That’s reasonable and a good point.
I’m with you totally in your concept of the Christian life and obeying Jesus as Lord.
I just wanted to point out that the “word” in Luke 8:12 or
Matthew 13:19 is referring to the Gospel message and not necessarily the scriptures.
You and I both agree that a born again Christian must obey the Lord, His Commandments and Doctrine if they want to remain “in Christ”.
JLB
The gospel message in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (
i.e. Believing Christ died for our sins, and that He was buried, and risen three days later for our salvation) was not fully revealed yet during the giving of the Parable of the Sower. I believe the gospel message at that time was believing in Jesus Christ in that He saved. Jesus saved people from sickness, demon possessions, and forgave sins. Jesus even talked about believing in Him for everlasting life (John 3:16). Some and not all picked upon the fact that He was the Messiah (the Savior). Today, we must believe in the gospel as per 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 as per being initially saved. Yet, this was not the case around the time the Parable of the Sower was given. This tells me that it is hearing all of those essential and necessary things in God's Word that is tied with salvation.
When we look at all three explanations on the Parable of the Sower, we see some slight differences in regards to the seed that was fallen by the wayside.
#1.
Matthew says: "When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth
it not, then cometh the wicked
one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side." (Matthew 13:19). Note: While I am not arguing against how this text is referring to "
Initial Salvation," nothing is written here about how it is exclusively implying "
Initial Salvation" alone.
#2.
Mark says: "And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. " (Mark 4:15). Note: Like the gospel of Matthew, nothing is indicative here that this is exclusively referring to "
Initial Salvation" alone (Even though it can refer to "
Initial Salvation").
#3.
Luke says: "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." (Luke 8:12). Note: Luke 8:12 is the only verse that implies that it may be referring exclusively to "Initial Salvation" because it says that the devil is taking the seed out of their heart so as to prevent a person from believing, whereby they will be saved. But Matthew and Mark do not say include this bit of truth.
Also, we know that there are people out there who probably started off good, and believed in Jesus for salvation and then later when they were confronted with the Trinity or the Incarnation, something within them chose not to believe those words in Scripture; As a result they fell away by not believing all of the words of the Kingdom (the word of God). Jesus did not mention another kind of belief or seed that would describe this in his parable. So this kind of situation has to be answered or addressed by His Parable.
Does the other seeds of falling away due to unbelief in fit the other kinds of seeds in the parable?
I see the seed on stony ground that fell away was due to two reasons (When looking at all of the gospel accounts).
Luke says:
"They on the rock
are they, which, when they hear, 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).
Matthew says:
"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." (Matthew 13:20-21).
Luke says the stony ground seed fell away due to temptation in general.
Yet, Matthew says that the stony seed fell away due to being offended by the Word in being persecuted or in facing tribulation on the account of the Word. In other words, I see both truths in both gospels as being true.
So getting back to the 1st seed in the Parable: When I look at the seed that has fallen by the wayside, I take this to mean that it can refer to either:
(a) Not understanding any part of God's Word (Scripture) at any particular point (regardless if one has believed correctly on other Scripture) (Matthew, & Mark), and:
(b) Not understanding the gospel message (for our current point in time) (Luke).
For in order for this Parable to exclusively be referring to "Initial Salvation" alone, it would have to imply words that were more heavily focused on that point in all three gospel accounts by using words like "when a person first hears the word of the kingdom for the first time," or "when one hears the the gospel of the kingdom," etc.
For currently in your view on the Parable: There is no seed in Christ's Parable describing a person who first accepts Jesus and the gospel and is saved, and then later falls away due to rejecting the Trinity, or rejecting the Incarnation. In my understanding on the Parable: I believe the first seed (the seed by the wayside) would cover this kind of belief.
Anyways, I say this not to offend, brother; But I say this in the hope this helps you to see where I am coming from. We can agree to disagree on this point, and rejoice in that we both agree that believers must obey God as a part of salvation.
In any event, may God bless you greatly today.
With loving kindness to you in Christ,
Sincerely,
~ J.
