“There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to
his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his
property between them. Not long after
that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country
and there squandered his wealth in wild living.” (Luke 15:11-13).
There is so much pain hidden between these verses. You’ve
heard this story, I don’t know, how many times?
“There goes the son again. The
audacity—demanding his inheritance while his Father is yet living! Who does he think he is? He hasn’t earned that money. He hasn’t helped around the farm, with the
chores. At high noon, when everyone else
is drenched in sweat, he’s never anywhere to be found. Sleeping in. Partying late. Running with his friends. Stirring up
trouble. Degrading his body. Living in idolatry. Gratifying his desires and cravings, and
shameful lusts. High on life."
"That entitled-little, pleasure-seeking
fool. He doesn’t deserve a dime. If anything, he deserves to be written out of
the will. ‘Give me my inheritance.’
You’ve gotta be kidding! Anyone
can see what kind of scoundrel he is… ”
The Elder brother stood quietly, at a distance. He’d never dare speak his mind, not out
loud! He was after all, a good and
decent son… religious, god-fearing, moral, respectable, obedient... He attended synagogue. He praised God in the
temple. He gave alms and learned to
offer sacrifices. He’d read and
memorized the law of God from birth.
“If
anyone deserves anything”, he thought, “it’s me! I’ve earned it. I’ve worked longer, I’ve worked harder, I’ve
followed the rules, I’ve honored and obeyed my father, I’m the only son with any
character!”
As the father divided his estate, the elder brother raged
within. Under his breath, he muttered, “Father, what are you doing. He’s just going to run and squander
everything you’re giving him in wild living.
Can’t you see he’s filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed,
and depravity?”
As the months wore on, the elder son’s heart grew colder and
colder. Sometimes he was filled with
envy, imagining what freedom his brother was enjoying while he was still
slaving in the hot son. Sometimes he was
filled with murderous rage—thinking maybe the family would be better if his
brother would just die. But in general,
he was just bitter.
Whenever someone
came with a bad report about his younger brother, the Elder brother was quick
to listen, quick to spread the gossip, and quick to announce, ‘See I told you
so!’ A dark part of him rejoiced that
his brother was getting exactly what he deserved. “Maybe he’ll finally learn
his lesson that a man reaps what he sows.”
Consumed. The elder brother was consumed with his brother’s sin. Critical. Judgmental. He showed no
understanding, no love, no mercy. He
didn’t feel he owed his brother, his own flesh/blood, even an ounce of
fidelity.
The Father’s dilemma is what do you do with such a bitter,
lost soul? Count them. The father had
not just one, but two sons, who are lost.
And his remedy is to give not one, but both of them, equal shares of the
grace they didn’t deserve, and wait.
You have a serious problem if you believe the elder son is a
better gamble than the younger son. You
have a serious problem if you believe the elder son is more deserving (more
holy, righteous, and good) than the younger son.
Romans 1 is an interesting chapter. Do you realize Romans 1 is filled with all
sorts of third person pronouns? They is
a third person pronoun. The “godless.”
The “wicked.” “They” suppress the truth of God by their wickedness. “They” are without excuse. Although “they”
knew God, “they” neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. “They” became fools. “They worshipped/served created things. “They” exchanged natural for unnatural sexual
relationships. “They” didn’t think it
worthwhile to retain knowledge of God.
“They” have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed,
and depravity.
You have a serious problem if your consumed with how evil
“he” “she” and “they” and “those people” out there are. Now why do I say that? Because Romans 2 is filled with all sorts of
second person pronouns. “You” is a
second person pronoun. Elder brother, do
you really think, in God’s eyes, you’re so much better?
Romans 2:1, “You, therefore have no excuse, you who pass
judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are
condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things!”
This is what it looks like to be standing in
the shadow of God’s mercy and grace, while remaining lost! Romans 2:3, “So when you, a mere human being,
pass judgement on ‘them’ and yet do the same things, do you think you will
escape God’s judgment?”
“Now just a minute pastor!
I’m no murderer, or adulterer, or liar, or. . .” Not so fast.
Just because your sin is brewing just beneath the surface doesn’t make
you any less a sinner, and less in need of grace, that one who is fully
exposed. Ever read Jesus’ sermon on the
mount? He says, “You’ve heard that it
was said do not murder… do not commit adultery… do not break your word… love
your neighbor. . .” But then what does
he say? He says, “But I tell you anyone
who is angry at his brother… anyone who lightly insults his brother… anyone who
condemns his brother… anyone who will not reconcile with his brother… anyone
who comes to the altar to receive God’s grace while denying God’s grace to his
brother || anyone who looks upon a woman
lustfully… if your hand right hand… if
your right eye… so much as causes you to sin
|| If you swear by God… if your yes isn’t a simple yes and your no a
simple no… || If your only good to those who are good to
you… If you only greet those who greet
you…
Romans 2. You have a
funny way of judging others yet doing the same things.
