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So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24 NIV)

Returning home to be with The Father really is as easy as the younger son coming home to his father.  Because Jesus paved the way, we simply need to decide, like the young son, to come home...then do it.

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10 NIV)

Professing our faith in Jesus is as simple as it sounds.  We simply need to trust that he did everything necessary to prepare our path to The Father.  When Jesus died on the cross, he took any punishment we may deserve from The Father.  When he rose from the dead, that was his "sign" that served as proof that his death took our place.  When we say that Jesus is the Christ, Messiah, or our Savior, we are saying the same thing: Jesus paved the way for me to come home to The Father.  Letting Jesus be Lord simply means you will follow him home.

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:38-39 NIV)

Repent means "turn around."  It means we need to turn away from our old life, much like the younger son left his life with the pigs, and turn back home.  When the prodigal son got up and went home, he repented.

Baptism was the sign Jesus gave his disciples to declare ourselves as his followers.  When we decide to go down into the waters of baptism, we are buried with Christ and raised with him again.Our sins are washed away.  We die to ourselves and are raised to a new life.  We are promised forgiveness when we do this.  We are also promised the gift of God's Spirit.  Then, like the son returning home, receiving forgiveness and great gifts, we can celebrate as well.  There's a great party going on with God.

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10 NIV)

How about you?  Do you believe Jesus paved the way for you to return home to The Father?  Have you confessed Jesus as your Lord?  Have you turned around and returned home?  Have you let God wash your sins away in baptism?  Are you home?