the faithful son

8/3/2019 The Faithful Son

1/12

Christ The Faithful SonMan The Prodigal Son

By Jeffrey D. Dean Sr.

January 16, 2012

When we discuss inheritance there's usually one thing that comes to mind.Death. People do not usually "inherit" from a loved one until that loved onepasses on and the will is read. Yet, Christ "inherited" everything from his Fatherwho is the eternal God and will never die! How can it be? Some say it wasbecause Christ was one with the Father and therefore everything that belongedto the Father also belonged to Christ as well. If this were the case, therefore,how could Christ be an "inheritor?" How can Christ "inherit" what he alreadyowns to begin with. The big question, therefore, becomes not ONLY how canChrist inherit from an everlasting God but does he really inherit anything at all(being that it was all his anyway)?

I'm sure there are going to be somewhat confused religious people reading whatI have just wrote! There are going to be many who wonder, "why does he sayChrist is an "heir" where is he getting this from?"

Romans 8: 16-17"16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are thechildren of God.17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;

if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorifiedtogether."

Romans 8: 29"For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate conformed tothe image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among manybrethren."

Galatians 3:29

"And if you are Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed and heirsaccording to the promise."

Titus 3:7"That being justified by grace we should be made heirs according toeternal life."


2/12

Hebrews 1:14"And they are all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for themwho shall be heirs of salvation?"

Hebrews 6:17"Wherein God willing more abundantly to show to his heirs a promiseof immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath."

James 2:5"Hearken my beloved brethren, has not God chosen the poor of thisworld rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom he has promised to themthat love him?"

1 Peter 3:7

"Likewise you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge,giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirstogether of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."

Now, the first thing we notice in Romans 8: 16-17 is that it does not say weinherit anything FROM Christ, it says we are heirs WITH Christ and JOINT heirs.There is a very important distinction between inheriting from Christ and inheritingWITH Christ! I believe way too many people have interpreted it to say "from"rather than "with," and the difference between the two is a collossal gulf!Certainly Christ techinically died, so he could have heirs, no doubt. (He rosefrom the grave but that would not legally change the status or rights of his heirsto collect on their inheritance). So, indeed Christ could have heirs and we couldinherit MANY of the blessings and spiritual power of Christ's Father in theprocess! This is how the above text is handled by the children of error. I sayerror because the scriptures are clear that Christ himself is an "heir" to the Father(and this is something that the children of the error can never admit, not withoutanswering the questions: "how does Christ inherit from a living Father and howcan he be an heir at all seeing that he is one with the Father from the beginningand all that the Father has was his already)."

The answers to these two questions lie in the parable of the prodigal son. We

will read this but first I will depart from form here and draw my conclusions first,summarizing them, then we will read the parable to see if my conclusions areaccurate. Christ is the "faithful son" who is "always with the Father" and hasnever left, we who believe and convert as a result of Christ's ministry are the"prodigal son" who asked for our inheritance early, left the Father, and went outand squandered it on whores, drinking and all manner of pleasures.


3/12

Luke 15: 11-32"11 And he said: A certain man had two sons,12 And the younger of them said to his father, give me myinheritance and he divided to them his living13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together,and took his journey into a far country and there wasted hissubstance with riotous living14 And when he had spent all there arose a mighty famine in thatland: and he began to be in want.15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and hesent him into the fields to feed swine.16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that theswine did eat: and no man would give it to 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 withhunger?18 I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, I have sinnedagainst heaven and before you.19 And I am no more worthy to be called your son; make me as oneof your hired servants20 And he arose and came to his father, But when he was yet a greatway off, his father saw him, and had compassion and ran, and fell onhis neck and kissed him,21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heavenand in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your 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 here the fatted calf, and butcher it, and let us eat and bemerry;24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and isfound, and they began to be merry.25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nighto the house, he heard the music and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these thingsmeant.27 And he said to him, your brother is come; and your father haskilled the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his fatherout and entreated him.29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I


4/12

serve you, neither transgressed at any time your commandment: andyet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with myfriends:30 But as soon as this your son was come, who has devoured yourliving with whores, you have killed for him the fatted calf.31 And he said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that Ihave is yours.32 It was fitting that we should make merry, and be glad: for this yourbrother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."

