By Mark W. Christy, PhD
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus discusses four different types of reception to the gospel proclamation (Luke 8:4-15). It is clear from the range of responses that the gospel is to be preached to all. Furthermore, the central factor in salvation, in this parable, is shown to be the receptivity to the gospel and not the skill or methodology employed by the proclaimer.
The first type of response is given by those who simply reject the gospel outright from the start. This class of people will include the hard-hearted (Ps. 95:8; Prov. 28:14) and the stiff-necked (Deut. 10:16; 2 Kings 17:14; Neh. 9:29; Jer. 7:26; 17:23). Though many continue to receive the gospel in this way, Jesus specifically pointed out the Pharisees and Jewish religious leaders for their unwillingness to embrace his saving message (Matt 15:7-9; 23:13-29).
The second type of response begins with an initial acceptance that quickly proves superficial as the person ends up falling away due to temptation. In the beginning, these responders “receive” the gospel and this receptance, in and of itself, could indeed indicate faith in the gospel (cf. Luke 9:48, 53; 10:8, 10; 18:17; Acts 8:14; 11:1; 17:11; 1 Thess 1:6; 2:13; James 1:21).[i] Initially, the reception of these quasi-believers to the gospel was euphoric. Some may be inclined to see this emotional response as evidence of salvation since the person did at least believe the gospel for a short time. To consider this interpretation for its merits, one must consider the broader context of Scripture.
In John 8:31, Jesus remarked that real disciples persevere until the end: “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine” (cf. Matt 24:13). Paul, in Colossians 1:22-23, confirms Christ’s meaning by stating Jesus “has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death…if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel” (cf. Heb 3:14; 4:14). Along with this, the prophet Ezekiel declares that those who made into a new creation (receive a new spirit) will obey the Lord and therefore not be able to fall into a state of continual and permanent disobedience (36:27).
Those who object to this rendering of Jesus’s meaning in regard to the second type of response argue that the “joy” experienced by these short-term believers is a distinct mark of the work of the Holy Spirit within the heart of a believer (Luke 8:13). Nevertheless, joy (or happiness), unless it arises from the inner work of the Holy Spirit, is an emotional expression that occurs for a brief time when it is associated with some sort of temporal stimulus. In John 12:12-13, a large crowd had formed to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem as the coming king, and in apparent excitement (joy) shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” Despite this reception, the many miracles He performed, and the excitement that was by default generated, Jesus lamented that the people still did not believe in a saving manner (John 12:39).
In 1 Timothy 5, Paul offers a portrayal of this second type of person mentioned in the Parable of the Sower. In his discussion on the treatment of widows in the church, he labels young widows who choose to give themselves “to wanton pleasure” as “dead” (1 Tim 5:6). Within these instructions, he also charges Christians who fail to take proper care of the widowed members of their family as those who have “denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim 5:8). Both of these types of supposed Christians, who should have been filled with joy and likely experienced at least some initial joy at their false conversion, end up being false professors of the faith. As Jesus mentioned in Luke 8:13, they lacked a “firm root” in their connection the Word of God. This is seen most evidently by their lack of obedience to the Word under trial.
In contrast to those who fall away in times of testing, James argues that true believers manifest endurance when going through trials (James 1:2-4). Paul even boasts in his trial of suffering which he faithfully declared to be a work of God (2 Cor 7:9). The writer of Hebrews proclaims these trials ultimately are to yield the fruit of righteousness even while, for a time, the believer being tested may be filled with sorrow (12:11). Throughout Scripture, no example or teaching is offered on believers being capable of permanently failing to endure and persevere even while they may struggle with sin in the near-term.
The third sort of response to the gospel is similar to the second in that those who respond in this way show signs of authentic conversion by growing and even producing unripened fruit. Instead of falling away due to the suffering wrought by trials, this person loves this world with its riches and pleasures. Demas, a follower of Paul and part of his ministry team, was thought to be a Christian by Paul until he fell away because he “loved this present world” (2 Tim 4:10; cf. Col 4:14; Philemon 1:24). John points out the faultiness of Demas’s decision by commanding Christians to “not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Concerning the deceitfulness of wealth, Paul warns, “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction” (1 Tim 6:9).
Those who succumb to suffering, temptations, and trials end up being no better off than those who spurn the Word of God from the onset. Unlike these, true believers, which are those who make the fourth type of response in the Parable of the Sower, are sealed by the Holy Spirit at the point of salvation where they responded to God’s sovereign choice to redeem them by repenting of sin and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 5:24; Rom 8:28-39; Eph. 1:13-14; Phil 1:6). Their salvation, being based on God’s promise which is sealed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is guaranteed; therefore, they will persevere through whatever trials and tribulation befall them and go on to bear spiritual fruit. For this reason, James could confidently declare, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).
[i]All Scripture references are taken from NASB1995.