Parable of the 4 Soils----Luke 8:4-15

[westtexas]

I have always believed in once saved always saved, but the more I study and think on this parable I am not so sure. Obviously the first seed which fell on the path is the un-believers who never accepted the Word. The second seed which fell on the rock "receive the Word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away" Luke 8:13 (KJV) The third seed fell among the thorns "when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection" Luke 8:14 (KJV) The fourth seed fell on good ground "having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." Luke 8:15 (KJV)
It seems to me that the 2,3,and 4th soils are Christians-but only the 4th seed or soil are saved Christians.

What do y'all think? Westtexas

 

[Sparkey]

You make a good point. Still it is a parable and we can continue to hope that other "seed" is cast. The Longsuffering of God must be considered as well as the conditions He rightly puts on His Children, specifically, "If ye continue, ye shall be saved."

No, salvation is not based on the works of man, but is exactly as you have declared, "The fourth seed fell on good ground "having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." The "saved" are the ones who heard the word and were not remiss in time of temptation and were not overcome by the cares of the world. The saved are the ones who follow Jesus, of course, and since He bore good fruit so will we.

Yes?

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

west yes good thoughts.

The thing is we see in scripture that many are called but few are chosen. The called and chosen both come into the kingdom now. We do not know who the chosen are but we can walk in faith that we are chosen.We are told that the elect(orchosen) have been predestined to be saved and to be conformed into His image and even their good works were prepared from the beginning.Once saved always saved is not true because those who come into the kingdom CAN fall away and be lost. The bible is full of examples and scriptures showing these people. But the elect in the kingdom will not fall away. It is not that falling away and "loosing salvation" cannot happen but it is that those people will not fall away because God has formed them and ordained them to be conformed and produce fruit so that they will endure until the end and be saved.(we must remember that we speak of being saved and we speak that in FAITH, not having yet layed hold on our full salvation, that we must endure until the end to receive)
God has a perfect purpose for the elect, and also for the ones amoung us who will fall away, both are ordained and are the plan of God. We see in most of the parables people who were brought into the kingdom who then are thrown into outer darkness etc...

 

[Joe67]

wt,

Gpr has given a valuable post. There is much to think upon in it.

The Word of the Lord to me is that:

Justified by blood is 30 fold fruit.

Washed in the water of regeneration is 60 fold fruit.

Love not our lives unto the death by the Spirit of grace is 100 fold fruit.

We all begin in Jesus our Savior through his blood. Then the water. Then the Spirit.

1 John 5:6-8
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. KJV

Rev 12:11
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. KJV

Joe

 

[westtexas]

No, salvation is not based on the works of man, but is exactly as you have declared, "The fourth seed fell on good ground "having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." The "saved" are the ones who heard the word and were not remiss in time of temptation and were not overcome by the cares of the world. The saved are the ones who follow Jesus, of course, and since He bore good fruit so will we.

Yes?

I agree Sparrow that salvation is not based on works. Works are simply a by-product of our salvation and our transformation due to the indwelling of our Lord Jesus Christ. My question is does everybody agree or disagree that the 2nd and 3rd soils or seeds were Christians who were once saved but are now lost. That is the way that I understand this parable. Soil #1 is unbelievers who were never saved. Soils # 2&3 were Christians who were once saved but are now lost. Soil #4 are saved Christians. Agree or disagree?

Westtexas

 

[westtexas]

Once saved always saved is not true because those who come into the kingdom CAN fall away and be lost. The bible is full of examples and scriptures showing these people. But the elect in the kingdom will not fall away. It is not that falling away and "loosing salvation" cannot happen but it is that those people will not fall away because God has formed them and ordained them to be conformed and produce fruit so that they will endure until the end and be saved.(we must remember that we speak of being saved and we speak that in FAITH, not having yet layed hold on our full salvation, that we must endure until the end to receive)

Thanks for the answer. That is the way I understand this parable. Salvation is a gift from our Lord and if we persevere until the end we will receive our reward. Can you give me some of the examples of the people that you feel fell away and are now lost?

Westtexas

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

Once saved always saved is not true because those who come into the kingdom CAN fall away and be lost. The bible is full of examples and scriptures showing these people. But the elect in the kingdom will not fall away. It is not that falling away and "loosing salvation" cannot happen but it is that those people will not fall away because God has formed them and ordained them to be conformed and produce fruit so that they will endure until the end and be saved.(we must remember that we speak of being saved and we speak that in FAITH, not having yet layed hold on our full salvation, that we must endure until the end to receive)

Thanks for the answer. That is the way I understand this parable. Salvation is a gift from our Lord and if we persevere until the end we will receive our reward. Can you give me some of the examples of the people that you feel fell away and are now lost?

Westtexas

sure, well judas is the most obvious, it is true that he was always secretly a devil but he recieved the same as the rest and must have believed to some extent because he went out and preached and did miracles the same as the restand it is clear that God gave him to Jesus just like the rest.- i would even contend another of these is clearly simon magus. the word declares that he believed but when he saw the power of the Holy Spirit(temptations of this world) he wanted to buy it, unless he was able to repent i believe this applies to him. we see examples in parables such as the guy in the wedding feast who didnt have a wedding garment on. there are those in john 6 who followed jesus but became offended when he preached that you must eat his flesh and drink his blood in john 6:66 they left him and turned back.There are many examples talking about the people who turn back such as jude and 2 peter, 2 john i believe and in hebrews it speaks of those who have tasted of hi Spirit and been set free etc... and then turn back again and cannot be renewed to repentance again i believe that may be heb 10. then there are many OT examples.

 

[mutzrein]

As a young Christian I experienced an event which caused me to question why others, who professed to love God, seemed to care more for their own status, than others. To me they were not led by God, but by their flesh and intellect. My spirit was grieved. How could it be that these who professed to be ‘led’ of God could do this?

Some time passed and an evangelical group I belonged to was asked to ‘share’ at a local church. Each individual was asked to participate in different ways and I was asked to bring something the Lord had shown me from scripture – it was the parable of the sower.

Now we know what the parable says about what happens to the seed that falls on the different ground. But we seem to focus on trying to find a way to gain fruit from the seed that falls on anything BUT the good soil. We try to help people overcome the devil. We try to help people in their times of testing. We try to help people overcome their flesh. Why, when scripture plainly tells us that these things WILL happen, do we try to overcome them? Why do we test God?

I believe the seed, the word of God, is most precious and those to whom God has given it, need to take account of what they do with it. Should we scatter on the path or rocks or thorny ground? Or should we as stewards of what is precious, endeavour only to sow in good soil. “But how do we knowâ€Â, I hear you ask, “where the good soil is?†Ah, it is time to seek the Lord. It is God who prepares the soil. It is God who gives growth, so if indeed we are those to whom Jesus said, ‘As the Father has sent me, so send I you’, we need to understand what it means to hear the voice of the Father and obey. We need to be led of the Spirit – not an intellectual ‘understanding’ which denies the will and purpose of God.

There is truth in the saying, ‘Do not cast your pearls before swine.’