“Something New”Luke 15

I. Two approaches to life

A. Moral conformity

Moral Conformity

• Compliance• Emphasize standard (God’s or the community’s)

over personal desires

“I am not going to do what I feel like doing, but what tradition wants me to do”

B. Self discovery

Self-Discovery

• Freedom from convention• Personal autonomy

“I am the only one who can decide what is right and wrong for me. I will find happiness when I find my true self and live that way”

C. The clash

Moral Conformity vs. Self-Discovery

“The immoral people (the people who do their

own thing) are the problemwith the world. Moral

people are the solution.”

“The bigoted people (the people who say we have thetruth) are the problem with

the world. Progressive people are the solution.”

Moral Correctness vs. Self-Discovery

“The good people (like us) are in and the bad peoplewho are the real problem

in the world are out”

“The open minded and tolerantpeople are in and the bigoted,

narrow minded people, who are the real problem

in the world, are out”

MoralSin

OpenMinded

Intolerant

OpenMinded

Morally Correct

OpenMinded

Morally Correct

II. A new approach

A. Two sons

OlderSon

YoungerSon

Pharisees Sinners

Moral Correctness

Self-Discovery

YoungerSon

OlderSon

“I am not worthy”“I don’t deserve”

“I am worthy”“I deserve”

Repents Resents

Acts 15:5

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed

Acts 6:7

Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied

greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the

faith.

B. New life

1 Peter 1:23

having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible,

through the word of God which lives and abides forever

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become

new.

Ephesians 4:22-24

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in

true righteousness and holiness.

The Flesh

Moral Conformity

Self Discovery

The Flesh

Law License

The Flesh

OlderBrother

YoungerBrother

Galatians 3:3

Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

The Flesh

Moral Self

The Spirit

III. The seeker

A. God initiates

Luke 19:10

for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost

1 John 4:19

We love Him because He first loved us.

John 6:44

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day

Philippians 1:6

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ

Philippians 2:13

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

B. A true older brother

C. Coming home

John 14:1-3

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.