a very warm welcome to this morning's worship service. We're again thankful to our pastor who will be leading this time and bringing to us God's Word. This afternoon we have the Glencourt Outreach at 2 o'clock and we have our prayer meeting at 9.30 today. Our evening service is at 6 and this coming Wednesday is a missionary meeting where we will have a presentation on William Tyndale. Thank you. Praise ye the Lord, for it is good to sing praises unto our God, for it is pleasant and praises coming. The Lord doth build up Jerusalem, he gathereth together the outcast of Israel, he healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds, he telleth the number of the stars, he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord and our great power, his understanding is infinite. Let us come now to the Lord in prayer. Let us pray. Almighty and ever-blessed God, we bow our hearts before thee on this thy day. O Lord, we come to thee. We are mindful of thee, O Lord, that we meet in thy presence. Continue to favour us, O Lord, this morning hour. Bless us through the Redeemer, O Lord. We thank Thee for him. We thank Thee that heaven is open because of him. He has made the way and our prayers and our praises are covered and heard and presented to Thee. We come to Thee, O Lord, to worship Thee. O help us within. We are conscious of our need of the Holy Spirit. O make known that ministry within. As we come to thee, right at the outset of this hour, cleanse us, heavenly Father, from our sins of this day and this past week. Hear us, O Lord, we come to thee for Christ's sake. Amen. If you would turn with me to our first praise, number 145. Number 145, and we're going to sing verses 1 through to verse 5, and the tune is Glasgow. Number 145, verses 1 to 5, and the tune is Glasgow. The first version. On the 8th storey my brother came. I'll bless thy name always. How thee I exult, my God, the King! God bless thy name always. Live with thy blessing, is made and will by name forever praise. Great is the Lord, much to be praised, His greatness such exceeds. Great sun to raise, shall praise thy works, and show thy mighty deeds. High on thy glorious majesty, The honor we'll record, And speak of old thy mighty words, If you will attend with me in the Word of God for our consecutive reading to Genesis chapter 12, and we're reading from verse 10 through to verse 20. Genesis 12, verse 10 through to verse 20. Let us hear God's Word. And there was a famine in the land, and Abraham went down into Egypt to sojourn there. For the famine was grievous in the land. And it came to pass, when he came near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold, now I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon. Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, this is his wife, and they will kill me, but they will save thee a life. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister, that it may be well with me for thy sake, and my soul shall live because of thee. And it came to pass that when Abraham was coming to Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. The princes also of Pharaoh saw her and commended her before Pharaoh, and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. And he entreated Abram well for her sake, and he had sheep and oxen, and he had asses and men's servants, and maidservants, and she-asses, and camels. And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Why saidest thou, She is my sister, so I might have taken her to me to wife? Now therefore, behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him, and they sent him away and his wife, and all that he had. Amen. May the Lord add the blessing to the reading of his precious word. Well, in light of what we've just read there, we're going to turn to our second praise, number 144. First of all, verses 1 to 3, and then verses 11 and 12. Number 144 of the Psalter, verses 1 to 3, and then verses 11 to 12, and the tune is Harrington. O blessed ever be the Lord, who is my strength and my who doth instruct my hands to war, my fingers teach to fight. Number 144, verses 1 to 3, and then verses 11 to 12. O blest and ever be the Lord, Who is my strength and my guide, Who doth instruct my hands to hold, My fingers each to find, My goodness fortress, my high tower, deliverer and shield. In whom I trust, who under me, my people, praise to you. Lord, watch this man, that Thou art near. Trust her much, know his name. O Son of man, that Thou art near. Serve, praise her, God does name. Hold free me from strange children's hands, Whose must be vanity, And their right hand, the right hand is, That works its symphony. That as the flowers blossoms may be, May you throw love at all. Our daughters like two cornerstones, Come like a palace bell. If you would help me now for our New Testament reading to Luke chapter 15. Luke chapter 15 and we're reading from verse 11 through to verse 24. Let us hear God's word. Luke 11, Luke 15 and verse 11. And he said, A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with righteous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine, and they had filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat, and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, that I perish with hunger? I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great whale, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the Father said to his servants, Bring forth the best fruit, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and bring him the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry. For this my son was dead, and is alive again. For he was lost, and is found, and they began to be many. Amen. May the Lord again add the blessing to the reading of his precious words. Let's continue in worship by returning to the Lord in prayer. Let us pray. O gracious God, we do thank thee for the privilege of coming to thee this day We think that so many in this world have no thought of Thee. And as we have read this morning, they are lost. But Lord, we thank you for the blessing that we are here. Lord, our God, we do count it a great privilege to come and to worship Thee. Who are we to worship such a great and a glorious God? so holy, so pure, yet we are bare. We thank Thee, O Lord, we can come through the name of our Saviour. We do thank Thee for Him. Oh, what mercy, what grace has been shown to us as we think of Thy grace this morning, Lord, we marvel