大美女老丁

Ah! God’s Wondrous Grace

Luke 32:1~4

Introduction: The life of a prodigal son and the consequences of legalism

1.   Legalistic attitudes of life

       1)    Self-centeredness—being possessed with the illusion that self is justice and law

(Lk 15:12 )

       2)    Proud and arrogant—self centeredness (Pr 16:18 , Ps 5:5 )

     3)    Unkind and indifferent to others (Hos 6:6 , Mt 9:13 )

     4)    Ungrateful—always complaining (Ps 106:25-17)

2.   Legalism that breaks

       1)    Famine breaks into the world of the prodigal (Pr 11:28 , 23:5 )

     2)    A matter of course (Pr 1:30 -32)

       3)    A life is lowered to the very bottom (Jer 17:5 )

4)    A past life and grace (Ps 77:4-5, 8-9)

3.   Eyes opened by trials

1)    A cutting wind of suffering strips off legalism (Ps 25:7, 71:20)

       2)    When broken down by suffering, one’s eyes open up to grace

         -  God’s great grace has brought us all this way in faithfulness (Isa 33:2, Ps 80:7)

       3)    Grace produces a humble attitude—make me like one of your hired men

(Pr 28:13, Jas 4:6 )

4.   Grace given to those who realized

       1)    The best robe—the robe of righteousness (Eph 2:4 -5)

       2)    A ring—the protection of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13 , Gal 4:5 -6)

       3)    Sandals—the Threefold Blessing (Ps 103:2-5)

4)   The fattened calf—glory, faith, hope, love, righteousness, peace, and the joy of heaven (Jn 10:10 , Ro 5:2 )

Conclusion: Only people whose legalistic self is broken can comprehend the grace of the Cross of Jesus, be transformed, and become the people of heaven.