Parable of the Sower - Salvation or Sanctification?

Our bible study leader at work challenged us recently with the following question:

Does the parable of the Harvest in Matthew 13 have to do with salvation or sanctification?

(this same parable appears in Mark 4)

First, some definitions:

• Sanctification:
• "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2)
• The continual "present" aspect of salvation.
• Salvation:
• Election: Laying aside the Calvinism debate, the concept of Election is clear in scripture.  It seems that our theology of salvation needs to permit God's electing of His redeemed.  How exactly that works is where the debate arises.
• Justification: Legal standing made right before God.  Idea of imputation.  Reformers distinguished this as being "declared" righteous rather than being "made" righteous.
• Reconciliation: Being made relationally right with God.
• Propitiation: Christ standing in our place as the atoning sacrifice.
• Adoption: God brings us into a familial relationship.
• Sanctification (ie: sanctification is inseparable from salvation)
• Glorification: The future state with glorified bodies in a new heaven and new earth.

Next, some fundamental truths:

• Assurance of Salvation: John 10:28-29 indicates that "no-one will snatch them from my hand"
• Our salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2) and not of works... that (referring to faith) is a gift from God.

Initial Assessment of Parable:

• First, stating the obvious... Jesus intended to teach this parable to the people he was teaching it to.
• So, I'm not convinced that Jesus had in mind how this teaching fit into the "order of salvation".  Rather, I wonder if he simply meant something like - arrange your life in a such a way that your heart is fertile soil to the word of God.
• That fertile soil could take the form of "soil" that's initially receiving the Word in the process of regeneration OR the fertile soil could be that which produces fruit in the believer through the process of sanctification.  The focus is on the condition of the heart.

John 2:1-12 - The Wedding at Cana

In this passage we find the first miracle performed by Jesus by turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana.

Cana was the site of Jesus' first recorded miracle.  Not Nazareth, his hometown.  It may be meaningful that Jesus chose to begin His ministry in a town not His own to illustrate that God extends His hand beyond where we like to confine in to be in our view.

Jesus makes a seemingly odd remark to His mother in v. 4 "what does that have to do with us" which does not indicate disdain even though it sort of sounds like it.  This may illustrate how Jesus is primarily guided through his Heavenly Father and not so much by his earthly mother.  The subsequent "hour has not yet come" statement recurs multiple times throughout John, and the first occurence, like the many to follow, seemingly go unrecognized by His audience.  We do see an indication of Mary's humility in her response to what Jesus says.  Mary, while controversial in theology, is shown here and in other places in the gospels to be a Godly woman.

The six stone waterpots for the custom of purification (v.6) that Jews could use for cleansing themselves.  It may be significant that the water was made into wine in the same pot that Jews used to become undefiled. 

The fact that this is wine at a wedding may be significant because elsewhere in scripture we see both a wedding and wine being used to describe the restoration of all things. 

Here is a good commentary on this passage and those that follow in this Gospel:
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/John/Glory-Begins-Be-Revealed

I found another blog which made some good insights into this passage here:

http://dailyexegesis.blogspot.com/2010/01/wedding-at-cana.html

John 1:35-51 - Jesus' First Converts

In this passage, we find the calling of the following believers:
Andrew, John (probably), Simon Peter, Philip, and Nathanael.  

Andrew and John (the author of this gospel) were apparently disciples of John the Baptist.  In v. 36-37, we see John the Baptist saying "Behold, the Lamb of God!" to which the two disciples (ie: Andrew & John) responded by following Jesus.  

In v. 36, John the Baptist calls Jesus the "Lamb of God" and in v. 41, Simon says that they have found the "Messiah" thus making clear who Jesus was.  The phrase "Lamb of God" is only found in the Bible in v. 29 and v. 36 of John 1.  It certainly implies a sacrifice given how lambs were treated in the old testament.

v. 41 records that the first thing Andrew did was find his brother, Simon Peter, to tell him of Jesus.  Maybe that was the most appropriate thing to do in Jewish culture, but I think it's noteworthy that that was the first thing he did.  He didn't go to the synagogue or the market to somehow brag that he had found the Messiah - he wanted to share his joy with his brother.  Maybe we can consider that as an exhortation to share the joy of Christ with those in our immediate circle of influence.  Maybe we can be challenged by this to recognize who it is that God's placed in our immediate context and to share the love/joy/faith/whatever of Christ with them first and foremost.