at it. We thank Thee for the parables and this particular parable which magnifies Thy grace. O Lord, why such grace to us? We would say with the Apostle, I am what I am by the grace of God. We owe everything to thy grace, O Lord, for the precious saviour we have. And we thank thee here this morning, we who have faith. O Lord, we are clothed in the best robe, his righteousness. O Lord, we thank thee for that. How could we stand before thee? How could we come before thee? O Lord, if we were not clothed, we thank thee for our Saviour and what he has done. How he kept the law for us, that we might have the title of eternal life. How he suffered the penalty for the broken law for us, that we might have that legal security from thine wrath. O, the Saviour we have. May we rejoice in him this morning. May we admire the best robe. For any without Christ, if it pleased Him, it would be put on them, even this morning hour. O Lord, we do thank Thee for Thy Word, O what we have read this morning of Thy Word. Help us to be wise in our dealings, as we think of Abraham there, how he wasn't wise. O Lord, help us to be wise and do that which is right. O we consider there the consequences Abraham brought on others. O Lord, help us to be circumspect, to walk carefully, not only to consider the consequences for ourselves, but as we think they're consequences for others that could come upon them because of our unwise action. O Lord, help us to be wise. Help us to walk worthy, O Lord. Help us to walk near to thy bed. O Lord, bless our walking this week. Help us to so walk in a way that is befitting. Cause us to know the way that we might walk there then. We thank thee for thy words, O Lord, bless it, further this morning as we hear from it. And other places represented here, O Lord, we pray for them, we pray for thy servant in Trowbridge, be with him today. for thy servant on the Isle of Skye and other places in Scotland we can think of. We pray for thy servant there as well. We will remember our fellowships, Lord. We pray for the church in Salisbury. O Lord, bless thy people there and thy servant there. We pray for his good recovery, O Lord, from his treatment, O Lord. We pray for his wife Margaret as well. Undertake in every way, sufficient is thy grace. We pray for thy servant in Southampton, in Tottenham, in Carbon, many other places we can think of. We'll be with thy servants today. Encourage them and help them, O Lord. We thank thee for the Sunday school earlier. Bless, O Lord, that which was spoken by John this morning. Bless the young ones, O Lord, and those gathered here this morning. O Lord, bless the sons and the daughters. We have seven of them this morning. O bless them, we pray, O Lord, may they know thy hand upon them. For the young people as well, we pray for them, undertake for them in their employment and education. We do pray for those returning to university this week. We commit Abigail and others returning to the universities, go before them, bless them in the fellowships they find themselves in, in this new year, we pray. So bless the young people, we thank thee for them, lead them and guide them. O Lord, help them in every situation, we pray. We do pray that thou bless us all, O Lord, go before us, we beseech thee at this time. Those who struggle, O Lord, we pray undertake for them. Those who mourn the loss of loved ones, we pray for them. We do pray again for those who mourn the loss of that loved one who was shot down in America this past week. We pray for the family. that they might know that peace today that comes from the Saviour in their hearts. And we do pray for many in that country, O Lord, we pray that many young people and older people will turn to the Saviour, be drawn, O Lord. O Lord, these are days in which there is much going on, O Lord. We do pray for a turning back to the old paths, with values, the values not that are laid down by certain men, but the values, the principles of life on earth will be loved again. Oh Lord, we pray for these things. We pray that there will be a lifting up of the wonderful principles of blessing and marriage in our countries again, O Lord. We pray. O, we pray for these things. We pray for many young people. Many are confused out in this world. O, may they be drawn, we pray, to the Saviour. May hearts be opened We do pray for those that mourn this particular day. Come alongside them and help them, we pray. Lord bless us then, we pray for the opportunity to rest them this afternoon. O Lord, we pray, bless those in the eventide of their lives that love Thee. We thank Thee in that place Thou hast Thine own. Be with them, O Lord, encourage them. And as others listen on today, may even join in, in the singing, we pray, oh Lord, that they would remember as many were in Sunday school years ago, things that they were taught. So Lord, hear us now. We pray that thou would help us this week. Go before us, lead us and guide us. Meet our every spiritual need and our temple needs. We will pray this morning, give us this day our daily bread, meet our every needs in a practical way. We thank Thee for the way Thou has blessed us over the past week in providing for us, homes to live in, food to eat, clothing to wear. We give thanks for these things. We recognise that ultimately all that we have comes from Thee. We give Thee praise. O Lord, hear us now then. We give our many sins, and have all the glory, Lord. We lift up our praise as a thanksgiving, and we thank Thee again for the unspeakable gift, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Let us turn to our third praise, number 103, and we're going to sing from verse 8. The Lord our God is merciful, and He is gracious, not suffering, and slow to wrath, in mercy, plenteous. Notice verse 13, we're returning this morning to consider the Prodigal Son. and we're led to consider the grace, the favour of the Father, and we're led ultimately to consider the amazing grace of our Heavenly Father. Verse 13. Such pity as a father hath unto his children, dear, like pity shows the Lord to such as worship him in fear. And in three of the prayers, verses 8 to 13. The Lord our God is merciful and He is gracious Longsuffering and toil to come, in mercy plenteous. He will not shine continually, nor keep his anger still. With us he fell, not as we seem, no different quite are him. O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? The earth's abundant love, so great to