Are You the 25%?

By Justin Edwards

Think about this - according to God, only 25% of those who hear the Gospel message are truly saved and justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. Some will reject the message upon hearing; others will hear and believe, even with joy and gladness, but only endure for a little while for they will fall away as they are faced with temptations, trials, and tribulations; and yet others will receive the message, only to allow the cares, riches, and pleasures of this world to choke them out as they become unfruitful. None of these first 3 types of hearers of the Gospel actually commit themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, thus resulting in a false conversion or blatant apostasy. It is only the seed sown on the fertile soil that went on to bear fruit because the hearer understood and received the Word with a noble heart. This fourth soil is the only hearer that is born again - and you must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3)

If you are a professing Christian, have you taken the time to examine yourself to see if you have truly committed your life to Christ? (2 Corinthians 13:5) Not everyone who professes the name of Jesus is actually saved. Many will be told to depart from Jesus on the day of judgment, and although they thought their works were good enough, Jesus will tell them He never knew them (Matthew 7:21-23). So it's not so much that you know Jesus, it's whether He knows you that is important (1 Corinthians 8:3; John 10:27-29) . The road that leads to destruction is broad and many will find this death. The road to eternal life is narrow and only few will find this Life (Matthew 7:13-14). Make sure you are on the narrow road. If you do not know how or what that means, please ask me.

Watch Greg Laurie as he explains the Parable of the Sower found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, then read the words of Jesus below for further examination. I challenge you to make your calling and election sure (1 Peter 1:10), for it would be a terrible day indeed if you find out your belief was in vain, and the consequences are an eternity in hell separated from the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:3-9 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Parable of the Sower Explained

Luke 8:11-15 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

In Matthew 13:18-23 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

And in Mark 4:13-20 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
 

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Romans 13:11-14