I am quite sure that this is probably one of the FIRST teachings that most of myreaders have encountered where Christ is cast in the role of one of the sons inthe story. Traditionally when the prodigal son parable is taught Christ is cast inthe role of the "Father" (because they teach Christ and the Father are one in thesame). Yet, this was not the intent and purpose of the parable. Part of the

purpose of the parable was to explain the "inheritance." For you see, when yourFather is an ETERNAL God, there is no need to wait for him to die to inherit allthat the Father has. All one has to do is REMAIN WITH the father, as the faithfulson has done in the parable and was told "you are always with me and all that Ihave is yours." Another important facet of this parable to understand is thatwhen the prodigal son returns he becomes an heir again. He is received of theFather and given all that the Father has! We, who once only worthy of being a"servant" now share in the inheritance with the with the faithful son, we are nowreturned to the Father and remain IN hiw and WITH him. For us, the Fatherslays the "fatted calf" and kisses our necks and puts upon us the clothing of anheir.

Some might object to casting Christ in the role of the faithful son in the storybecause in the story the faithful son is angry with the Father for receiving theprodigal son (and in fact our being received again by the Father was madepossible by Christ). They will conclude that my analysis of the story and myconclusions, therefore are flawed for Christ can NEVER be the petty, jealousfaithful son in this story! Yet, you must remember it is just a story and is told toteach us! One of the purposes of the story was to show how many who walkedafter the precepts of the old law would be jealous of the Gentiles who believe,because they become heirs to the promise even through their faith! Yet, there'smore to this parable.

I ask those who want to make Christ "the Father" in the parable. If we who haveleft the Father to follow our own pleasures are the prodigal son WHO then is the"faithful son" in the story? Who can it be for every person on earth falls under thecategory of the prodigal! There can only be ONE son who is "always with thefather" in the story and that is the Holy and Righteous eternal Son of the livingGod, even Y'shua Messiah! If the faithful son in the story is not Christ then thefaithful son does not exist at all!


5/12

Everyone will agree with the analysis that WE, frail sinful humans are theprodigal son but they have trouble accepting that Christ is the faithful son who is"always with the Father" but the scripture says that we are fellow HEIRS WITHCHRIST. IF we are the prodigal son, Christ, MUST be the faithful son in thestory because the two brothers are "fellow heirs." One squaders his inheritance

and the other does not by remaining with the Father always.

To me the most important part of this parable is not that everything the Fatherhas belongs to the faithful son for he is "always with the father" it's the notion thatthe prodigal son, upon returning, is received of the Father and once becomes anheir. Logic dictates that if the prodigal son REMAINS with the father and neverleaves again that son will have EVERYTHING that the Father has (to the samedegree as the faithful son did) for the prodigal son is a "fellow heir" with thefaithful son! This is the good news of the Gospel. The prodigal son asks torejoin the father and even volunteers to live as a lowly "servant" in the Father'shouse but the Father will hear NONE OF THIS. Instead, he makes the son an

heir again and bestows upon him everything!

The prodigal son, once he returns to the Father and remains with the father, hasequal standing and equal inheritance with the faithful son who never left! Thisdrives home how important are the words "we are fellow heirs with Christ." Afellow heir gets an equal share and since our Father is eternal we do not have towait for him to die to inherit all we have to do is "abide" with the Father!

Do we really inherit what Christ has? According to Christ we do.

St. John 16: 15

"All that the Father has are mine: therefore I said, that he shalltake of mine, and shall show it to you."

When we believe the work and the ministry of the Son of God we become jointheirs with him. Everything the Father has is now ours by grace, through ourFAITH and as long as we remain "with the Father always." Yet, what does itmean to "abide in the Father" or "with the Father?" Christ showed us. The faithfulson is always with the Father and does not follow his own pleasure! The faithfulson was "tempted in all ways yet without sin." A prodigal son who has trulyreturned to the Father's house becomes just like the faithful son in every way (notonce transgressing the commandments of the father)! That is why John wrote to

us and said that he who "abides in Christ" does not sin! Christ is the example ofthe faithful son who is "always with the father" and if we return to the Father'shouse and abide once again (as Christ abided) then we will become faithful sonsourselves, and no more will be prodigal sons!

If ever a story should end with the words "and they all lived happily ever after" it'sthe prodigal son parable!


6/12

What IS the inheritance we have through Christ's ministry? This was once agreat mystery! The apostles wrote of it several times. Yet it is now revealed tothe saints by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1: 11-18

"11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, beingpredestinated according to the purpose of him who works all thingsafter the counsel of his own will.12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted inChrist.13 In whom you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, thegospel of our salvation: in whom also after that you believed, youwere sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.14 Which is the earnest payment of our inheritance until theredemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, andof your love unto all the saints,16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my

prayers:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory may giveto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you mayknow what is the hope of his calling and what is the riches of theglory of his inheritance in the saints."