those that do Him fear. His tender mercies are, and stop at each distant drop. The blest of fath'ring From God's green roof and in his love Hold our angel with thee Such pity and love Father had Unto his children dear My faith is sure, the Lord to touch, and worship Him in fear. As John mentioned earlier, the Midwich meeting will be a presentation by the lead, not by the lead, TBS presentation on a video of William Tyndale and his anniversary. It's a very good presentation. There'll be no live stream this coming Wednesday. Obviously, we can't put the camera on the film. We pray for the rest of the Trinity and Bible Society, particularly this coming week. The annual general meeting is on Saturday. A number of us in the area will be travelling up Do pray for that meeting at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. We are encouraged as a committee over the last year or so that more have been attending, particularly young people and that's a great encouragement to see the support of young people in different parts of the country. So do pray for that meeting. Dr Bill Keyes next Saturday after the business meeting he'll be preaching at the worship service. We're in light that I will be away on Saturday. We have next Lord's Day. I will be here, but I'm not preaching. Next Lord's Day is Pastor John Saunders, the retired minister from Chichester. So we look forward to his ministry next Lord's Day. And then on the Monday, if I can just recommend the notice on the notice board. Dr. Bill Keyes from the USA is staying on and we're very grateful to him. Mr. Broome Sr., Mr. David Broome, Daniel Slaven and myself on the committee were keen to have him come and speak at the Wessex Auxiliary of the Trinity and Bible Society and he agreed to do so. So the meeting is being hosted in Emmanuel. I do commend that meeting to you in the ministry of Dr. Jerry Bill Keyes. There's details on the notice board. You do remember the work of the Trinitarian Bible Society, what the Lord has done and what the Lord is doing at this present time. Well we continue today in our series on the parables of our Lord Jesus Christ and if you recall last Thursday evening we began to look at the parable of the prodigal son. And we're going to continue to do so today. And then on the last day mornings, we'll continue the series of the parables of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, just return with me this morning to Luke 15, and I'll read verse 20 and verse 21. Luke 15, verse 20 and verse 21. And he arose and came to his father, but when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Dear congregation, consider this morning the greatness of God's amazing grace and love to poor sinners. Now just consider God is infinitely holy. There's no bounds to his holiness. He hates sin. How amazing it is that he shows great favour towards one who comes penitently unto him. He is angry with sin and he deals in his justice. However, his love towards the sinner in the time of love is most wonderful. And that's set forth this morning in verse 20. And he arose and came to his father. And when he was a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. Amazing was the Father's love and grace and mercy here in the parable. How wonderful is the heavenly Father's love, mercy, and grace. And you who love the Lord, it's so amazing, isn't it? He came and he showed great favor towards us. Well, this particular parable, as I mentioned last time, sets forth and magnifies God's amazing grace. Let me ask you, have you experienced God's grace in an amazing way? Have you experienced His mercy? Have you known these things? Now just consider here, the prodigal son, he was confronted with God, with the grace of the Father and mercy. Have you been confronted? with God's grace and wonderful mercy. Just notice verse 20, and he arose and came to his father, and when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. There's the son, suddenly he sees the father before him, and he's confronted with amazing grace, love, and mercy. Have you been brought to that place where you've suddenly seen How amazing is the grace of God. Last week we began to look at this parable. If you recall, just by way of introduction, the Lord was responding to the Pharisees and the scribes. You notice that in verse 2. Our Lord, he drew near unto publicans and sinners, in verse 1. But the Pharisees and the scribes, they were not happy, they murmured. What did they say? This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. And they murmured in saying that, I have no complaints of you, the Lord came to me. But the Pharisees and the scribes, they were not happy. Why should these publicans and sinners, these sinners which were known for notorious things, why should they know the blessing? of the presence of the Lord. When the Lord in light of that responds with three parables. And it's important to remember that because that helps us to understand these three parables. And so when you come to the first parable and you consider the one compared to the 99, the 99 represent the Pharisees and the scribes. Yes, they were very good at attending the place of worship. but all they can see themselves in great need so you go on to the next parable and likewise in this parable we're considering at the moment the parable of the prodigal son or the lost son we are considering our lord responding to the pharisees and the scribes now just notice verse 31 Son, thou art ever with me in all that I have is thine. The elder brother. Well, the Pharisees and the scribes, they were always going. They knew the presence of the Lord. They had certain privileges, but oh, they were not humbled by grace. So it's good to remember the background here. The Lord is responding to the Pharisees and the scribes. He's seeking to humble them through these parables. We come again this morning to the parable of the prodigal son. God's amazing grace is set forth in this parable. Last week we considered the evening, the sinful desire first of all, secondly the sinful step, thirdly the sinful life and then fourthly the sin of the turning point. coming to me to verse 17, and when he came to himself, here's the turning point, in the life of this prodigal son, he had known certain blessings, and we can think of those who have known certain blessings, they may have been brought up in a godly home, or they may have attended church for a while and heard the