1. A Father’s Love
Luke 15:11-24

2. Luke 15:11-15
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 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. 13 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. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
A Father's Love

3. Luke 15:16-19
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 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! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants
A Father's Love

4. Luke 15:20-24
20 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. 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.
A Father's Love

5. Introduction
This Parable Exemplifies How God Demonstrates His Love For Man As A Father To His Children
God Shows His Love In Manifold Ways
He has give us “every good and every perfect gift”
James 1:17
He “gave His only begotten Son”
John 3:16-17
A Father's Love
Jas. 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Jn. 3: 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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

6. “every good and every perfect gift”
James 1:17
“Whatever is good is from God; whatever is evil is from man himself. As from the sun, which is the father or fountain of light, all light comes; so from GOD, who is the infinite Fountain, Father, and Source of good, all good comes. And whatever can be called good, or pure, or light, or excellence of any kind, must necessarily spring from him, as he is the only source of all goodness and perfection”
Adam Clark online
A Father's Love

7. “gave His only begotten Son”
John 3:16
things in John 3:16
Power – “For God”
Emotion – “so loved”
Measure – “the world”
Gift – “that He gave”
Sacrifice – “His only begotten Son”
Invitation – “that whosoever believeth in Him”
Blessings – “should not perish”
Reward – “but have everlasting life”
The Greatest
A Father's Love
Jn. 3:16 - 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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

8. How The Father Loves Luke 15:11-24
When we review this parable we see three ways that this father showed his love for his son; by extension, three ways that God show His love for us:

9. He Gives You A Choice
“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” - vs. 12
Common to give the eldest son a double portion first
At the death of the father or when decided by the father
The younger son demanded his portion
The father complied and gave him is portion - vs. 12
God doesn’t prevent us from leaving Him
It is our choice to obey or disobey - Joshua 24:15
Will we be like some of Jesus’ disciples? - John 6:64-69
Will we be like the Romans? - Romans 6:17-18
Are we be like those of Elijah's day? - 1 Kings 18:21-40
Will you follow or deny Jesus? - Matthew 12:30; 10:33
A Father's Love
Josh. 24:15 - And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
John 6: But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
1 Kings 18:21 - And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Matt. 12:30 - He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Matt. 10: Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

10. He Waits For A Penitent Return
“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” - vs. 20
God Is Always Waits For Our Return - We Have To Return
There are signs of God’s love & care is all around us
James 1:17; John 3:16
God has given us a will and a conscience and freedom to choose - What will be our choice?
The Father speaks of his son as dead - vs. 24
The lost son repented - Vss
We have a merciful, forgiving God - 2 Peter 3:9
Luke 13:3 & 5; Acts 8:22-24; Ezekiel 18:23-32
A Father's Love
Jas. 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Jn. 3:16 - 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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. The Greatest: Power – “For God”; Emotion – “so loved”; Measure – “the world”; Gift – “that He gave”; Invitation – “that whosoever believeth in Him”; Blessings – “should not perish”; Reward – “but have everlasting life”
Vs For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Vss 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! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 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. 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.
2 Pet.3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Lk. 13:3-5 - I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Acts 8: Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Ezek. 18: READ

11. He Restores The Penitent
“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 father restored his penitent son to a better place:
He greeted him with compassion and kisses - vs. 20
He gave him the best robe, a ring and sandals - vs. 22
He killed the fatted calf and made merry - vs
God restores those who bring forth “fruits meet for repentance” - Matthew 3:7-9; Acts 26:19-20
Luke 15:4-10
A Father's Love
Matt. 3:7-9 - But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet (worthy) for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Acts 26: Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet (befitting) for repentance.
Lk. 15: READ

12. The Father in Heaven is This
When We Come To Him In Humble Obedience He Does Not Give Us What We Deserve
He Restores Us As His Children
Our sins are forgiven - Acts 2:38
We become His children in Christ - Galatians 3:26-29
We are no longer enemies, but reconciled - Colossians 1:21
We are kings and priests in His Kingdom - Revelation 1:5-6
We are saved, washed and renewed - Titus 3:5
We have the hope of eternal life - Romans 6:23
A Father's Love
Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Gal. 3: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Col. 1: And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
Rev. 1:5-6 - And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Tit. 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Rom. 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

13. Summary Where Are You Now? Will You Come To Him Now?
This Parable Speaks of The Love Of God Our Father In Heaven
God Gives You A Choice
He Waits For A Penitent Return
He Restores The Penitent
The Father In Heaven Is This Type of Father
Where Are You Now?
Will You Come To Him Now?
A Father's Love
Lk. 15:16 - "And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
“And even then, through the unkindness of his master and the extremity of the season, he was kept so poorly, that he had not bread, but would gladly have filled his hungry belly with the sorriest husks which the swine did eat: and yet there was no man that would take so much pity upon him as to give unto him one morsel of food; so sparing did the famine make them, and so much did every one despise this foolish and scandalous prodigal.” - Doddridge
Are you like those Peter wrote of in - 2 Pet. 2:22 - But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
You're only there because you put yourself there - It is all of your doing. You sinned and left God. He did not leave you - Isa. 59:1-2 - Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

14. “…what shalI we do?” Acts 2:37
An alien sinner must…
Hear the Gospel – Romans 10:17
Believe – John 8:32
Repent – Acts 17:30
Confess Christ – Matthew 10:32
Be Baptized – Acts 2:38
An erring Child of God must…
Repent and Pray – Acts 8:22
Live “faithful unto death”
Revelation 2:10
A Father's Love
Acts 2:37 - Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart (cut to the heart), and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Rom. 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Jn. 8:32 - I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Acts. 17: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Matt. 10:32 - Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Acts. 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:22 - Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Rev. 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.