This message considers three revealing scenes: a man awakened to his sinfulness in the presence of Christ, a son brought to repentance and welcomed home by a gracious father, and another who remained outwardly near yet inwardly unchanged. Together they press a vital question—are we truly right with God? Not by outward form or effort, but through genuine repentance and faith. The good news is that full cleansing is found through Jesus Christ, who alone can bring us into a right relationship with God.
Bible Scriptures: Darby Translation
Luke 5:1-8 “5 And it came to pass, as the crowd pressed on him to hear the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret:2 and he saw two ships standing by the lake, but the fishermen, having come down from them, were washing their nets.
3 And getting into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, he asked him to draw out a little from the land; and he sat down and taught the crowds out of the ship.4 But when he ceased speaking, he said to Simon, Draw out into the deep [water] and let down your nets for a haul.
5 And Simon answering said to him, Master, having laboured through the whole night we have taken nothing, but at thy word I will let down the net.6 And having done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes. And their net broke.7 And they beckoned to their partners who were in the other ship to come and help them, and they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were sinking.8 But Simon Peter, seeing it, fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”
Luke 15:17-22 “17 And coming to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have abundance of bread, and *I* perish here by famine.18 I will rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.20 And he rose up and went to his own father. But while he was yet a long way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell upon his neck, and covered him with kisses.21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee; I am no longer worthy to be called thy son.22 But the father said to his bondmen, Bring out the best robe and clothe him in [it]”
Luke 15:28-31 “28 But he became angry and would not go in. And his father went out and besought him.29 But he answering said to his father, Behold, so many years I serve thee, and never have I transgressed a commandment of thine; and to me hast thou never given a kid that I might make merry with my friends:30 but when this thy son, who has devoured thy substance with harlots, is come, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.31 But he said to him, Child, *thou* art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.!
1 John 1:7 “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.”