ministry of the word, but then there comes a time, no more. But oh, we come now to consider the turning point, Now, if we think of the parable, remember, as I mentioned last week, we need to be careful with the parables. We're looking at the overall theme. Some go too far. I illustrated this last time by considering the Good Samaritan. Two coins. Some have thought that each coin represents a thousand years, and that after two thousand years, the Lord would return. There have been some that have taken it too far. Well, we know that wasn't right. Very plain. So we need to be very careful with the parables. What is the overall thing the Lord is speaking to us about? Well, in verse 20, it's about God's amazing grace. Such mercy to poor sinners. Well, we come to consider these things this morning and I'd like you to think of two things, time permitting. First of all, true gospel repentance. true gospel repentance, and then secondly, amazing grace and wonderful love. True gospel repentance, first of all, we have it set forth in the parable, and then secondly, amazing grace and wonderful love. We'll come and meet in verse 17. When he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger? I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose and came to his father, but when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him in that compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him, and the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy son. I've just mentioned he came to himself, the prodigal son, he came to himself. But what do we learn here? That one is brought to a point, the Holy Spirit is at work in what we call effectual When the Lord is saving in effectual calling, the Holy Spirit is so at work. And here is one represented of being convicted of sin. And the Lord Jesus Christ, 7th John, 16, verse 8, speaking of the Holy Spirit, and when He has come, He will reprove the world of sin. Particularly that will be known. And you can think of the day of Pentecost. They were pricked in their heart. The Holy Spirit was working within. We notice what the prodigal son experiences in verse 17, and when he came to himself, and then he considers further in verse 17, and then in verse 18, I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven. He had gone off. He lived his life. He gazed in immoral things. Notice that in verse 13, he devoured his father's inheritance with violence. Oh, what an immoral lie! More than his reasoning here, he shows he's done wrong. Oh, we consider the Holy Spirit comes to a poor sinner and conveys what is felt, led to fill their self. Oh, what a state he was in. But then he comes to himself. Oh, what the Lord does. Let me ask you, have you come to yourself? The Lord's Spirit said, when it's besides themselves, they do not think right, do they? In light of God, truly. Oh, have you come to yourself? Now we see here the prodigal son. He has a true sense of his sin, and he grieves over it. Notice what he purposes to say in verse 18, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of thy pious servants. And when he comes in verse 21, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. He fills his sin. that he sinned against the Lord. Do you see that there? In true Gospel repentance, one fills their sin, they're humbled by grace, we'll consider this in a moment, and they know that they have sinned against the Lord. Notice verse 18, I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, I will arise and go in true gospel repentance. One, they fill their sin and they turn from it unto the Lord and they're mindful of mercy. They were helped again in the catechism. Repentance unto life is a saving grace whereby a sinner out of a true sense of his sin an apprehension or understanding of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God with full purpose of an endeavour after new obedience. There's a turning. The Holy Spirit is at work, and one grieves, they mourn, and they turn to the Lord, having an understanding of the mercy that is seen and in through the Lord Jesus Christ. Now men by nature do not truly repent. God leads. Now tell with me to Acts 11 verse 18. And when they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then have God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. You see it there? Granted. It's a gift, isn't it? Left to ourselves, yes. We may have what we call legal convictions. But we must not truly repent, we give God the glory. And if we think of repentance, God's grace is magnified. They glorified God in Acts 11, that God also to the Gentiles had granted repentance unto life. It's all of grace, my friend. Yes, we see here the prodigal son, the prodigal son-in-law going to the father, repenting. But it's the goodness of the Lord, isn't it? How the Lord often uses His word. We see that in Acts 2. They were pricked in their heart after the preaching of the word. The Holy Spirit was at work. And faith is put within. For one is found turning to the Lord, looking to Him. The Holy Spirit is at work. Let me ask you, have you truly repented of your sin? What do we read in Romans 2, verse 4? or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." Have you repented? Have you turned to the Lord? Are you recognizing that the goodness of the Lord leadeth thee to repentance? Now there is a true sense of sin, but also an understanding of the mercy of God in Christ. Think of the prodigal son. He fills his sermon, but it doesn't end there, does it? He's led, he goes to the Father. There's a true sense of sermon. One's been humbled. Have you been humbled? Oh, what grace does. We see that in the ministry of John the Baptist, in his ministry. The hills will be brought low. Pride is brought down. One is humbled by grace. Oh, have you this true sense of self? Have you been humbled? That is what he says in verse 19. I am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired servants. He doesn't feel himself worthy, does he? He's been humbled. Now, if we consider what the parable is teaching, what does the parable teach there? That in effect, Rukuni, one is humbled by grace. Have you been humbled by grace? I felled the Lord. I sinned against the Lord. This is what we read in his confession in verse 21. Father, I have sinned against heaven. and in thy sight, and no more worthy to be called thy son, on seas that they have sinned against God, yes, they felled others in certain ways, Remember David, he felled Bathsheba, he felled Uriah, and so on and so forth, but against thee the only have I sinned, he says in Psalm 51 and verse 4, and done this evil in thy sight. One recognizes above anything else they've sinned against God, it's his law they have broken. Sinned in the sight of God. Now God is watching. He knows everything. Have you repented of your sin? Have you recognized that you have sinned against God? You've broken His law. You've disobeyed Him. Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned. Psalm 451 verse 4. I've done this evil in Thy sight. See there, the humility. Now that's a believer speaking there. This is the one who's been drawn in effectual calling. They know they've sinned against God. Do you know that? Listen to Spurgeon. The virus of sin lies in its opposition to God. One recognizes that. I've sinned against God. I've broken his law. I've done wrong. I'm guilty. Now it's more what we call legal repentance. This is important to understand. In gospel repentance, one turns from sin unto the Lord and they find mercy. In legal repentance, one may feel they've done wrong and have a dread of punishment, but they do not truly turn to the Lord. Let me illustrate this. There are many in prison and a number of them feel they've done wrong. and they ought to be in prison. One can feel they've done wrong. I remember for a while as a child, I felt I did wrong, but I never turned to the Lord for mercy. There's legal repentance, legal conviction, but in gospel repentance, one fills their sin and they turn to the Lord. We see that here, do we not? He came to himself in verse 17, He's convicted, he's humbled by grace, we could say, and he goes, he's drawn. There's a turning, have you turned to the Lord? The one who turns to the Lord recognizes that God is not only a holy God, but he is a God of great mercy, and the only hope for them is in him. Have you turned to the Lord? and through this understanding of the mercy of God in Christ. Now if we think of this, we think of repentance, faith must be put within. For if one is to turn to the Lord, there must be faith. Now this is illustrated in Zechariah chapter 12. They will look and mourn, thinking of the Jews there. Faith is put within, and one is found repenting of their sins. One looks, one considers. Have you looked? Have you considered? Have you truly repented of your sin? Here's gospel repentance here this morning. Now consider the apoplicant in the temple. He couldn't lift up his head, could he? Because he so felt his sin He beat his breast, he knew the problem, his own wicked heart, yet he cried out, God be merciful to me, a sinner. He feels his sin, but it doesn't stop there. He cries out, God be merciful to me, a sinner. If you turn to the Lord, he is the prodigal son. He turns to the Father. Oh what a blessing! We thought of those words earlier, the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. Have you been led to truly repent of your sin? Have you mourned over it? Is there now a hatred of your sin and you feel you've done wrong? Why do I do those things which I hate and God hates? Have you hated your sin? Listen to the testimony of the Apostle Paul in Romans 7 verse 15. For that which I do, I allow not. For what I would that do I not. But what I hate that I do. He's a believer speaking there. Dear child of God, you do hate your sin. At times you constrain. But when the Lord convicts, oh, why have I done that? That which I hate. For one who's been drawn to the Lord in effectual calling, they mourn over their sin. They turn to the Lord for mercy, recognizing there is mercy in Christ with a grief and hatred of their sin. There's a grief. I've done wrong. But consider there's a turning from sin unto God. One is humble. and they come humbly. We see that, don't we? Look at verse 18. I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy highest servants. There is humility. And he arose and came to his father. He came. He came humbly. Have you come humbly to the Lord? Have you turned to him? What do we read in Jeremiah 31 verse 18? Turn thou me, and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God. Turn thou me, as Jeremiah his humble, turn thou me, as God turned you to himself. I shall be turned when God does away, when God turns One is turned to the Lord. Has God worked in your heart? Have you been convicted of your sin? Have you been humbled? Has faith been put within? Have you been turned to a holy God? That's amazing, isn't it? We're sinners, we've broken God's law, but in God's amazing grace, one is turned to Him. Have you been turned to a holy God? Have you been confronted with grace, mercy, and love in a wonderful way? turned unto God, that's gospel repentance. There are those who feel they've done wrong but they haven't been turned unto a holy God. How amazing is the grace of God in gospel repentance. Well before we just focus more on the grace of God this morning, finally at this point through gospel repentance, there is a four-person endeavour after new obedience. Here's the prodigal son. He's in the pig field. But up from the pig field he goes. And he goes to the father. I would arise and go to my father. Make me as one of thy hired servants. He's willing to serve. He doesn't feel himself worthy. But he doesn't want to continue in the pig field or in that far country, no. For there's a full purpose, an endeavour. Psalm 119 verse 59, I fought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testaments. Have you? Have you fought on your ways? Think of the Ten Commandments, the first one. