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abercrombie · 04-30-08

There Will Be No Salvation or Approval for Unbelievers
Luke 8:11-12
All commentators recognize that the first soil represents unbelievers. This is not surprising since the Lord specifically identifies them as such: “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” (Luke 8:12, emphasis added).

One thing commentators often fail to notice about these people; however, is that they never believe. These “soils” never even receive the life giving Seed.

The Lord makes it clear here that whoever simply believes (trust) like a little child is eternally saved.

That is why Satan seeks to "snatch away the Seed" before it can germinate and give life; since once it germinates a person immediately has the eternal life, inherent in the Seed, and is thus secure forever.

Would there be a need for Satan to expediently snatch away the seed to keep people from being saved initially, if he could also later snatch it away and take away God’s Eternal salvation.

In fact, that would be “probation” not “salvation”. Since Jesus gives eternal life, once a person has it, no power in heaven or anywhere in the universe can take away that gift. Not even Satan.

Those who fail to come to faith in Christ do not have eternal life and will not have Christ’s approval at His Judgment Seat, in fact they won’t even be permitted to appear at that judgment. The Judgment Seat of Christ is reserved for believers only (2 Cor 5:9-10; compare Rev 20:11-15).

There Will Be Salvation, But Not Approval, For Believers Who Fall Away
Luke 8:13
“A sower went out to sow his seed…some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture” (Luke 8:6). “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” (Luke 8:13). A shallow root system meant the plant lacked sufficient strength to survive in tough conditions.

That this person is a believer is clear from the context. “It sprang up” refers to germination of the seed. Germination symbolizes the start of eternal life. (Think of the Christian view of Pro-Life, if its conceived in the womb, it’s a living person and should not be aborted.)

This is one who has received eternal life, inherent in the Seed. This is confirmed by the fact that these type of people “believe even if only for a while.”

Temporary Faith
Unfortunately, this very verse has led to an odd theological theory. Some suggest that there is such a thing as temporary faith. Well, the text is clear that some believe only for a while and later fall away. So if that is what theologians meant by temporary faith, there would be no problem. However, by temporary faith some theologians mean a substandard type of faith that is in their view really not faith at all.

Referring to the heart of the rocky-soil person, one "works for salvation" author even states:
This kind of heart is enthusiastic but shallow. It responds positively but not with saving faith. There is no thought involved, no counting the cost. It is quick, emotional, euphoric, instant excitement without any understanding of the actual significance of discipleship. This is not genuine faith.

But how can this be squared with the text? The Lord Jesus clearly declares that they believed. The fact that it was only “for a while” does not negate the fact that they did in fact “believe.” Of course, one might argue that what they believed was not the saving message. In this context, that argument is unsupportable, in light of verse 12.

Remember why Satan snatched away the seed? “Lest they should believe and be saved.” The Lord Jesus made it clear that if they believed, they were saved, or born again, at the very moment of faith. When He says in verse 13 that this second group “believed for a while,” the text requires us to conclude that they believed the saving message if even for a while, prior to developing “spiritual alzheimers”.

There are only two possibilities here, and both include the fact that these are people who were saved at the moment of faith.

First, they were saved as long as they believed, but once they fell away, they lost their salvation. Second, they were saved forever at the moment of faith, and once they fell away, they remained saved (but lost out on things like present joy, approval at the Judgment Seat of Christ, eternal rewards, etc.).

The first option is actually a Scriptural impossibility, for eternal life is just that “eternal.” Compare John 6:35-40. Once anyone eats the bread of life or drinks the water of life, he will never hunger or thirst again. Jesus will never cast out anyone who comes to Him. He loses none of those whom the Father has given Him.

There is no time requirement in Scripture on saving faith. That is, at the very moment of faith a person is born again forever. Even if he only believes for a short time, he or she is secure in Christ as a child of God forever, and subject to His Fatherly discipline (see Hebrews 12)