Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 contains the parable of the sower. Carefully read it. It describes a “sower” who threw seed across the landscape. Four different types of responses are described in this extensive parable. The first category heard the gospel and the truth and did nothing about it—were never converted. A second category received God’s truth with great joy and endured for a short time, until trials and tests caused them to quit in discouragement. The third was “choked” by the “cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches” and “became unfruitful.” They missed out on salvation. They allowed the pulls and cares of this world to destroy them.

The fourth became converted and did “bear fruit, and bring forth, some an HUNDREDFOLD, some SIXTY, some THIRTY.” Luke’s account records the fourth category as those “which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Lk 8:15).

Christ’s statement about a “hundred fold…sixty…thirty” is an obvious reference to different degrees of reward that Christians will receive in the kingdom of God, based on what they do in this life. One’s status, office, rank, degree of position or amount of glory will depend on how much one does with what he has in the allotted time his calling gives him to do it.

Rivers of Water—and Fruit

Christ described the Holy Spirit as “rivers of living water” (John 7:37-39). He explained to His disciples that it would flow from them like a river. Romans 5:5 explained that “the love of God is shed abroad” in a Christian’s heart “by the Holy Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-23 described the “fruits of the Spirit,” which flow from the Spirit of God in the converted mind. Fruit (good works) is always evident in the Christian. To be one, you must evidence fruit in your life.

On the night of His betrayal, Christ kept the Passover with His disciples. He gave much instruction about their future responsibility as Christians. John 15:1-8, 16 contains vital teaching about the importance of bearing fruit.

The chapter opens with Christ saying, “I am the true VINE, and My Father is the Husbandman. Every branch [Christians] in Me that bears not FRUIT He takes away and every branch that BEARS FRUIT, He purges it, that it may BRING FORTH MORE FRUIT” (Jn 15:1-2). Four separate times in these verses Jesus tells His disciples to “bear much fruit” or “bring forth fruit.”

There is vital instruction here. The Father (Husbandman or Vinedresser) purges (prunes) the branches (individual Christians) who must be connected (Jn 15:4) to the Vine (Christ). Notice that those who do not bear fruit God “takes away.” These suffer loss of salvation and are “cast…into the fire, and…burned” (Jn 15:6). Some will suffer the lake of fire—hell fire—for not having produced anything in their lives.

Not “Our” Works or Righteousness

It is supremely important to understand that Christians are connected to Christ. The Bible often speaks of “Christ in us” (Gal. 2:20; 4:19; Col. 1:27; Eph. 3:17; II Cor. 13:5). We do not do the works but rather “Christ in us,” with His Spirit flowing from the Vine, like water carrying vital nutrients to each branch, does them. Understand. The Father guides the fruit-building process as each Christian remains in contact with Him through the Spirit of Christ (and God) in Him.

Keep this clear. It is not anything that you do, of and by yourself, which produces works of righteousness. Recall that Romans 5:5 said God’s love “is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” Each Christian must exercise the “fruit” of love but this is only made possible by God having first given His Spirit carrying the potential for each of the fruits of the Spirit in every person.

Romans 10:1-21 warns of those who do not understand God’s role in the building of character, good works and righteousness: “For they being ignorant of GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD” (Rom 10:3). It is a complete waste of effort to build your own character, your own works of righteousness. They gain you nothing with God!

God describes Himself as a “Potter” working with clay, when He works in the lives of human beings. He is moulding and shaping each person into a beautifully finished product. Paul describes those who are “in Jesus Christ” as being “a NEW creature.” God, as Creator, is fashioning a new creation in those who have His Holy Spirit working in them.

Peter described Christians as “partakers of the divine nature”—the nature of God. There is the physical nature of creation, human nature and GOD’S nature. God is re-fashioning corrupt, carnal human nature into wonderful, glorious, perfect and holy spiritual character!

All spiritual growth comes from God!

The Corinthian brethren suffered from having “partisan spirits,” with some preferring one minister over another, thus dividing the Church. Paul instructed them, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?” (I Cor. 3:5). I Cor 3:6 continues with “I have planted, Apollos watered; BUT GOD GAVE THE INCREASE.” Local brethren were picking favourites when all the spiritual increase (Revised Standard Version says “growth”) really came from God’s Spirit at work (partially through His ministers). After explaining that human servants are nothing, I Cor 3:7 reiterates the same thing.

I Cor 3:8 is fascinating. Notice what it reveals: “Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his OWN REWARD according to his own labour.” This means that each person is responsible for, and will be rewarded for, his own works—his own effort! How plain—how obvious!

Grace puts us in the kingdom but our works define our reward once there.

Paul continues, “For we are labourers together with God: you are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building” (vs. 9). God is building His Family. He is a Husbandman. We are all the product of His “husbandry.”

This Church, The Restored Church of God, is doing the Work of God. We are “labouring together” around the world as God calls more labourers into His harvest (Matt. 9:36-38). We have scores of booklets and other materials containing God’s truths being distributed by the thousands. We are counselling and baptizing those who come to repentance and conversion. Many members and co-workers, with more all the time, are assisting through daily prayers and financial support in this expanding work!

Our headquarters staff assists in all of these efforts, as the gospel of the kingdom of God goes out around the world. It is our task to help people grow and overcome so that they might have a greater degree of reward when God, by His grace, saves them. Our job is to fulfil what Paul describes in I Corinthians 3:10: “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon.”

It is critical to understand this. Remember, God is building His Church. Christ said, in Matthew 16:18, “I will BUILD My Church.” This is why Paul wrote, “you are GOD’S BUILDING.” Every building of substance has a proper foundation. So does God’s Church. I Cor 3:11 states, “For other FOUNDATION can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

The Church of God stands on the way of life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Luke 4:4 says that Christians “live…by every word of God.” Recall that Christ warned how most “do not the things which I say” (Luke 6:46). What Christ says are His words. All who “build their house on a rock” (Matt. 7:24-29) are described as those who “hear these sayings [words] of Mine, and DO them.”

Bible study and earnest prayer are part of the Christian’s daily schedule. He has found the “pearl of great price” and is determined to build the spiritual character and nature of God in his life. This, in turn, is directly building the degree of reward he will experience for all eternity. While none of this will get him there, the substance of his character determines his reward.

Now back to I Corinthians 3:1-23. Paul makes the critical point of building on Christ absolutely clear with the following unmistakable analogy. Notice how he describes what it means to do this: “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a REWARD” (I Cor. 3:12-14).

These verses speak to what we build in our lives. The first three substances, “gold, silver, precious stones,” are of great worth. They also survive the fire described in 1 Cor 3:15: “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Fire has no chemical effect on these valuable metals or jewels. But the verse warns of those who can “suffer loss” because some of their work was “wood, hay, stubble” in value. Fire destroys these last three substances, which are of little worth. These people are saved but lose some reward.

All six substances depict descending value in worth. Hay is practically worthless—useless in value. Stubble is completely worthless.

Every Christian had better take real stock of how he builds!