Two sons

"What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" Matthew 21:28-31

Two sons are found two times in Jesus' teaching, here and elsewhere in the more familiar passage found in the parable of the prodigal son. This particular parable in Matthew makes the point more plain and simple. It is not the first impression that determines whether or not a person is a Christian. It is the final inspection that counts.

The first son makes a very poor first impression. Told by his father to go to work in the vineyard, a clear reference to the kingdom of God, he flatly displays disrespect and disobedience. "I will not," he said. He thought he had better things to do.

Don't we all? When I was a young boy, my parents put in a garden and told me to go work in it. It was the most backbreaking, boring, waste of time work I could ever imagine. Given the choice, I would have said no way. I'd much rather watch television, play ball with my friends, sleep or do anything other than work in my father's field.

An honest first response to the gospel would be basically the same. Follow Jesus? That can't be any fun. Go to church every time the doors are open? Boring. Give up the opportunity to engage in any kind of sex, experiment at any length with alcohol or drugs, or otherwise spend my time doing nothing but having fun and making money? No way.

First impressions are important, but they don't have to be permanent. No matter what you've done, as long as you are living, there is still time for a change. In the case of the first son who made a false start, something radically changed.

The second son starts off swimmingly. "I'll go, daddy, I'm not like that no good brother of mine." He even called his father "Sir,"which can also be translated "Lord." "Yes, Lord," is a good profession of faith, a good start, a good first impression. But more often than not, they prove to be utterly meaningless.

I think one of the most damaging and damning things we have done in modern day evangelicalism is exaggerate the importance of a public profession of faith.

We ask people to raise their hand, walk an aisle, fill out a card, pray a prayer or do other superficial things to claim Christianity. None of these are biblical, historical or deeply spiritual ways of coming to Christ. They set people up to be the second son in this parable.

Upon final inspection of your life and mine, what will God be looking for? I promise you, He won't ask you to raise your hand, walk an aisle or sign some pledge card to be a good Christian. He will be looking for greater things, deeper things, most notably faith, repentance and obedience.

Faith is a gift from God that you profess to God in response to the word of God about the Son of God. Genuine faith is always accompanied by real repentance, a change of mind that leads to a change of heart that leads to a change in will, or lifestyle. Repentance is a radical and humble way of saying to God, my way is wrong and your way is right. Faith without repentance is hypocrisy. Repentance without faith is legalism. Faith plus repentance equals Christian obedience.

Obedience to God and God's word is not a burden, but a delight. A true Christian is glad to worship, hungry to study, eager to give, bold to witness and willing to work in the vineyard of the Father. So don't be the second son who rests his soul on some superficial profession of faith, only to be shut out of the kingdom of God forever. Be the son who truly follows the Son, and upon final inspection you will hear Him say, "Well done."

Charles F. "Chuck" DeVane Jr. is pastor of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church. His weekly sermon article, The Gospel Truth, has been published in newspapers in Arkansas and Georgia. DeVane is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and has served in the pastorate for more than 20 years. Contact him at [email protected].

Religion on 11/14/2015

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