Connect360: “What is God Really Like?”

  |  Source: GC2 Press

Lesson 10 in the Connect360 unit “Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths From His Parables” focuses on Luke 15:11-24.

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  • Lesson 10 in the Connect360 unit “Jesus Storyteller: Timeless Truths From His Parables” focuses on Luke 15:11-24.

Some people think the most important question in life is, “Do you believe in God?” But a more important question is, “What kind of God do you believe in?” There is something worse than being an atheist; it is believing in God but having an erroneous concept of Him. Many religions present different pictures of God. What is God really like? You can believe in God, but if you have a false conception of God, you are no better off than an atheist.

Parable of the Loving Father

In Luke 15, Jesus presents three beautiful stories that paint an accurate portrait of the character and nature of God. Our lesson focuses on one of the most familiar stories in the Bible, the third parable in a series of parables in Luke 15. Although this story is often called the Parable of the prodigal son, the key figure in the parable is the father. I prefer to call it the Parable of the loving father. The God of the universe is like the father in this story. Jesus Christ came to planet Earth to show us exactly what God is like and reveal God’s character and nature.

Those of you who have prodigal children or grandchildren in your family know the kind of pain God the Father feels. You know what it is to have grown children who are alienated from you, and it hurts. This parable offers a perfect example of a rebellious, disrespectful child. We can tell from the way he welcomed his son back that the father’s heart was broken when his son left home. I think the father shed many tears over his son’s foolish behavior.

Rebellious Christians grieve God

Clearly, the father in this parable represents God. He is a loving Father who will let you walk away from fellowship with him if you desire, but it breaks God’s fatherly heart when you do so. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” Rebellious Christians grieve God by their behavior.

Some people say the son represents a person who has never been saved, but I think it’s obvious the younger son represents those of us who already have a relationship with God. He is our Father, and we are his children. There’s a very important principle you must understand. You cannot sever your relationship with God—but you can certainly break fellowship with Him. The whole time the prodigal son was away, he was still a son, but the son had left the presence and favor of his father. Christians can do that, too.

Based on a lesson by David O. Dykes, pastor emeritus of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler. To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.  


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