The first thing Jesus says to Simon Peter in v. 42 is to rename him Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek), which means rock.  The footnote of my bible points out that Peter was not rock-like throughout the Gospels, but he certainly was in Acts in the early church.  Jesus calls him and renames him not based on who he was, but based on who he would become.  What sort of name would we hope Jesus would give us in that sense?  Who is in our lives that we can give a name to?

Then, Jesus goes to Galilee and calls Philip (who was from the same town as Andrew and Peter, Bethsaida).  Philip seems to have responded positively without much trouble.  Philip apparently knew Nathanael who he then told, but Nathanael was skeptical and even said "can any good thing come out of Nazareth?".  However, when Nathanael comes to Jesus, Jesus makes a few statements about Nathanael and then Nathanael testifies that Jesus truly is the "Son of God" and "King of Israel".  Then, Jesus takes it a step further and makes a seemingly odd statement (v. 51) that he (the disciples) will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending & descending on the Son of Man.  That statement points back to the story of Jacob's dream (ie: ladder = Jesus) which indicates that Jesus was the true Israelite, the one through whom redemption would come to the world.  So, Nathanael started out as skeptical but certainly was converted upon contact with Jesus.  It's almost as through Jesus uses Nathanael's skepticism to make a strong statement about Himself.

Philippians 3:12-21

This passage continues the thought of "attaining the resurrection from the dead," to which Paul refers as "it" in verses 12 and 13.  "It", being the resurrection from the dead, is recognized by Paul as something that he has not yet attained, but something to which he continues to strive. 

Being a runner, I think of the analogy of running a race, an analogy that is used elsewhere in the New Testament.  Paul presses on toward "the goal" (v. 14), which I think has to do with knowing Christ (from v. 10).  But he doesn't merely say this in an autobiographical sense, he says this as a preface to the encouragement given in verse 15 where he urges his readers to have this same attitude.  So, going back to the running analogy, he's not being the coach as much as being a fellow runner urging a teamate along in a grueling race.  Even in verse 17, he specifically says to "follow my example". 

What is the standard to which we have attained?  The footnotes in my NASB bible state that "We are responsible for the truth we currently posess".  To what standard are we held, given the family, community, workplace, church, etc. into which God has placed us? 

In what ways today can we be an example to others?  In 1, 5, 10 years, how will that change?

In verses 18 & 19 Paul gives a sort-of warning against "enemies of the cross of Christ".  It seems like only a sort-of warning because I don't think his intent is necessarily to warn against these folks, but rather to provide contrast to those who can say "our citizenship is in heaven" as he goes onto say in v. 20.  How would your perspective/life change if we lived every day as if this were truly our vision?  How does your self-identity govern how you act, respond, think in various situations?  How would that change if my self identity was truly that of a citizen of heaven?

Philippians 3:1-11

In this passage I am struck by how Paul so seemingly easily de-values his past "qualifications" and focuses on a vision founded in Christ.

In verses 2-3 he contrasts a false circumcision with a true circumcision which entails "...worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus...".  What does that look like?  I think the thoughts he shares subsequently in this passage provide such an illustration.

How do we loosely cling to the past yet strongly cling to a vision of our future in Christ?  Paul's "resume" is quite impressive but he counts that as loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus.  It's not just a future in which Christ provides some sort of reward.  Knowing Jesus Christ is the thing of great value. 

Counting all things as loss?  How often to I point to good things in my background that I think should effectively justify my present perspective?  Because I have previously done ______, that means that in this situation, since I think _______, that's what needs to be done. 

So, even if we could somehow "count all things as loss" it's not just the good "stuff" that Jesus gives to us in which our vision should be found.  Rather, it is Jesus Christ himself in whom our vision should be found.  I think this ties into the "bread of life" and "living water" passages of the gospels.

Verses 10 & 11:  That I may know Him and the...

• power of His resurrection (OK, that sounds good)
• fellowship of His sufferings (really !?!)

... being conformed to His death (is Paul serious?).  Why?  In order to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  The avenue from death to life is not saying some magic prayer, attending some church, doing the right things - it's knowing Him, truly knowing Him.

Paul doesn't speak of this sort of vision as being one mere option in the proverbial grocery store of faith.  It's a challenge to all of us who call ourselves Christ-followers. 

Philippians 2:19-30

This particular passage to close Chapter 2 of Philippians does not strike me as having particular theological value.  It's not an echo of an early church hymn like what we find earlier in the same chapter.

