Apr 27, 2012

Four Soils Parable & OSAS

In the parable of the four soils, as given in the synoptic Gospels, Jesus categorizes all hearers of the Gospel with four different  kinds of soil. 

The wayside ground hearer of the word is one who hears the word but does not believe it, and is not saved by it.  The Bible is full of examples of these kinds of hearers.  Every example of someone hearing the Gospel and rejecting it is an example of this kind of Gospel hearer.

The shallow ground hearer is one who hears the word and initially receives it, even with temporary joy, but later, when the heat of persecution and trial come, he falls away.  Again, the New Testament is full of examples of this type.  All those apostates who initially profess faith in the Gospel and then depart from it, and die in that state, are examples of this kind of hearer. 

The thorny ground hearer is one who hears the word and also initially receives it, but later does not produce lasting fruit, does not persevere.  And, again, the New Testament is full of examples of this type.  All those like Demus, who go back into the world, and do not continue in fruit bearing, are examples of this kind of hearer.

The good ground hearer is one who, unlike the others, receives the word and brings forth fruit with patience (endurance or perseverence).  Again, the New Testament is full of examples of this kind of hearer. 

There is no disagreement that the wayside ground hearer was never saved.  There is likewise no disagreement that the good ground hearer was saved and never lost his salvation.  Thus, the debate focuses on the shallow ground and thorny ground hearers.  And, the question debated is this - "were these hearers ever truly saved and converted?" 

If it can be proved that the two cases of apostasy, typified in the shallow and thorny ground hearers, were never truly saved, and that all cases of apostasy in the New Testament fit one of these two kinds, then the proof of apostasy for those truly saved is overthrown.

How can we be sure that the wayside and thorny ground hearers were never truly saved?

First, because the shallow and thorny ground hearers receive the word with the wrong kind of heart (soil).  The only heart (soil) that is "good" and "honest" is the good ground hearer.  This in itself proves that those represented by the shallow and thorny ground hearers were never truly saved, unless one wants to affirm that people can be saved who receive the word with a heart that is not good and honest.  Who will affirm that?  The only hearer of the four who were truly saved by hearing and believing the word are those who are good ground hearers and none of them apostasize.  They all bring forth fruit with perseverence.  Those who teach that people can lose salvation must show how good ground hearers can fail to persevere and lose salvation.  But, this they cannot do.  All who receive the word with a good and honest heart persevere in fruit bearing and therefore none are lost.

All the supposed examples of professing Christians falling away are examples of shallow and thorny ground hearers, and none are examples of good ground hearers. 

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