Matthew 7, in Jesus’s own words. “In the same way you judge others you will
be judged. With the measure you use, it
will be measured to you. Why do you look
at the spec of sawdust in your brothers eye but pay no attention to the plank
in your own eye.”
Look again at Romans 2:4.
“Do you show contempt for the riches of God’s kindness, forbearance, and
patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to
repentance.” Who is the Apostle Paul
talking to? I’ll give you a clue. It’s not the godless and the wicked. It’s not “he, she, they” or “them.” He’s talking to “you.” Do you show contempt for the riches of God’s
mercy? Do you really think that they
need to repent more than you do?
Do you
really think that they need more grace than you do? Do you really think God is more concerned
about what is going on in their heart than your heart? Do you really think it’s your religious duty
to spend more time looking out the window at your neighbor’s fault and the
world than looking into the mirror and letting God’s word rend your heart?
Romans 2:5, “Because of your stubbornness and your
unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of
God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” Do you really believe that its only the
wicked and the ungodless who can be stubborn, or unrepentant, or rouse the
anger of God? The elder brother was just
as lost as the younger brother.
Look at Romans 2:6-11.
“God will repay each person according to what they have done. To those who by persistence in doing good
seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and reject
the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every
human being who does evil: first for the Jew then for the Gentile; but glory,
honor and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the
Gentile. For God does not show
favoritism.”
Mr. Moralist. Miss or Mrs. Moralist. . . Mr. Religious. Miss or Mrs. Religious. “You” are accountable to the same God as “he,
she, them, or they” are. There isn’t one
standard for them, but another standard for you. God doesn’t show favoritism more to the elder
than the younger, more to the religious than the non-religious. God does not show favoritism.
Romans 2:12-13 says, “All who sin apart from
the law will also perish apart from the law; and all who sin under the law will
be judged by the law. For it isn’t those
who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the
law who will be declared righteous.”
Why this verse is saying it doesn’t matter how much you
know. It doesn’t matter how many
sermons, or Bible Study’s you’ve attended.
It doesn’t matter how much you’ve heard.
It doesn’t just matter what is in your heart. No, God’s standard is do you obey. You think you’re righteous… then obey everything you know, heard,
feel.
Look at Romans 2:16, “This will
take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ as
my gospel declares.” Whether a sin is
secretly brewing beneath the surface, or publicly exposed, doesn’t make it any
less consequential. Whether you’re a
secret covert sinner like the elder brother, or flamboyant sinner like younger,
you are accountable to God. Don’t
pretend “you” need any less saving than “he, she, they, them”
Do you know that in the gospels Jesus was more gentle with
the sinners, tax collectors, and pagans than he was the Pharisees, Sadducees,
and Teachers of the Law who thought themselves righteous? Religious people can be just as lost, if not
more lost, than the sinners they so love to chastise.
Luke 18:9-14, “To some who were confident of their own
righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax
collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that
I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax
collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a
distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said,
‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went
home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled,
and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Why are there always two?
Two men who went up the temple.
Two sons? I have a better
question. Why is one always beating up
on the other? Why does one always
suppose he needs less mercy, grace than the other? Friends, there is one gospel that is the
power of God for the salvation of ALL who believe.
In Romans 1, half a chapter is devoted to
telling us why “he, she, they, and them” need God’s grace. In Romans 2, a whole chapter, twice as many
verses, are devoted to telling “you” why “you the Elder” need the righteousness
of Christ just as much as the younger brother!
Romans 2:17-24, “Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you
rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what
is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that
you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an
instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in
the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others,
do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?
You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you
dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is
blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
The gospel isn’t “Gee, I’m moral, righteous, good, and
better than _______.”
The Gospel is
Romans 1:17, “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a
righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The
righteous will live by faith.” The
Gospel is Romans 3:23-24, “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God
has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This
righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There
is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
The younger son eventually came home. “. . . while he was still a long way off, his
father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw
his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and
against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants,
‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and
sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast
and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost
and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his
father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All
these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you
never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But
when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes
home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and
everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because
this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
That day one brother discovered the power of God’s
salvation. He humbly received God’s
mercy and grace. But what came of the
elder brother we never know. Did he
humble himself? Did he acknowledge he
needed the same, and just as much, mercy and grace, as his brother? Did he continue showing stubborn, rebellious
contempt for the Father’s grace… or did
he learn to come to the table and celebrate the magnitude of it?
I think the best gospel pronounce isn’t he, she, they, or
them. It isn’t even you. Its “we.”
We are a family filled with younger brothers and elder brothers. Secret sinners and flamboyant sinners… all who need same gospel, and are willing to
come inside to receive and celebrate the father’s kindness.
For one and us all, Christ has taken our sin, our
condemnation, our secret sins and flamboyant sins. For our sin he died… and he offers to clothe us with his own
perfect righteousness. He offers us his
Holy Spirit to give us a new heart and new mind, to sanctify us, to renew us
from the inside-out. What do you say to
this gospel? Will you celebrate its
power for all how believe, or stand out in the cold?