That said, I think this passage provides insight into the methods employed by Paul in his ministry.  The books 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy were written by Paul to Timothy and throughout both of those books it is very clear that Timothy was a disciple of Paul.  One of the most poignant passages that comes to mind is 2 Timothy 2:1-13 where Paul encourages Timothy to be strong in the Lord a way that he likens to a soldier.

A few years ago I was asked the question, "What three men to you most admire?".  At the time I was a college student and I put some thought into that question and formulated a response.  I'm now in a different life stage, as a husband, father, provider, professional... supposedly a "grown-up" and I (1) haven't thought again of that question recently and (2) would probably formulate a different response.  How this ties into this passage in Philippians is that I need to recognize that, even through I'm getting older, I am still a Timothy and I still need a Paul (or two).  Thankfully, as I recall the times that God has brought me through I've been able to find men who I can consider to be fathers in the faith who have encouraged and taught me as I've grown.  Some of those men were dead and it was their writings that challenged me.  Some of those men I didn't see on a regular basis but the times we were able to connect I cherished.  Some of those men have been younger than me.

Likewise, I need to be intentional about being a Paul.  This is obviously true of my responsibilities as a father.  I pray that one day I will be able to echo the statements made by Paul at the beginning of 2 Timothy 4:1-8 with respect to my boys and any other children with whom God may bless us.  In addition to my children though, I need to remember that God has placed me in the presence of many other young men.  He's also placed me in the presence of many unbelievers to whom I can share Christ in meaningful ways.  My challenge then in this regard is to identify those young men who God has placed in my life to whom I could be a Paul.

Philippians 2:12-18

In Philippians 2, verses 12, Paul calls the church to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." 

In what senses do we see salvation mentioned in scripture? 

• Past, present, and future salvation?  If we're already "saved" (ie: past), then what does this passage mean when it says to "work out" our salvation?
• As for future salvation, I think the previous post on Crown Him is applicable.  For Creation groaning (what?!?), also see Romans 8:18-25.

What is it that we are saved from?

• Outside of Church settings (where Christian-ese is spoken), salvation is not spoken of unless there is something clear to be saved from.  R.C. Sproul argues that it's ultimately God's wrath that we are saved from.

If we take verse 12 by itself without looking at verse 13 then it's somewhat discouraging to simply be exhorted to essentially "do it right."  However, verse 13 adds the critical point that it is God who is at work in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  Therefore, while we are called to be sactified, in so doing we are to simply (or not so simply in practice) allow God to work in and through us.

Verse 14 then calls us to do all things without grumbling or disputing.  How often is it that I justify my grumbling and disputing when tasked with a given job?  Even when I think my way or my idea is better, this verse calls me to obedience.  That means that...

• When I'm at work and my boss asks me to do some monotonous task.
• When I'm at home and I need to pick up toys and clean up dried food pieces from the kitchen floor.
• When I'm at church and something is required of me that intrudes on my planned Sunday afternoon bike ride.
• When someone needs their car jumped in the parking lot, a hand carrying their groceries at the store or a hand carrying something heavy.
• When I disagree with someone and am tempted to gossip.

... even in those times, I'm called to "Have that attitude which was in Christ Jesus" in myself as stated in verse 5.

A clear instruction given in verse 16 is to "hold fast the word of life" so that Paul's spiritual labor for the church in Philippi is not in vain.  So, it's not specifically Paul's words that the church is to hold onto, but the word of life.  Paul does elsewhere say things like "listen to me... follow my example... etc", but here we find a call to hold to something greater than the teaching or example of an individual.  How much of our faith is tied to the specific people that taught things to us?  What if that person turned out to be a complete hypocrite?  How much do we hold onto our beliefs out of fear that we'd disappoint such-and-such person or organization?  Our call is to embrace truth.

Paul uses the image in verse 17 of being poured out as a drink offering.  The drink offering language is tied to the Old Testament sacrificial system as detailed in Exodus 29:38-41.  How often do I think I'm pouring my all into something when in reality I'm doing it halfway, if that.  How often do I put up a front that illustrates that I'm being poured out just so I appear that way?  What would my life look like if I actually lived that sacrificially?

"The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him" - quote by [not me]

Well, it seems that Paul packs a lot into his punches.  A lot of challenges Paul presents to the Church in this small chunk of scripture, but we should always bear in mind that it is Christ who is at work in us!