Perseverance: Objections Part 4

Over the next several posts we will examine some passages that deal with apostasy and see if they fit with or contradict the doctrine of perseverance as I have laid it out thus far. 

a. Luke 8:4-15

First, we can think about the parable of the sower and the seed.

And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: ⁵ "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. ⁶And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. ⁷And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. ⁸And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold" (Luke 8:4-8).

Jesus goes on to explain the parable in verses 9-15.  The seed is the Word of God (v. 11).  The seed that fell on the path and was eaten by birds (v. 5) are "those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved" (v. 12).  So, these obviously never believe and are not saved.  So far no problems with the doctrine of perseverance.

Next we see "the ones on the rock."  They "are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away" (v.13).  What about these?  They believe for a while and in testing fall away (the Greek word means to go away or withdraw.  Do they lose their salvation?  I believe the answer is no.  

The Bible makes it clear that there is true saving faith (which perseveres until the end) and an empty faith which does not truly save (and therefore does not persevere).  This empty faith is described in James when he writes "even the demons believe [true doctrine about God]- and shudder" (2:19).  They believe but are not saved.  They know about God and believe truths but don't have a saving faith.  

Another reason I don't believe we are speaking of saving faith in Luke 8:13 is that we are told they "believe for a while."  This belief is qualified with the statement "for a while."  But, the Bible describes true, saving faith as a persevering faith (Matt. 10:22).  So, these individuals do go away from the truth, but they did not posses true, saving faith to begin with.  They proved they didn't belong when they left.  John describes these people when he says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us" ( 1 John 2:19).  So, these are those who give a profession of faith and maybe even attend church and serve, but when testing comes it becomes clear that the gospel never truly took root in their lives.  This doesn't contradict the doctrine of  perseverance we have laid out thus far.  It fits it perfectly and emphasizes the truth that all true believers persevere to the end

The seed that fell among the thorns represents "those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature."  These people hear, but they go on their way.  They hear the message and keep it in their mind for a while but never embrace Jesus as Lord.  This becomes clear as life continues on, and any superficial professions of faith they made are "choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life."  They don't love God.  They still love the world, and 1 John 2:15 says you can't love God and the world.  So, these are those who may have a positive response to the gospel, but don't truly posses saving faith.