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. What's implied? One is to worship the Lord and glorify him alone and in doing so they must believe that he is. Therefore we consider it a sin of unbelief. Have you fought on your ways? If you're without Christ, you've been committing that sin of unbelief. Not believing. I fought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testaments. There's a turning. I want now to follow the Lord. There's a full purpose and endeavour. True repentance isn't a casual thing. Something why I believe in the Lord, but I think about certain areas in my life. It's not a casual thing. When one truly is convicted of their sin and sees their sin for what it is, that they've sinned against God, now through the grace of God, they want to please Him. They want to live for Him. They want to do that which is right, as true as it is. Yes, we know as believers, we fell Him. When we're convicted, we mourn over what we've done and we seek fatherly forgiveness now and we seek to so follow him. When one is brought in in that initial way, they're not casual. I want to so follow the Lord. Remember those words in John 14 verse 15, the words of Jesus, if you love me, keep my commandments. And the one who truly repents, they want to keep the commandments. We know our failings, but out of love to Jesus, we want to keep the commandments. There's a desire to do that which is right. There's a desire to please God. We hear the prodigal son in repentance. He comes up from the pig field. have you come up from the pig field what a place it was what a far country it was as well what a moral living oh that many would be brought up from the pig field in gospel repentance now the true believer knows gospel repentance now if we consider repentance it's not a one-off thing It is, as James Fisher puts it, an abiding principle. Now let me be clear. When one has faith, they are saved because of the righteousness of Christ. And evidence is repentance. If there's no repentance, there's no faith. Repentance is an evidence. One is saved, but not made perfect. And so the believer needs to repent. They're saved, they've no gospel repentance, but they need to repent. That's true, isn't it? And I used to be confused as a child. When I came to faith, I believed in the Lord and I repented of my sins. But I was confused. Am I not saved now because I need to repent again? Because I fell in the Lord, because I'm not perfect. And the devil used to use that in my mind. But what is saved has been what we call judicial forgiveness. God as a judge forgives all one's sins. They're justified. But what isn't made perfect? And so the believer needs to seek fatherly forgiveness. It's an abiding principle. Once an evidence that you've truly repented, you keep going to the Father, repenting of your sin. And how often should we be doing that? Remember what the Lord taught in that pattern prayer? Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts or sins, as we forgive those that debt, our indebted, those who trespass against us. Give us this day our daily bread. We've never lived a day when we've been perfect, have we? Now we need to seek that forgiveness. It's an abiding principle, isn't it? The evidence that one truly is saved is they believed and they repented. The evidence that one truly has repented is they know what it is to go and say sorry, to turn to the Father, the Heavenly Father. It's an abiding principle. It is, as James Fisher goes on to write, the permanent grace and habitual frame of mind till, and then he quotes scripture, God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. And what a wiping that will be. We often think of all the tears of sorrow, what a blessing that will be when those tears are wiped away at death. And then for the church as a whole on a great day, but also we think God wipes away the tears of repentance. It's an abiding principle. You know, after death, we will never shed a tear if we have faith in Christ. no tear of sorrow, no tear of repentance. But till then, the true believer will know what it is to repent. It's an abiding principle. Is there the evidence in your life that you've been led to repentance? Because you know what it is to keep going to the Heavenly Father now and seeking forgiveness. Well, let's now just focus as we draw to our second point and to a close on God's amazing grace and wonderful love. Consider the prodigal son. He goes to the father. What do we read in verse 20? These are amazing words. And he arose and came to his father. But when he was a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. The prodigal son is going, but oh, the father comes. He saw the far off. He had compassion. He ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. This is amazing. Here's the prodigal son. He feels his sin, but now the father's there. And the father embraces him and kisses him. What are we taught here? God's amazing grace, wonderful love and mercy towards a poor sinner. Just notice his favor here particularly. What do we read in verse 20? His father saw him a great way of his father saw him. That's amazing, isn't it? And had compassion. He saw his son, his wayward son. And yet he has such favor. The Son is making His way, but the Father already has such favour in His heart. And He comes, and look, there's words, and ran. What did we sing earlier? The Lord is long-suffering and ready to forgive. He ran. It shows that He is there. He's ready to forgive. Oh, how amazing is the grace of God. The sinner is confronted with the grace of God and the amazing mercy of the Lord. And read it again. He ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. What mercy! Think of the prodigal son. He's dressed in rags. What a sight! He's dressed in rags. He's covered in the mud from the pig film. And yet the father, he runs and he embraces him. What mercy! what mercy showed to me. He saw my sin, and it wasn't a pleasant sight. The prodigal son knew it wasn't a pleasant sight. And in gospel repentance, one knows their sin is not a pleasant sight. But oh, what mercy, and it's amazing, isn't it? Dressed in rags, but embraced in the Father's love, What love, what amazing love for mercy. Ephesians 2 verse 4, but God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us. Rich in mercy, that's God. The prodigal son clothed in filthy rags and the sinner clothed in the rags of sin. How amazing is the mercy, it's rich. We see that in the parable don't we? He came, he ran, and he fell on his neck and kissed him. Oh, he came to me. He took hold of me. Remember the parable of the good Samaritan? He came where he was and saw him and had compassion on him. What did he see? That man left half dead. What a sight it was. Oh, what a sight, we can hardly take it in. God's coming to a sinner, a holy God. Has a holy God come to you? As we see in verse 20, if he has, oh, be amazed at the richness of his mercy and his grace. He took hold of me, just see that here in verse 20, fell on his neck and kissed him. How amazing that God should show in a special way embrace and love a poor sinner. It's amazing isn't it, what we see here. What do we read in Matthew 7 verse 18? Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion on us, he will subdue our iniquities, and thou wilt cast all thy sins into the depths, of the sea. There was a great distance here, but all what grace, mercy and love now stood before the Prodigal Son. The Father delighted in mercy. God delights in mercy. He comes as He can. It's amazing, isn't it? Who is a God like unto Thee? The pardon from iniquity. That's amazing, isn't it? He pardons one's sins. He delights in mercy. What mercy the father here in the parable delighted in as he came and he ran and he fell on the neck of the son and kissed him. What mercy! And he delighted to do it. That's amazing, isn't it? God delighted in showing mercy to me. I offended him, I broke his law, yet he delighted in showing mercy. What a great God. How amazing, holy love, holy grace, shown to a poor sinner. Now just come with me to verse 21. Here's the confession, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy son. He's speaking, he's speaking words of repentance, but he's already been shown grace. Love, do you see that in the parable? It's all of grace, the goodness of the Lord. The Lord delights in mercy. But that's not all. It doesn't end there, does it? We see grace in verse 20. We see grace in verse 21 because it's the goodness of the Lord that leads one to repentance. And then we see more grace in verse 22. The Father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe. Just follow this through. The Father comes. He falls on his neck. He kisses him. What grace! There's words of repentance. There's only grace there in the heart of the Father. And with grace in his mind, he says in verse 22, Children, just think of it. The prodigal son is in wrath. He's been in the pig field, but now he's brought up from the pig field. Let's think about this. Here's one. They know they've failed God. They've sinned against God. They grieve over their sin. They know their sin is such a stain on them. But they're confronted with grace. Lord, the best robe is brought up from the pit field and now the son has the best robe put on him. The vest robe, what is it? We'll turn with me to Isaiah 61, verse 10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my goal, for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation. He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bride will decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. You see, the Word of God is its own commentary, isn't it? He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness. Upon the event of faith, the righteousness of Christ is put to an end. Now we need to remember the parable, that's important. We mustn't take things to such a point we get the order wrong. You understand that? There's the order of redemption, the order of salvation. But what we see here is God's amazing grace bring forth the best role. You were not wearing it before. Bring it forth. And what do we read in verse 22? Put it on him. That's grace, isn't it? He came in his rag. He came with the smell from the pig field. But the Father embraced him. He took hold of him. Bring forth the vessel. Put it on him. And upon the event of faith, because of God's amazing grace, the best robe is put on a poor sinner. Let me ask you this morning, in the sight of God, are you sat here this morning dressed in the rags of sin? Or are you clothed in the righteousness of Christ? If you're clothed, admire the grace of God. Bring forth the best robe. There's no other robe, the best robe, put it on him. The prodigal son, he had nothing in his hand, nothing to purchase it. It was brought and put on him. He hath covered me, Isaiah 61 and verse 10. He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness. He hath covered me. That's amazing, isn't it? That's grace. What do we read in Jeremiah 23 verse 6? The Lord our righteousness. The righteousness of Christ. What he did in order to satisfy divine law and divine justice. He kept the law perfectly and he suffered the penalty. He went all the way to the cross. We can think of his righteousness, what he had to do and his obedience. It's the best robe. He stands as the substitute here upon earth. And in effectual calling, when faith is put within because one is justified by faith, the best rule is brought and put. As the great God of heaven brought forth the best rule and put it on you. How amazing is God's grace. Clothed, now just think of it, God hates sin. Yet he comes. and he puts the best robe on. That's amazing, isn't it? Clothed in the righteousness of Christ. All is well. What a blessing. But that's not all, is it? Notice verse 22. Put it on him and put a ring on his hand. Years ago, particularly rich people, wore rings, the poor people didn't wear rings so much. It's changed a little, hasn't it? You don't have to be so rich to have a ring, do you? But we're told that rich people years ago particularly wore rings. How rich the believers, are you rich here this morning? If you have God, you're rich. If you've known of God's amazing grace, you're rich. If you have Christ, you're rich. Oh, what a blessing, Christ is the heir. Oh, are you a joint heir with Christ as the Apostle Paul makes plain? If you are, you're rich. The ring, you're rich now. Before there was some poverty, but you're rich. What a blessing. There have been those who have not much in this world, but they count themselves rich. Because they have the Lord, they have the Saviour. Rich! The ring! Are you rich this morning? Rich in the Lord? Have you an inheritance awaiting you? What a wonderful inheritance it is that awaits the believer. Are you rich this morning? Rich because of the grace of God. But that's not all. Think of a ring. Some of you are wearing wedding rings here. It's a sign of marriage, isn't it? But it's a sign of love. What do we read here? Put a ring on his hand. It's so confirmed here, isn't it, in verse 20. We're confronted with the love of God in a special way, verse 20. It's brought home even more in verse 22. Put a ring on his hand. You're rich, my son. You're so loved, my son. Does the Lord say that to you this morning? You're rich, you have me, you have a wonderful inheritance, and my love towards thee is so special. Sometimes I see people looking at their rings. Perhaps a looking bird needs a bit of a clean, but often they're thinking, oh, that person loves me. Can you say that of the Father? He loves me in a special way. A token is put on his hand. Now in verse 20, the son is confronted with the amazing love of the father, but then he has to