As a Christian, you have an identity that we cannot deny. In 1 Peter 1:1-2, Peter calls the Christians ‘aliens’ who are chosen by God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. This is their identity. One of the key ways to identify a true believer is love and trust in God’s word. We love His Word because we love Him. It is by His word that we are saved and by His word anyone can be saved. The parable of the soils distinguishes between the unsaved and the saved by their response to God’s word, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The first soil is hard and outright rejects God’s word from the beginning. They could be saved if they just listened and believed but they don’t want to hear. The gospel is available to anyone if they would only listen and believe.
The rocky soil receives the seed but falls away after facing some hardship or suffering. An example is Demas who sought the comforts of the world rather than the difficulties of faith. The true believer remains faithful through all circumstances. They persevere not because they are strong but because they are held fast by Jesus. The Lord by His grace will not lose a single one of his sheep.
Luke 8:14 Thorny Soil – Thirdly we have the thorny soil. Thorns are a bad sign. In farming, thorns are a menace that ruins a crop. This is because weeds and thorns are usually stronger than crops and grow easier and more abundantly. A farm field requires constant attention, removing the weeds continually, so they don’t overtake the crop.
To put it spiritually, a soil with thorns is a worldly heart. Jesus says, “As they go on their way”. A thorny heart does not go in the Lord’s way but in its own way. They hear the word and interpret it in their own way. The word does not truly pierce or break their heart, meaning they do not fully surrender and submit to God. They have two masters in their hearts, the old with the new. They did not deny themselves and take up their cross. Richard Baxter insightfully shares, “The self is the most treacherous enemy and the most insinuating deceiver in the world.” If it is not removed, then there is no salvation.
Those who pursue self are like the prodigal son who left his father and went his own way (Luke 15:2-3). Judas also took his own way as he betrayed Jesus for money (Luke 22:3-4). The worldly are eventually choked by three things: worries, money, and pleasure. The Christian must forsake these things if we are to know Christ. Why would we seek these terrible idols when we know God and His glory?
- Worry: We do not need to worry because we have a Heavenly Father who knows our needs and He has given us His Son Jesus who fully satisfies us (Matthew 6:31-32, Phil 4:12-13). Worries belong to non-believers while Christians possess the gift of trusting in God above.
- Money: It is dangerous to love money. In Luke 12:15,11 Jesus warns against greed and its folly of empty promises. Dear saint, we are rich and have all that we need in Christ (2 Cor 8:9). Be satisfied with Christ for He is ours and we have unending blessings which no amount of money could ever buy.
- Pleasure: Pleasure, lust, or sensuality is another dangerous idol rooted in the wicked world (Romans 14:17). Our hope is for believers to find their joy in the Lord rather than the superficial and destructive pleasures of the world.
What is the result of worldliness? They do not bear fruit. “Is not every fruitless professor of Christianity in dreadful danger of becoming a withered fig tree? There can be no doubt of it. So long as a man is content with the leaves of religion–with a name to live while he is dead, and a form of godliness without the power–so long his soul is in great peril. So long as he is satisfied with going to church or chapel, and receiving the Lord’s supper, and being called a Christian, while his heart is not changed, and his sins not forsaken–then he is daily provoking God to cut him off without remedy. Fruit, fruit–the fruit of the Spirit, is the only sure proof that we are savingly united to Christ, and on our way to heaven. May this sink down into our hearts, and never be forgotten!” – J. C. Ryle
Luke 8:15 – The Good Soil No one is born as good soil. Scripture clearly says that no one is good and no one seeks after God. Only God is good. So how does the hard, rocky, or thorny soil become good soil? When God comes and works in a man’s heart, the soil is prepared for receiving the seed and bearing fruit (Exodus 15:16-17). Apostle Paul’s heart is an example of a bad soil turned good (Acts 25:19).
The good soil hears like all the other soils but they hear with an honest and good heart and hold it fast. They understand that the message is God’s living and holy word and respond by believing (Acts 17:11). Regardless of their circumstances, even though obedience might be tough and detrimental, the believer knows it is better to obey God’s word. A good and honest heart recognizes the true divine nature of the gospel message.
What kind of fruit? The fruit is an acceptable attitude towards the Lord followed by acceptable action. Some display very obviously and some might not. However, there is always a sign of fruit. The fruit must be there if the soil is good. A concluding suggestion to bear fruit more clearly: First read the Bible every day and examine yourself. Also, ask those close to you if they see the signs of fruit. Ask yourself which soil are you? If you are a hard, rocky, or thorny soil, then thankfully God’s word is still available for you to receive through repentance. If you are good soil, then continue to immerse yourself in God’s word so that you may bear more fruit.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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