The tragedy of being lost – pt 3

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When Jesus said a certain man had two sons, well, we know if we study one son, we have to look at the other. So today we conclude our study from Luke 15. Here from the International Gospel Hour, stay with us. We’ll be right back.

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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour.

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For 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through International Gospel Hour. You are about to listen to another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, starting now.

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Well, we appreciate the kind words of our J-Web, and greetings to all of you, our kind listeners. We are blessed to have you with us. We are thankful for your pursuit of truth and to know said truth as Jesus taught in John 8, 31 and 32, If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Let us seek the truth with an honest heart. Let us seek it diligently and do what God would command us. You know, we’ve spent two previous broadcasts in a study of Luke 15 and the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, or as we know him as, the prodigal son. Well, today we want to conclude our study of Luke 15 as we look at verses 25 through 32 as we think about the tragedy of being lost and the tragedy of bitterness. We’ll be right back in a moment.

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And ask for our free Bible study by mail and so much more. That’s our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Now, let’s return to our study.

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Well, friends, as we’ve just mentioned, we’ve been studying from Luke the 15th chapter of the parables concerning the tragedy of being lost and to see God’s attitude toward the lost, to how there is God who is always seeking. There is God who will always do everything possible to bring us back. How there is God who is always waiting. You know, many individuals are lost and they’re not even aware of it. And so we’ve been looking at the different ways for people to be lost. And now we come to Luke 15, verses 25 through 32, as we talk about the tragedy of being lost. And today we’re going to talk about bitterness. Let’s take a look at the second son, or as we call him, the elder brother. From Luke 15, beginning with verse 25. Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf. Oh, but he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years I have been serving you. I never transgressed your commandment at any time, and yet you never gave me a young goat that I may make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him. And he said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad. For your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found. Friends, that’s how the chapter ends. That’s how the parables of being lost end. It ends with that elder brother’s attitude. Now, when you look at the context, as the Pharisees and the publicans looked down upon those who needed Jesus, Jesus is teaching here in their presence that you refuse to receive those who need God. You know, this elder brother did not consider himself lost, but he’s lost because of his wrong attitude toward his brother. You know, the Bible teaches love for brethren. In John 13, 34, Jesus said, This is how all men shall know you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. And we know from 1 Corinthians 13, 13, that abides faith, hope, and love these three, and the greatest of these is love. Friends, let’s consider some other texts as we think about love for brethren or love in the relationship within the church. Let’s listen to the following text from 1 John. In 1 John 2, verses 9-11, He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. You know, how can we be in the light and hate our brother? How can there be that bitterness? How can there be that resentment or that relationship that is so special within the church of Jesus Christ? Let’s go to chapter 3 of 1 John, verses 14 and 15. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. How tragic can this be? But yet the parable of the elder brother and how he felt about his brother. Another text from 1 John 4, verse 20. If someone says, I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? You know, friends, when we think about the tragedy of bitterness, of being lost, of how these attitudes within our lives, I mean, a person can be doing everything just right for the Lord. But if that heart is not right, then what are we doing? It’s like we shift ourselves to a salvation by works alone, does it not? Now, I know some of you are saying, hey, wait a minute. You’re of the church of Christ and you’re talking about not salvation by works alone? Well, friends, let’s see what the Bible says. James chapter 2 tells us, that our works are expressed because of our faith. You say you have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without your works and I’ll show you my faith by my works. Brethren, let’s think. Brethren and friends and all, everyone, let’s think on these things. This is why we emphasize helping folks and from time to time I mention of the churches of Christ in your community. And there are the occasions that we call upon local churches of Christ to help us with study material and to where you’ll know somebody close by should you need them. We all need that relationship with the church. Friends, Jesus had a number of one another passages in the New Testament. One we mentioned moments ago of John 13, 34. I think about Hebrews 10. Consider one another. And a number of one another passages. You know, friends, you cannot one another by yourself. You can’t do it. And when you and I read in Acts chapter 2 of the church and its thriving and how well it was doing, it’s that relationship among brethren that everybody has a part and everybody helps and everybody serves. So with this study, I’d like to pause and say, we want to help you find a church of Christ in your community. You will be well received. You will find a group of people that are striving to walk according to the word of God. And we will help you toward that end. And if you would like a personal visit, we have a very careful, safe, directive plan of security for of how we can make that happen for you. To give you a quick summary, if you would like a visit from a member of the local Church of Christ, you call us and then we call you back and we’ll talk with you. We make certain we have your permission. And then the church, we have them call you and to work out the visit, whether it’s by phone or to maybe meet for coffee, or at your house. Friends, we’re very careful of how we address matters here with our listeners of International Gospel Hour. We want you to know that we appreciate your interest and your care for the things that be of God. And so we’re thankful for your interest. So friends, the tragedy of bitterness or this lesson of the elder brother That causes one to be lost, and they never left God. Think on that for a moment. Yet they were right there, but failed to embrace it. May that not be. Now, with that being said, friends, maybe you would prefer a home study. I’ll share that with you. If you call us at 855-444-6988. Now, this is a home study by mail now. And leave us your name and address and just say, Home Study. We will mail that to you. That’s another option we have. If you have access to the YouTube channel, hear these next words from our J-Web.

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Friends, I hope that you will tune in to the YouTube channel if you have access there. It gives you a chance to see what I look like. I don’t know that that will be very impressive, but nevertheless, it’s a good tool to use and we study there as well. And of course, the home study I mentioned to you, now that’s by mail. Or if you’d like a visit, whatever you need, folks, we want you to reach out to us. And we really appreciate your study with us today as we wrapped up this study of Luke chapter 15. As in previous broadcasts, I want to extend a special thank you to my friend and brother Phil Leonard and his dear mother. I appreciate Phil and Sister Leonard who granted me the gift 60 years in the pulpit of It’s a book about his father, the late Charles Leonard, whom I was privileged to know, who preached from Michigan to Mississippi, and I’m honored to use his work on International Gospel Hour. You’ll probably hear more in the future. I really appreciate your interest in the things that be of God, and we’ll continue these studies together at another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, as always, keep listening.

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May this study prompt your search of God’s word for his will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory.

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God be with you till we meet again.