Ephesians 5: 5"For this you know, that no whore monger, nor unclean person, norcovetous man, who is an idolator has any inheritance in the kingdomof Christ and of God."

Colossians 1: 12"Giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit to be partakers ofthe inheritance of the saints in light:"

Colossians 3:24"Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of theinheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ."

Hebrews 1: 4


7/12

"Being made much better than the angels, as he by inheritanceobtained a more excellent name than they."

Hebrews 9: 15"And for this cause he is the mediator of a new testament, that bymeans of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under thefirst testament, they which are called might receive the promise ofeternal inheritance."

1 Peter 1: 4"To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fades notaway, reserved in heaven for you."

The traditional teaching is that the "inheritance" is "eternal life and so it is, forhow can a mortal son inherit all from an Eternal Father? It's impossible. The heirmust be heir of the eternal Father's immortality as well! Yet, how shall we mortalmen of the flesh inherit equally with the eternal Son of God?

Matthew 25: 46"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but therighteous into eternal life."

St. Mark 10: 17-19"17 And when he was gone forth in the way, there came one running,and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do toinherit eternal life?18 And Jesus said to him, Why do you call me Good? There is nonegood, but one, that is God.19 But you know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Donot kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honoryour father and mother."

Messiah states plainly here that the key to eternal life is obedience to the

COMMANDMENTS. We know this is true because death comes from SIN. Itstands to reason that he who inherits eternal life will overcome sin! Mostdefinitely! Our Father is eternal. It stands to reason that his "heirs" would begranted the same, being that the heir who abides with the Father can say, "allthat the father has is mine." Yet, consider what must happen before we inheriteternal life. Sin must be gone! Sin brings death!

1 Corinthians 15: 22


8/12

"For as in Adam all die, even in Christ shall all be made alive."

1 Corinthians 15: 56"The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law."

Romans 3: 23"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

We do know that we have eternal life in Christ. Yet in 1 Corinthians we learn thatsome of us will "inherit" before we die physically.

1 Corinthians 15: 51- 58"51 Behold I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep but we shallall be changed,52 In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: For thetrumpet shall sound, the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible,and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must

put on immortality54 So when this corriptible shall have put on incorruption, and thismortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass,the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.55 O Death where is your sting? O grave where is your victory?56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our LordJesus Christ.58 Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast and, unmovable,always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you knowthat your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

O, death where is your sting? (Sin). The answer is, it's not to be found amongthe inheritors! Sin is GONE and that is why they have eternal life! We know thatour struggle to walk sinless and perfect to be "like the faithful son" is NOT in vainand we shall some day succeed. That is the message of 1 Corinthians 15. It is

TOTALLY missed by the children of error and confusion.

We know two things. Christ is definitely the example of the son who is "alwayswith the Father." We also know that the prodigal son who returns becomes anheir again and the same thing that can be said of the faithful son who never leftthe Father can be said of the prodigal as well (for they are joint heirs) if theprodigal remains WITH the Father. If the prodigal son remains "with the Fatheralways" he must become just like the faithful son! This is common sense. The


9/12

faithful son was "tempted in all ways yet with no sin." This is why he has eternallife, for there is no sin in him and therefore no death can touch him! The sameMUST be true of the prodigal son!

Let's reason together here. If we, on the day of the return of Christ, come before

the Father with sin can we live forever? Not according to the word for "sin bringsdeath" to all who live in it! The sting of death is sin! Common sense alonedictates that we shall, therefore, come before the Father on that day with no sinin us (otherwise we cannot have eternal life). That is why the apostle prefaceshis entire teaching with the following statement:

1 Corinthians 15: 50"Now this I say, brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit thekingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption."

Many have concluded that the above verse means we must shed our fleshly

body first, for, they say "flesh cannot inherit." They forget that Christ too was"flesh and blood" (if they deny this they have denied that Christ is come in theflesh which makes them antichrist according to the Apostle John). They don'trealize, if they make the above verse to say that we cannot inherit as long as weare flesh and blood, then by their reasoning Christ could not inherit either! Theyhave an answer for this. They teach that Christ ceased to be "flesh and blood"when he died and once he rose was no longer "flesh and blood." They forgetthat Messiah did NOT HAVE TO DIE to inherit for he was ALWAYS WITH THEFATHER! Messiah never LEFT the father. He's the faithful son. Eternal life washis from the beginning (otherwise how could he ever offer it to us)?

We can only become holy by the Spirit, not through fleshly observance of thelaw! That is why it says "flesh and blood" cannot inherit. Also, if we live by theflesh we cannot inherit for we will live in sin and sin is death.

