Luke 15:29-31 (NKJV) 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 might 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.
The parable of the prodigal son shows us how God’s children are treated in the family. The blood of Jesus has established an everlasting covenant between God and us, and whenever we partake of the Holy Communion, we are made to remember the blood covenant and that as His children, we have certain rights, privileges, and abilities.
The status of sonship will never change. The Father’s heart is always gracious and open towards His children because His love for them will never change regardless of their behaviour. In the parable, the father restored to the prodigal son by giving him a change of robes and the signet ring. Likewise, we have been restored to God’s family with the robe of righteousness imputed to us by God, and we have the breastplate of righteousness that protects us against the devil’s accusation and condemnation.
The signet ring gives the son power and authority to access everything that belongs to him as a son and allows him to use it to purchase goods or seal agreements under the family’s name. It is an entitlement and privilege given to the children of the family, whereas slaves and servants would not have the ring or the robes. Instead of the ring, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Therefore, we are sons and daughters who are entitled to all that belongs to the Heavenly Father.
Meanwhile, the elder son identified himself more in his doing than being a son, and tried to earn his father’s love and approval through good works and behaviour. Although children of God should walk in the light, how we do doesn’t change our status because we are saved by grace. The grace of God was revealed when the younger son rebelled against the father. Nonetheless, the elder son complained to the father for not providing or allowing him to throw a party with his friends. He felt rejected and was insecure of the father’s love, because he saw his father as mean and a killjoy. What is your perception of God? Do you also see Him more like a judge than a loving Father?
The father assumed the elder son would know that he is entitled to everything that belongs to him, and that he didn’t need to ask for permission to kill a calf to celebrate with his friends. Likewise, every child of God should know that our Heavenly Father will supply all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Sermon Series: Sonship
我一切的所有都是你的
路加福音15:29-31 他对父亲说：“我服事你这多年，从来没有违背过你的命，你并没有给我一只山羊羔，叫我和朋友一同快乐。 但你这个儿子和娼妓吞尽了你的产业，他一来了，你倒为他宰了肥牛犊。” 父亲对他说：“儿啊！你常和我同在，我一切所有的都是你的。”
浪子回头的寓言故事告诉我们，神的儿女在家里是怎样被对待的。耶稣的血在神和我们之间建立了永远的约，每当我们领受圣餐时，我们都要记住这血约，作为祂的儿女，我们有一定的权利、特权和能力。
儿子的地位永远不会改变。天父的心对祂的孩子们总是仁慈和开放的，因为不管他们的行为如何，祂对他们的爱永远不会改变。在寓言中，父亲给浪子换上长袍，戴上图章戒指，恢复了他的身份。我们也照样归了神的家、有神所赐给我们义的外袍、有公义的护心镜、保护我们不受魔鬼的控告和定罪。
图章戒指赋予了儿子能力和权柄，可以获得作为儿子所拥有的一切，并允许他使用戒指购买商品或以家族的名义签署协议。这是一种赋予家中子女的权利和特权，而奴隶和仆人则没有戒指和长袍。我们心中的圣灵取代了戒指成为我们的印记。因此，我们是有资格享受属于天父的一切的儿女。
与此同时，同样身为人子的大儿子却更多的以行为来定义自己的身份，并试图通过自己善行和循规蹈矩来赢得父亲的爱和认可。虽然神的儿女应当在光中行走，但我们的行为并不能改变我们的地位，因为我们得救是本乎恩。当小儿子忤逆父亲的时候，神的恩典就显明了。尽管如此，大儿子还是向父亲抱怨，说他没有供应，也不允许他和朋友一起开派对。他感觉被拒绝，不能笃定他父亲爱他，因为他觉得父亲吝啬又扫兴。你对神的看法是什么呢?你也看祂更像审判官，不像慈爱的父亲吗?
父亲认为长子理应知道他有权得到属于父亲的一切，而且他不需要得到允许就可以宰杀一头小牛犊来和朋友庆祝。神的儿女也当知道，我们的天父必照祂荣耀的丰富，在基督耶稣里供应我们一切所需用的。
讲章系列: 作为儿子的身份
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