THE PRODIGAL'S FATHER (2 OF 3)
by Eddie Snipes
Scripture: Genesis 3:5
This content is part of a series.
The Prodigal's Father (2 of 3)
Series: The Prodigals
Eddie Snipes
Genesis 3:5
Last week we discussed the prodigal son, and how he believed his sins drove him away from his father's love. However, his failures revealed the depth of his father's love in a way that he could not understand until he had nothing but failure to offer him.
In the same way, we don't understand the depths of God's love for us until we begin to understand that we have nothing to offer God but sin. In the flesh, even our righteous acts are sin, for as Jesus said, everything that is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is of the Spirit. The works of the flesh cannot produce anything of the Spirit.
When we begin to grasp this truth is when we begin to understand that God doesn't love us based on what we have done or not done, but based on who He is. God loves you because He is love, and the only barrier God has established is our faith in His word of promise.
Let's begin studying this truth by looking at love by comparing the Old Testament to the New. The unveiling of our need began when Adam and Eve succumbed to the temptation in the garden. It began with questioning God's love. Genesis 3:5
''For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.''
How subtle temptation can be. Man already had the knowledge of good. The only thing he lacked was the knowledge of sin. Before sin entered, man was God-conscious and only saw the good coming from the Lord. Once he stepped into sin, Adam and Eve's eyes were opened, and though nothing in life had changed at this point, they became ashamed. They were ashamed because they now looked for good in themselves instead of receiving the righteousness of God. From the beginning, it has always been God's intention to be our righteousness instead of demanding righteousness.
Once man set out on a quest to make himself good by human effort, the law bega ...
Series: The Prodigals
Eddie Snipes
Genesis 3:5
Last week we discussed the prodigal son, and how he believed his sins drove him away from his father's love. However, his failures revealed the depth of his father's love in a way that he could not understand until he had nothing but failure to offer him.
In the same way, we don't understand the depths of God's love for us until we begin to understand that we have nothing to offer God but sin. In the flesh, even our righteous acts are sin, for as Jesus said, everything that is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is of the Spirit. The works of the flesh cannot produce anything of the Spirit.
When we begin to grasp this truth is when we begin to understand that God doesn't love us based on what we have done or not done, but based on who He is. God loves you because He is love, and the only barrier God has established is our faith in His word of promise.
Let's begin studying this truth by looking at love by comparing the Old Testament to the New. The unveiling of our need began when Adam and Eve succumbed to the temptation in the garden. It began with questioning God's love. Genesis 3:5
''For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.''
How subtle temptation can be. Man already had the knowledge of good. The only thing he lacked was the knowledge of sin. Before sin entered, man was God-conscious and only saw the good coming from the Lord. Once he stepped into sin, Adam and Eve's eyes were opened, and though nothing in life had changed at this point, they became ashamed. They were ashamed because they now looked for good in themselves instead of receiving the righteousness of God. From the beginning, it has always been God's intention to be our righteousness instead of demanding righteousness.
Once man set out on a quest to make himself good by human effort, the law bega ...
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