DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. The Nature of Sin, vv. 11–13
Wherein does this parable resemble the two that precede? What is the chief point of difference between this and those? Who were Christ’s hearers? (vv. 1, 2.) What was His purpose in uttering it?
Who is represented by the father? Is the figure a perfect representation? Who by the younger son? Who by the elder son? What request did the younger son make of the father? What lay at the bottom of this request? What is the very essence of sin? What lies back of that desire to be independent of God?
What response did the father make to the son’s demand? What are we taught by that? Didn’t that father know what use his son would make of the goods? Why then did he let him have them? Why does our all-wise Father put into our hands the means of going off into folly and sin?
Did the younger son go away from home at once? What is taught by that? What was away from home at the outset? When a man’s heart is estranged from God will he keep up his outward contact with God very long? What is represented by the far country? Is it a good place to be? (Jer. 2:5, 13, 17–19; Ps. 73:27.) What is it makes the one who is afar off nigh? (Eph. 2:13.)
2. The Fruits of Sin, vv. 13–16
What is the first thing the prodigal found in the far country? What is the first fruit of sin? What was the consequence of his profligate pleasure? Is poverty a frequent consequence of profligacy (Prov. 21:17; 23:19–21.)
The second thing? How great was his want (v. 17)? What is the second fruit of sin? Does sin always bring a man to want, hunger and starvation? In his want, of whom should he have thought? Did he at first? Where did he seek help? Who is represented by a citizen of that country? What is represented in the experience of the sinner by his seeking help from that source? (Jer. 5:3; Is. 1:5.) What did the citizen set him to doing? What is represented by that?
What is the third fruit of sin? What might that young man have been? What was he? What brought him there? What choice is set before each of us? (Deut: 28:47, 48.) Did the young man get much pay for his degrading service? Does the servant of the devil ever get good wages? What were these husks? What is represented by his lusting after swine’s food? How did man treat him? What is represented by no man’s helping him? (Ps. 142:4.)
3. The Remedy for Sin, vv. 17–24
What was the next step in the prodigal’s experience? What is indicated as to the nature of sin by the expression. “he came to himself”? Before he came to himself what was he? What is every impenitent sinner? What was it brought him to himself? Does that bring many sinners to themselves? (Ps. 119:67; 2 Chron. 33:12, 13; Lam. 1:7.)
What was the first step in the prodigal’s return? What did he think about? What is the contrast between a sinner and a servant of God?
What was the second step in the prodigal’s return? What did he resolve to do? How must a sinner always come to God? (Ps. 32:3–5; Prov. 28:13; 1 John 1:9.) What two words in the confession show that he had the right apprehension of the nature of sin? (Ps. 51:4.) What was his thought of himself? Is God likely to think him worthy who thinks himself unworthy? (18:13, 14.) What was all the prodigal expected? What is all the sinner often-times expects when he comes back to God? Is that all he gets? Is that all he ought to ask? (Ps. 81:10.)
What was the next step in the prodigal’s return? Was his father looking for him? How do you know? What is represented by all this? What was the father’s feeling when he saw him? What is God’s feeling when He sees a sinner in rags and hunger and with the ravages of dissipation upon him returning to Him? Did the father wait until the son got home and confessed? How did he show his intense eagerness to welcome his son? As soon as he got to his son what did he do? What did the kiss mean? (Gen. 33:4.)
Was the son any less ready to make confession after his loving welcome? Does the love of God to us lessen our conviction of sin and willingness to confess? (Ro. 2:4; Ez. 16:63.) What part of his premeditated confession did he leave out? Why? Was it true he was unworthy to be called his son?
What did the father say? What was indicated by all the ornaments? What word is added in the Revised Version? Of what is the robe a type? (Is. 61:10; Zech. 3:3–5; Phil. 3:9.) Does God give the returning sinner a ring? (Eph. 1:13, 14; Gal. 4:6.) Does He put shoes on his feet? (Eph. 6:15.) What was done next? What does that represent? (Ps. 63:5.) Why was there all this joy? What is the condition of the impenitent sinner according to v. 24? Of the penitent?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Man
Foolish, 13–17; unfeeling, ungrateful, alienated from God, 12, 13; fully set to do evil, 15; loved by God, 20–24; can be saved, 17–24.
2. Sin
(1). Its nature:
Alienation from God, 12, 13; insanity, 17.
(2). Its fruits:
Pleasure, 13; hunger, 14–17; slavery, degradation, 15; death, 17.
(3). Its remedy:
Return to God, 18–24.
3. God’s Dealings with the Sinner
Lets him have his own way, 12; fills him with his own way, 13–17; loves him in his folly, watches for his return to Himself, runs to meet him as he returns, has compassion upon him, welcomes him, 20; forgives him freely, fully and forever, makes him a son, clothes and feeds him, rejoices over him, 20–24.
4. The Sinner’s Return to God
(1). Comes to himself, 17.
(2). Thinks:
On his folly, 17; on his sin, 18, 21.
(3). Resolves:
To arise, to return, to confess, to seek acceptance, 18, 19.
(4). Comes, 20.
(5). Is received, 20–23.
(6). Is feasted, 24.
5. What a Penitent Sinner Gets
Compassion, welcome, reconciliation, 20; sonship, a robe, a ring, shoes, a feast, 22.
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R.A. Torrey (1856 - 1928)
An American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Called by D. L. Moody to head Bible institute in Chicago (now Moody Bible Institute). Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles. Worldwide evangelistic meetings with Charlie Alexander. Founded Montrose Bible Conference, PA. Wrote more than forty books.Torrey held his last evangelistic meeting in Florida in 1927, additional meetings being canceled because of his failing health. He died at home in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 26, 1928, having preached throughout the world and written more than 40 books. Torrey-Gray Auditorium, the main auditorium at Moody, was named for Torrey and his successor, James M. Gray. At Biola, the Torrey Honors Institute honors him, as does the university's annual Bible conference.
Reuben Archer Torrey was an American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Held evangelistic meetings around the world with song leader Charlie Alexander. Called by D.L. Moody to head the Bible Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society (now Moody Bible Institute); Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles; pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial Church) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles.
Besides his obvious gifts in all these areas, he was also a man of prayer, a student of the Bible, and an outstanding personal soul-winner. It is said that he daily read the Bible in four languages, having a good working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Some students of church history feel he did more to promote personal evangelism than any other one man since the days of the apostles. His prayer life has seldom been equaled in the annals of Christendom.
Reuben A. Torrey wrote some forty books and his practical writings on the Holy Spirit, prayer, salvation, soul-winning, and evangelism are still favorites of many Christians.