Tom I wouldn't get sidetracked by the numbers. I do not think that is the point per see. There are very good points in what Boblee brought out that we should consider thoughtfully. However instead of seeing oneself as exclusively one or the other, we need to see that each one of us is all of the above in some ways.

In our natural, unsaved state:

Each one of us is in someway blind and has no clue what he does not know. Like the coin, oblivious.

Each one of us is in someway realizing that we are in trouble and know not the way out. Like the sheep, helpless, except to bleat.

Each one of us is in someway like the prodigal son. We realize what we did wrong; we know what to do, and it is within our power and ability to do it.

Each one of us in someway has the 'older' brother in us that prevents us from being partakers of the Father's forgiveness.

Each one of us is in some ways like the shrewd manager, and look for ways to justify ourselves without coming to the Father like the prodigal son did.

Tom,

In the excellent compositions you have posted, you don't fit the description I envision of the sheep which lost it's way. You seem more like the other ninety-nine who know where they are, know what they believe, and can articulate their beliefs meticulously.

From the narration of the parables and in Jesus' discussion of them, it seems that all of the entities were in a saving relationship with God at all times. But just as our own children sometimes "sew their wild oats" and "see what's on the other side of the fence" but are still part of our family, so we are still part of God's family until such time as we overtly demand that God "butt out of our lives."

Also, as is well known and as John pointed out, we really cannot take all the details of a parable seriously. We know well the problems our Evangelical friends encounter with a literal interpretation of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Even in this set of parables, one could wonder what Jewish father would let his son leave home without having taught him a vocation with which to make a good living. That hardly makes this father a prototype of God as we usually assume. Nevertheless, the main point I was making was that the boy was expected to make his own way home, make up his own mind to do so, and using his own resources, figure out how to get there. And assuming the father did represent God, that at least some of us are expected to do the same thing.

John,

I love your suggestion that in us there is some of each characteristic in our unsaved state:. As suggested above, though, I believe we may still have some of each characteristic in our natural saved state.

RL

I have often thought that there is a bit of each of us in every person the Bible has introduced to us.

I am not unlike Barabbas, in whose place Jesus suffered and died.

I am a little like the centurion, standing beneath the cross and marveling, "Surely this was a righteous man."

I have some things in common with the demoniac, running about - the captive of chains - and yet free for they are fastened to nothing.

I like what I've read in the posts above. Very throught provoking. A real blessing.

ZZP