“Need No Repentance” (Luke 15)

“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (vs7).

First, they didn't understand, but it is God's glory, His joy and passion, to forgive sinners of their sins. He'd rather show mercy to hell deserving rebels, than tolerate those who need no repentance in their mind. He is a Savior who DELIGHTS in mercy. He says, “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous person who need no repentance”.

Maintain a relationship with God based upon MERCY rather than merit... based upon His goodness to give, rather than upon what you deserve... and you'll keep heaven happy, and you'll be happy yourself. He says, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents”. His delight is when sinners, failures, and people who've been wrong come to see the light, come to see the need of change, and come to see the GRACE of God so mighty, that not only are they forgiven, but given everything imaginable and much, much, more.

Secondly, need brings us to Christ and the grace of God, the horrible need of life, peace, and hope. We read, “But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want” (vs14). God uses the self-imposed horrors of sin to save sin-sick souls, even the self-inflicted wounds of the Prodigal Son.

Are you tired, lonely, weary, frightened? Come back to the Father. He has pity and rejoices to have mercy on life-long failures, people who've squandered His joy, and sinners of every sort.

Human's cannot help you. When God's on the soul, nothing can satisfy but God Himself. We read, “And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the husks that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything” (vs16). Every false refuge is insufficient: the woman of your bosom, the family, and the friends are all incapable of removing the guilt of sin, the questions of tomorrow, and the absence of God. Be glad that you can't find help in sin or sinners!

Hunger drives the repentance. He knew his father was good, and he knew that needed his goodness. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

This brings US to God. I'd stay away, if I could, but because I cannot, I have no choice but the GOODNESS of God, which save sinners. Go to Him because of these two reasons: you need Him, and He's good enough to meet the need.

Mercy is for the unworthy, and no one else can have it. He said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son” (vs21). Are you unworthy? This means that you deserve to be punished, you are worthy of your misery, and you are as sinful as the bible says. If so, then you may obtain mercy. It is yours; it is for you.

Thirdly, joy is in the gospel, says God. He is not a grudging giver, but He DELIGHTS in mercy and give liberally and cheerfully. He gives the BEST to the SINNER who repents, holding back none of His goodness, promises of the miraculous, or His call to high feats of faith by His mercies alone. Don't walk with God anything short of “according to His mercies”. He said of the repenting sinner, “this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry” (vs24). Now, your hope is great!

Yet, the older brother didn't understand, nor did he enter the mercies of God. He left the feast to God and the repenting sinner, and he made his boast in the fairness of his ways, and the injustice of the father. We read, “But he was angry and would not go in”, and, “Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never game 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 them” (vs28-30). He shows by his response, his rebellion, rather than his submission. And, he reveals what he really thought of the father. Yet, he is entreated still. “Come to the feast”, but the feasting wasn't allowed in his self-deceived, self-important, self-justifying heart.

Finally, it's right to rejoice in mercy. He says, “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found” (vs32).