Luke 15
Main Theme
God sovereignly seeks sinners and calls them to repent of their sin and place their faith in Jesus.
Outline
- God’s Sovereignty (1-7)
- Key Verse - What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? (v. 4)
- All of Chapter 15 could be considered one section, but in each parable, we can see different aspects of salvation. First, we see that God sovereignly seeks sinners. A parable is a story that teaches a truth. In this Parable of the Lost Sheep, notice the shepherd seeks after the sheep. Romans 3:10-11 says, None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. God must seek sinners because sinners will not seek Him.
- Heaven’s Joy (8-10)
- Key Verses - Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (v. 10)
- Like in the previous parable, the main person seeks after what is lost. Like the shepherd, the woman gathered people together to rejoice with her that she had found what was lost. Verses 7 and 10 illustrate the rejoicing in Heaven when a person repents of their sin and places their faith in Jesus. God delights in saving sinners.
- Man’s Responsibility (11-32)
- Key Verse - I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.” (v. 18)
- The theme of joy is seen in the Parable of the Prodigal (lost) Son, but another theme of salvation appears: man’s responsibility. The son willfully leaves his father and, by asking for his inheritance, communicates that his father is dead to him. When left to himself, the son wrecks his life. He eventually comes to realize the blessing of being in his father’s house and chooses to return, desiring to be a mere servant. By nature and by choice, we are sinners. Yes, God saves by His sovereign grace, but we must receive His grace through repentance and faith in Jesus.
Gospel Connection
Two of the great truths in the Bible that must be accepted are God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. The great preacher Charles Spurgeon was once asked if he could reconcile these seemingly contradictory truths. He said, “I wouldn’t try. I never reconcile friends.” J.I. Packer, in his book “Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God” says, “In the Bible, divine sovereignty and human responsibility are not enemies. They are not uneasy neighbors; they are not in an endless state of cold war with each other. They are friends, and they work together.” Salvation is by God’s sovereign grace through a person’s real decision to place their faith in Jesus, and as people are saved, all of heaven rejoices.
Whole Bible Connection
The sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man are seen throughout the Bible. Read chapters 7 through 12 of Exodus. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Read Joshua 1:1-9. God gave His people the land, and the faithfulness of Joshua caused God’s people to inherit the land. Read Romans 8:29-30 and 10:9-17. God sovereignly saves, and people must confess, believe, and go.
Key Takeaways
Rest in God’s sovereignty. Nothing happens outside of God’s sovereignty. Nothing takes God by surprise. For Christians, this should bring great peace in our lives and ease any anxiety because if God is holy and good and sovereign, we can trust and rest in Him. This is why Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, can say in Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
Follow God’s emotions. Unlike us, God’s emotions are always right (Gen. 1:31; 6:5-6; Ex. 1-10; 2 Kings 17:18; Zeph. 3:17; John 3:16; 11:35). We must submit our emotions to God and His Word so that all of our emotions glorify Him.
Embrace your responsibility. No one can believe and trust in Jesus for you. Have you repented and believed? If people don’t proclaim the gospel, no one will hear and believe. Will you go share the gospel with those around you? Know the impact God can make through you.