JESUS THE TRUE ELDER BROTHER: ACT III Luke 15:1, 8, Bishop Flynn Johnson Atlanta Metro Cathedral

Recap Much of the brilliance of Jesus story lies in that, in the first act, we get a very traditional depiction of sin. End of the second act, you have two sons, one good and one bad. But they’ve both been alienated from the father. The young brother was trying to get control by leaving and disobeying. The elder is trying to get control by staying and obeying.

Recap So there are two states of being lost

Recap The lover of prostitutes is saved and the man of moral rectitude is lost. We think that the way to be saved, is to repent of our sins, but Jesus shows us that we must also repent of even the very reason you ever did anything good at all.

ACT III The two basic ways that human beings try to make the world right, to make themselves right, and to relate to God: – Self-discovery – Moral conformity Self-discovery people say: “I’m going to live as I see fit, I’m going to determine what is right or wrong for me, I’m going to find my true self.” Moral Conformity people say: “I’m going to be good, I am going to try very hard, comply with the moral code.”

ACT III One is by living as we want, the other is by trying to be very religious and moral. Both lead to us a state of being lost. Both alienate us from the Father.

Luke 24:24 The gospel of Jesus Christ is neither morality or immorality; it is neither religion or irreligion. Nor is it halfway in the middle. It is something else entirely! So whether you are a younger brother or the elder brother; you need to come home!

How do you come Home? 1.The initiating love of the God 2.We need to learn to repent for something beside just our sins. – Only then can you know that you have transferred you trust from yourself to Jesus Christ for your salvation. 3.We need to melted and moved about what it cost to bring us home.

Have you been moved and melted by what your true elder brother did to bring you home?