The Father of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) (God's Love) (God's Grace) (God's Compassion) (God's Forgiveness)

(The prodigal son and his father meet. Click for source.)

The Father of the Prodigal Son

I am writing this article as a Protestant who cares for Catholics and anyone who believes that it is necessary for them to perform for God's love or do works in order to be forgiven and cleansed from sin. 

Some people (both Protestants and Catholics) hold onto a wrong view of God that when they sin and repent, that somehow God would expect them to perform "penances," or acts to help pay for their sin, or works to bring them back to a "right standing" with God. Some believe they should confess their sins to a spiritual leader (such as a priest). But, what does the Bible say about this?

The Bible Has the Answer

(Bible. Click for source.)

James 5:16 says: "[16] Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

If someone has wronged you (such as spoken evil of you), he or she should confess that sin to you and ask your forgiveness. And, vice versa. This is not speaking about going to a person (or a priest) to confess one's sins to. If Jim gossiped about Bill, behind his back, he should confess his sin to Bill and ask for forgiveness. Likewise, Bill should do the same to Jim if Bill had mistreated Jim.

The Creator of the Catholics Is Love, for that Is His Name

The Creator of the Catholics Is Love, for that Is His Name

Dear Catholic or Eastern Orthodox adherent, 

I am writing to you today, as a Protestant, because I care about you and I am praying for you. God is our loving Creator and Father, and He desires to have close, personal, intimate fellowship with each one of us. He has no favorites (Romans 2:11). Like the father of the prodigal son embracing his wayward son, who returned to him (in Luke 15:11-32), so also does God the Father embrace those who turn to Him. Did the father of the prodigal son punish his son for living in sin and wasting his inheritance? Absolutely not! 

("For God so loved the world..." John 3:16. Click for source.)

When the prodigal son returned to his father, his father saw him in the distance and ran to meet him, embracing him. Then, the father made a feast for his son and celebrated that his wayward son had returned to him. 

That is what God does when one repents from his (or her) sins, and trusts only in the blood of Jesus Christ to save him from his sins, and to make him justified (just as if I never sinned) by his (or her) faith alone in Jesus alone (see Romans 5 and Romans 4:1-9).

Let's go to the Bible itself for what we believe about God. Jesus said these words in Matthew 4:4: "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." 

The Holy Spirit Is the Comforter (John 14)