reign. Oh, what love! And the Lord comes to remind us of his amazing love. Token of his love. Are you aware of the love of God this morning? It's so amazing, isn't it? Think of the prodigal son. He'd been off in a far country, living his life in such a terrible way. He ended up in the pig field, but he comes up from the pig field. He's humbled, but now he wears the best robe. He has a ring on his finger. He's so loved. Are you amazed this morning you're so loved? How could God love a sinner like me? How wonderful is this love? You know, there's not so much preaching in some churches on sin. And do you know what that leads to? A belittling of the amazing grace of God and love. That's where it leads to. The son, he feels his sin. I'm wearing a ring now. I'm wearing the best robe. How can I be so loved by God? What amazing love, amazing grace. You who love the Lord, you're wearing the best robe this morning. That's grace, isn't it? The righteousness of Christ. God looks on you clothed this morning. And you're wearing a ring. You're rich. You're an object of great love, but then there's more, isn't there? Verse 22, shoes on his feet, a robe of righteousness, a ring on his hand, finger, and shoes on his feet. There's a new walk now for him. And as we think of this, what is the parable teaching? There's a new walk in light of the gospel. Shoes on his feet. And here the prodigal son, oh there's a new walk for me now. I'm not in the far-off country engaging in such immoral behaviour. I'm not in the pig field. I've been brought up from the pig field. I've been blessed by the Father and I have shoes now. There's a new walk. Oh, the poor sinner is brought to that place and they have this new walk now, a walk in Christ as we read in Colossians 2 verse 6. There's a new path now, a new way. There's shoes. Have you shoes on your feet? You're walking in a new way now. You're able to walk that way. You think, children, it's not easy to walk in a place barefoot, is it? Where there's a lot of shingle. I remember my parents used to take us to a certain beach called Kelsholt. It was near. There was no sand hardly. Why couldn't they take us to a beach where there was sand? And I remember we used to have to walk over the shingle and the pebbles to get into the water for a little swim. Not easy to walk, is it? But over here, the Prodigal, he has shoes for walking. There's a new walk and there's a system. A new path is before him, a new way. What do we read in 2 Columbians 5 verse 17? Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away before old things are become new. He's a new creature. Old things are passed away. He's not living in the way he used to. Yes, he's bapting the sinner. but he's not living in the way he used to. There's a new way, and he's assisted in that new way. Oh, how amazing is the grace of God. Just notice the first 23 times, God brings him at the fattened cow, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry. There's rejoicing. Let's go back to the first parable, verse six. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep, which was lost. There's joy. Let me tell you, there's joy in heaven. We see it here, there's rejoicing. Verse 24, for this, my son was dead, and was alive again. He was lost and is found, and they began to be merry. There's rejoicing. Let me say, has God rejoiced? Over you! God is angry with sinners. God is angry with the wicked every day. Psalm 10. Psalm 7. Has he rejoiced over you? You've broken his law. You are guilty. And without Christ you are guilty. Has he rejoiced? This is amazing. What makes him rejoice? It's his amazing grace, isn't it? God, a holy God, rejoicing over me? How can it be? Amazing grace, a wonderful Savior, and such special love. Up from the pig field, He's confronted with favour, love and mercy. And a poor sinner who comes from the pig field of bondage and sin is confronted with grace, love and mercy. They're clothed in the righteousness of Christ. They're comforted through love and they have a new walk now. And they can't take it in. God's rejoiced over me now. Has he rejoiced over you? We're told in Micah 7, he delighted in mercy. Has he over you? If he has, you walk on. Remember the assistance to walk on that new pathway. Walk on with him. Amen. O gracious God, we come to Thee. How could Thou ever rejoice over a poor sinner? And we who love Thee here this morning, we say, how could Thou ever rejoice over us? Yet there's been rejoicing in heaven over sinners repentant. O, we thank Thee for Thy amazing grace, love and mercy. We who live here this morning, we were confronted with it. We thank Thee for the best robe, what a wonderful robe. We think what Christ has done, what a blessing to wear the robe and have the ring on our fingers. Oh Lord, what a blessing to rejoice in Christ today. Oh Heavenly Father, Thou hast done it so often. In light of the parable, what we're taught there, O may it be today that thou wouldst bring forth the best robe and it's put on our poor sinner in thy gracious hand. O we thank thee for the parables, what were taught in the parables. We know them often, we have heard them. O may we think on them. May we know the blessing of sitting clothed in the righteousness of Christ with a ring on our finger. O hear us now, for Christ's sake. Amen. Amen. Let's conclude by turning to number 32, verses 1 to 5. And the tune is St. Thomas, number 32, verses 1 to 5. And the tune is St. Thomas, O blessed is the man to whom is freely pardoned and all the transgressions he hath done, whose sin is covered. That's forgiveness. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputed not his sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile nor fraud is found within. Blessed is the man to whom his dreaming father led. All the transgressions He hath done, To sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes and not his sin. And if it is, there is no God, nor fraud is found therein. When as I did refrain my speech, and silent was my tongue, My birds and my gentle beavers, I roared all day long. Forever we both day and night, by hand in every life, so that my voice shall tell it, within someone's lap behind. I never thought that I'd have to leave my safe and lonely chest, And likewise mine iniquity I have no reference. I will confess unto the Lord my trespasses today. And all my sin hath redeemed, for Him iniquity. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.