Christ was not made eternal because his body died! While he walked this eartha flesh and blood man he had eternal life IN HIM and was an eternal creature.He even told them that no man could kill him.

St John 10: 17- 18"17 Therefore does my Father love me because I lay down my life,that I might take it again.18 No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself, I have powerto lay it down, and I have power to take it again, This commandment Ireceived of my Father."

Christ inherited the kingdom, not because he died, but because he LIVEDALWAYS WITH THE FATHER! Common sense dictates that if Christ waswithout sin, he was immortal for death comes because of sin. (Unless you don't


10/12

believe the Word). Those who teach that Messiah had to shed his fleshly bodythrough death in order to inherit eternal life are simply in error. That is why I callthem the "children of error." Christ had eternal life in him because he obeyed theFather. So it is with us (if we abide in Christ and in the Father). You cannotinherit eternal life if there is sin in you. This is CLEAR in scripture! Yet it is

equally clear that an entire generation will inherit eternal life without death! Theyshall become immortal without ever "sleeping."

How can the children of error teach "you will never be sinless in this life?" Dothey KNOW for sure I and you are not a part of this glorious generation who doesnot sleep but yet becomes incorruptible (no sin in us) and thus immortal? No,they cannot. They make themselves false prophets. The believers will havevictory, true victory over sin in the flesh and stand on their feet as immortal heirswith Christ to eternal life without ever having tasted death!

The argument has been presented to me that the Apostle wrote "that which is

raised is not quickened lest it die first."

1 Corinthians 15: 35- 36"35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? And withwhat body do they come?36 You fool, That which you sow is not quickened unless it dies."

It is actually uncertain what point those who raise this argument are trying tomake? Are they saying that the author was in error to say "we shall not all sleepbut we shall all be changed?" Do we really have to physically die to see sinlessperfection and immortality? If so then surely the author was in error saying some

would not die (or sleep). They don't understand that we are ALREADY DEAD inChrist when we believe and our lives are HIDDEN in him.

Romans 6: 1-7"1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace mayabound?2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it?3 Do you not know that so many of us were baptized into JesusChrist were baptized into his death?4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like asChrist was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, evenso we also should walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death,we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body ofsin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.


11/12

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin."

We are dead and buried in our baptism into Messiah! It is no longer I that live butChrist who lives IN ME! I die daily. I am free from sin and if I would but believewould no longer walk therein!

1 Corinthians 15: 31"I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus or Lord: I diedaily."

Romans 8: 12- 13"12 Therefore, brethren, we are debttors, not to the flesh, to live afterthe flesh.13 For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through theSpirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live."

I die daily when I "mortify" or kill the deeds of my flesh by walking IN ChristDAILY.

This is how I become an heir to eternal life! Not just by "believing" in Christ, (forrest assured the devils do believe in Christ). I become a faithful son (rather thana prodigal) by allowing my faith to return me to my Father's house and by walkingeven as the faithful son walks (remaining with the Father always). In so doing Iput to death this sinful flesh daily until one day there remains no more sin in me.On that day eternal life becomes mine (even as it belongs to the faithful son)!

The children of error say "not in this life."

They couldn't be more sadly mistaken for they do not KNOW for sure that theyare not to be a part of the generation who is "changed in a moment" into theincorruptible and immortal image of the faithful son of God. When they say it isnever going to happen to them they are saying they will remain the prodigal sonforever until the day they die. It will happen to them according to their owntestimony!

THE FAITH PROBLEM

The Christ that the children of error preach is unattainable. The doctrines theyhave created about his origins and his power forever bar the faithful fromrepeating Messiah's works and the walk of the follower of Christ is reduced to astring of failures covered by the grace and the blood of Christ. No follower of theChrist they present can ever truly achieve to the "perfect man" unto the "fulnessof the stature of Christ." They attend their churches where they are admonishedto "attempt" to be like Christ but encouraged at the same time not to expect it of


12/12

themselves and then deceived to believe that salvation is theirs despite thisfailing as long as they remain believers, not of Christ, but of the religion itself andto the distortions they preach. It's an insidious evil designed to keep men foreverin bondage, not just to sin and the flesh, but to the religious system to which theysell themselves on a weekly and daily basis!

I'm here now to warn them! They must return to the Father's house and be likethe faithful son who is "always with the father" or they shall NOT see theinheritance of eternal life for sin brings death and obedience to the Father iseternal life and happiness.

I look forward to our return with the Lord in heaven.

Jeffrey Dean

the faithful son

Documents