad’s son? Yes. If I change my name from my dad’s name: am I still my dad’s son? YES! Why am I still my dad’s son? It is because of the blood the runs through my veins. The blood proves I am my dad’s son even if I fall out of fellowship, deny him, or change my name.

PRODIGAL SON

When reading the story of the prodigal son, remember, the son never loses his position as a son: the son is forever a son. Also, the story of the prodigal son is about two sons and both are prodigal; however, the good news is both sons remain sons forever. Luke 15:11-32 (KJV): “And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 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. 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: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 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. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 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 gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 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.”

SONS OF GOD

I am born again of Jesus Christ and the Father. God the Father is my Dad. There are tests that will prove that God the Father is my dad and He will forever be my Heavenly Dad. If I get in an argument and fall out of fellowship with my Dad: am I still my Dad’s son? Yes. If I deny my Dad as my Dad: am I still my Dad’s son? Yes. If I change my name from my Dad’s name: am I still my Dad’s son? YES! Why am I still my Dad’s son? It is because of the blood! The blood proves I am my Dad’s son even if I fall out of fellowship, deny him, or change my name. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:18-19 KJV). “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12 KJV). I have been adopted into God’s family as a son and forever a son. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:14-16 KJV). “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:4-6 KJV). “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:4-7 KJV).

Why would a son of God want to “fall out of fellowship,” “deny Dad,” or “change your name?” I am not encouraging anyone to do these things; however, these things happen and all believers need to know that “once a son, forever a son” because you can never lose your position as a son -you can never lose your salvation. If you believe can lose your salvation, you have a misunderstanding of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ paid for ALL sin: Colossians 2:13 (KJV): “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all...But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:10,12 KJV). If a person believes “you can lose your salvation” because of sin, this person is denying Jesus Christ is the Son of God because the Bible is very clear that Jesus Christ the Son of God paid for ALL sin (past, present, and future). “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (John 2:2 KJV). Nowhere in the Bible does it teach a person is “born again,” “unborn,” “born again,” and “unborn.” Nowhere in the Bible does it teach a person can lose their salvation. The Bible clearly teaches a man is physically born “one time” and needs to be spiritually born “one time.” “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:1-7 KJV)

I am a sinner, I deserve Hell. I can never earn my salvation. I can never keep my salvation. Thank God the Father and Jesus Christ for their grace because it is all by GRACE!

TESTIMONY MATTERS

After a person believes, after a person becomes a “son of God,” does their testimony matter? Absolutely YES! However, their testimony does not impact their salvation because they are forever a son. A person’s testimony impacts others salvation. A person’s conduct matters, a person’s testimony matters, what people say matters. It doesn’t matter for their eternal salvation; however, it matters for others salvation (the lost) and this is why believers are to “work out” their salvation from sin's power (not its penalty because Jesus Christ paid the debt of sin) so others can see Christ within the believer: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13 KJV). Once a person is saved, they are saved forever and can never lose their salvation. Jesus stated emphatically: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:28-30 KJV). Does a person’s testimony matter? Yes; however, it does not matter for their salvation, it matters for others salvation.

If you have not believed, what is stopping you right now from believing? God loves you and has already died and resurrected to meet you. Believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, burial, and resurrection and receive the greatest gift ever which is eternal life. Eternal life does not start when you die, eternal life starts the very second you believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Why not trust in Jesus Christ today for salvation. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 KJV)

If you know someone who is not saved, forward this message to them and share the greatest gift that one could ever receive.

Lance Edminster

The Good News Voice

Email: thegoodnewsvoice@gmail.com

Once Saved, Always Saved -"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (John 10:28-30 KJV)