Tim Killer has written a new book about the gospel using the Parable of the Prodigal Son but as you can see from the title, he’s turned things around, why?
The word ‘prodigal’ is an English word that means recklessly extravagant, spending to the point of poverty, of ‘being in want’ (Luke 15:14.) The dictionaries tell us that the word can be understood in a more negative or a more positive sense. The more positive meaning is to be lavishly and sacrificially abundant in giving. The more negative sense, is to be wasteful and irresponsible in one’s spending.
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First, the elder brother is offended by the father’s extravagant and (to him) irresponsible welcome of his younger brother. The father, of course, represents God, and legalists are always offended by the gospel of free grace. They see it as wasteful and unfair.
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Second, the positive meaning of the term ‘prodigal’ is definitely true of God. He spent himself to the uttermost on the Cross.
This book is meant for both those who want to understand more about Christianity and for Christians to reconnect with the gospel. I plan to pick up the audio version this Friday and I’ll let you know what I think. After listening to his sermon on the prodigal sons, I’m eager to see what he has to say.
Here’s an interview about the book.