Personal Book Report - {The Prodigal God}

I actually read this book over a year ago but Matt just finished reading it. While he read his copy, I pulled out my copy and skimmed through all the insightful information I gathered from it.

The Prodigal God by Tim Keller has probably been my favorite book to read since becoming a Christian. I genuinely wish everyone would read this book.

I learned that the word Prodigal means Recklessly Spendthrift and to call God a prodigal would be accurate as God exhausts all efforts to be united with us. But this book is more than just a story about a prodigal son. As Tim Keller puts it, "That really misses the real message of the story, because there are two bothers, each of whom represents a different way to be alienated from God and a different way to seek acceptance into the kingdom of heaven."



For the past decade, I considered myself the younger brother, but in a negative way. I was spendthrift, disobedient and wanted to do what I wanted to do.
    Shortly before God brought me into a relationship with Him, I attempted to make a list of all the things God wanted me to do in an effort to "be right with Him." Jesus made it ever so apparent through His Word, the Bible, that I would never be able to do anything. I needed to rest in what was already done. The finished work on the cross. I would work out my salvation with 'fear and trembling' while anxiously awaiting for Jesus to reign supreme in the heavens and on earth.
 
 It was in reading the quote below that I understood why God was telling me this.

On Page 43 - 44 with the title A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SIN;
"You can avoid Jesus as Savior by keeping all the moral laws. If you do that, then you have "rights." God owes you answered prayers and a good life and a ticket to heaven when you die. You don't need a Savior who pardons you by free grace, for you are your own Savior.
...... If, like the elder brother, you believe that God ought to bless you and help you because you have worked so hard to obey him and be a good person, the Jesus may be your helper, your example, even your inspiration, but he is not your Savior. You are serving as your own Savior!"


My relationship with Jesus has brought such a beautiful sweetness to my life. Jonathan Edwards said, "There is a difference between believing that God is holy and gracious and having a new sense on the heart of the loveliness and beauty of that holiness and grace. The difference between believing that God is gracious and tasting that God is gracious is as different as having a rational believe that honey is sweet and having the actual sense of it's sweetness."


Another beautiful quote on page 128 is "Religion operates on the principle of 'I obey - therefore I am accepted by God.' The basic operating principle of the gospel is 'I am accepted by God through the work of Jesus Christ - therefore I obey."

Page 148 "Jesus tells us that both the sensual way of the younger brother and the ethical way of the elder brother are spiritual dead ends. He also shows us there is another way, THROUGH HIM! And to enter that way and live a life based on his salvation with bring us finally to the ultimate party and feast at the end of history.
Isaiah 25:6-8 is a beautiful forecast of what is to come! and I can't wait!

This book opened up my eyes. Not only for the way I understood the story of the Two Brothers but it brought me to my knees in understanding my sin of running away from God through false teachings and then begging for forgiveness for ever thinking that I could work to earn favor, or worse, to believe we could ever be equal to Him. God owes me nothing. I deserve death but because of the finished work of Jesus, I am forgiven, set free and look forward to the final feast with Him!