"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son..." (John 3.16)

INTRO.: A hymn about the love which God has for the whole world is "Love For All" (#282 in "Hymns for Worship Revised"). The text was written by Samuel Longfellow (1819-1892). A Unitarian minister in New England and younger brother of the famous American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, he entitled it "The Prodigal Son," because it was based on the well-known parable of Jesus, and first published it in "Hymns of the Spirit," which he edited in 1864 with his fellow Unitarian minister Samuel Johnson (1822-1882).

The tune (Horton) was composed by Xavier von Wartensee Schnuyder (1786-1868). A native of Lucerne, Switzerland, he studied music from an early age and eventually settled in Frankfort, Germany, where he taught, composed, and took an active part in the musical life of that city. Little information is known about this piece of music. It is usually dated 1826 and is listed in Henry L. Mason's "Hymn-Tunes of Lowell Mason" as an undated arrangement made from Schnuyder by Lowell Mason (1892-1872).

This song describes the love that God has for His prodigal children. I. Stanza 1 reminds us of how the prodigal left home

A. He left his father and his family: Lk. 15.11-12

B. In like manner, all of us have sinned against our heavenly father: Rom. 3.23

C. Thus, we have also left our Father and strayed away: 1 Pet. 2.25

II. Stanza 2 reminds us of how the prodigal was disobedient and suffered the consequences

A. He eventually began to feel the results of his waywardness: Lk. 15.13-14

B. God made all of us with a conscience to know right from wrong: Jn. 8.9

C. And if our consciences are tender, we'll also come to feel the results of our waywardness: Rom. 2.14-15

III. Stanza 3 reminds us of how low the prodigal had sunk

A. Because he didn't listen to his father, he fell into the most revolting situation for a Jew of feeding swine: Lk. 15.15-16

B. For us, sin brings about a far more serious situation, separating us from God and bringing spiritual death: Rom. 6.23, Jas. 1.13-15

C. And if something is not done about it, the final result will be eternal death in hell: Rev. 21.8

IV. Stanza 4 reminds us of how the prodigal finally came to himself

A. Ultimately, he determined to return to his father and ask forgiveness: Lk. 15.17-19

B. Such a change of heart is known as repentance: Acts 2.38, 3.19, 17.30-31

C. If and when we come to ourselves, genuine godly sorrow will produce repentance in us as well: 2 Cor. 7.10

V. Stanza 5 reminds us of how the prodigal found a loving father to receive him

A. When he returned, the father was waiting for him: Lk. 15.20-24

B. The father in the story represents God and the great love that He has for us: Eph. 2.4-5

C. Thus, when we truly return to God, we'll find Him willing to forgive us and take us back: 1 Jn. 1.8-9

CONCL.: As sinners, saved by the grace of God, we can be thankful that God provided the means and afforded us the opportunity to come to ourselves and return to Him for salvation. Also, as His children, we should be grateful that even now, when we sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins as we confess them to Him. Therefore, we need to spread the message to others that there is "Love For All."