Jesus said: “A sower went forth to sow his seed” (Luke 8:5). This is a universal, self-evident truth. Earthly life comes forth by sowing seed, and Jesus taught that Spiritual life comes forth in the same manner. Begettal is the way all life is continued (Gen. 1:11, 24, 28). God’s word [the seed] sown (Luke 8:11) is produced by the Holy Spirit of God, and when planted in the heart, and by obedient water baptism, a new spiritual life is produced.
It’s important to note begettal can happen in many hearts, but not in every heart. The Lord gives the instruction in His discussion of the soils: the wayside soil (Luke 8:12), the rocky soil (Luke 8:13), the thorny soil (Luke 8:14), and the good soil (Luke 8:15). The wayside soil exposes the seed so that the devil comes and takes it away. The rocky soil is of such composition that the seed is received, begettal takes place but the roots cannot form preventing growth and continued life. The thorny soil chokes out the begotten life with the riches of this world and the cares and pleasures of life. It’s the good soil that receives the Gospel allowing roots to form and life to flourish to the production of much fruit. It is not the end of life but the beginning of it. It is important to remember, sin has a begettal, too (James 1:12-15). Both take place in the heart.
Jesus revealed that begettal and life can lead to a very productive life. A similar analogy is used representing Jesus (John 12:24). His physical body (Heb. 10:5) had to be planted into the ground so that all could live. He is the Vine of life and by His life much fruit is produced (John 15:5). Both God the Father and Christ the Son are glorified in much fruit produced (John 15:8). So it is with the begettal of life through the sowing of the word of God into good soil—much fruit is produced to the glory of God.
Begettal, while producing life, can also result in death. In the parable given by Jesus, three of the four ended in death. Your physical begettal leads to a day of death (Heb. 9:27). Our spiritual begettal either leads to life eternal in Christ, or it leads to eternal death in hell with the devil and his angels (Rom. 8:2). One may be dead in trespasses and sin, but made of alive in Christ (Eph. 2:1). It’s up to the individual heart [soil], and the conditioning given to it. As a Christian do you feed and nurture your soul with God’s word and Christian fellowship? The soul of man is precious and should be treated that way. If you are not a Christian, then there is no life present. Both Spiritual life and death are in your hands.
The picture of success in Christ is to be dead unto sin and alive unto Christ, walking in newness of life which leads to eternal life. It all starts with sowing precious seeds. The Gospel is for everyone, so Christians are charged by our Lord to be sowers (Matt. 28:18-20). While not everyone will receive the Gospel and live, all should have the opportunity to receive it.
-David Hill, President of Tennessee Bible College
