Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture

How Deep is Your Faith

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Apologetics

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2013-02-17

Synopsis: John Weaver examines the stony ground hearer from the Parable of the Sower, emphasizing that shallow, temporary faith cannot endure trials. He teaches that there is such a thing as a temporary believer, that not all joyful response to the Word is saving, that time tests faith, and that trials reveal genuine faith. Applications stress the necessity of conviction of sin and perseverance.

[John Weaver] Mark chapter 4, we're going to read verses 5 and 6, and then verses 16 and 17. The title of the message is, How Deep Is Your Faith? How Deep Is Your Faith? So look at Mark chapter 4, beginning there with verse 5. Our Lord says, And some fell on stony ground where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.

[John Weaver] But when the sun was up, it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away." Now if you'll skip down to verse 16, you'll see how our Lord interprets this parable. He says,"...and these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness, and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." The parable of the sower, as I pointed out last week, is also sometimes known as the parable of the soils. And it's all about hearing the Word of God. I pointed out last week as well that there are four distinct types of hearers that are given to us in this parable. Each one of these hearers was only present in our Lord's time. But they are also present in our time as well. I want you to notice how our Lord began this parable. Look in Mark four and verse three. He says Harkon.

[John Weaver] Behold, there went out a sort of so so begins with the word Harkon, and if you'll skip down to verse 23, he ends the parable. Basically, he says this, and if any man have ears to hear, let him hear. So you begin why? with hearken, and then if any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

[John Weaver] Now let me remind you just of last week's message and the main points. Because the title of last week's message was, Did You Lose Something? And it was all about the wayside hearer. I told you that there was another name for the wayside hearer. Sometimes he is called the hard-hearted hearer. But the main points that I covered last week was this. That first of all, whenever the Word of God is preached, there's a present activity of Satan to hinder and destroy and disturb. So marker down, whenever the Word of God is preached, there is always Satan, according to this parable, attempting to steal the Word of God.

[John Weaver] The second point I made is this. Unless our hearts are prepared, we will never benefit from the Word of God. And obviously the wayside hearer's heart was never prepared because the seed fell upon the wayside. It was trod upon. He could care less about it, and obviously the ground was not tilled. There was nothing there concerning preparation. And the third point I made was this, that the wayside here was a negligent hearer. The seed was there in plain sight. He could have picked it up. He did not. So he cared absolutely nothing about it. I want you to understand it is our responsibility to make sure that we hear the word of God. You remember the scripture said, and I gave it last week, take heed what you hear. Then in Luke 8 in verse 18, he said, take heed how you hear. So it's our responsibility not only to hear the Word of God, to make sure also that it does not slip from our mind. Now today I want to come and consider the second type of hearer.

[John Weaver] He's also known not only as the stony ground hearer, but also as a shallow hearted hearer. Look in your Bibles to verse 5, Mark 4 verse 5, and some fell on stony ground where it had not much earth, And immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, it was scorched because it had no root, it withered away. Now, I want you to connect the words stony and shallow.

[John Weaver] Now, there are many gardens and fields with stones in them, and their plants bear quite well. When we hear of stony ground, we tend to think of ground that has an awful lot of rocks in it. or a lot of stones. Now, if you go up north, you're going to find plenty of fields with lots of stones in them. We do not have that problem down south. In fact, there are a few fields that we might find some rocks in, but they're those little red rocks and they're little pebbles, and sometimes you might find a quarter-sized red rock or a 50-cent-sized red rock, but that's about it. But when you go up north, there are simply rocks everywhere.

[John Weaver] But you can have an excellent crop in a rocky field like that. Years ago, I was preaching in Pennsylvania, and I was preaching at a camp. And they had a creek running by this cabin in which I was staying. Now, of course, down here is a creek, up there is a creek. And I tried to explain to them that a creek is what you have in your neck. And a creek is something in which water runs, but They didn't quite understand that. But I was staying in this cabin, and the creek ran right by the cabin. So one morning, I got up and I took a walk down by the creek. And as I walked, I don't know, several hundred yards from the cabin, I came upon a sight that just absolutely amazed me. I've never forgotten it. Because right there in front of me was a rock.

[John Weaver] The rock was at least as big around as half the size of this room. And it was probably 12 to 15 feet high. I mean, I looked up and it was double my height and then some. And guess what? Sitting right on top of that rock was a full grown pine tree. The diameter of the tree was probably 15 to 20 inches. And the roots of that tree went down around that rock into the ground and into the creek. Unbelievable. And it was a healthy, live pine tree right on top of that rock. So a rock will not necessarily stop a plant from growing. If you've ever been to Yosemite, And some of that part of the country, you look up and you see a solid sheet of rock, a mountain that is a solid sheet of rock. And right in a crevice somewhere, you see a big tree growing right out of that solid rock. And what it is, there's a little split in that rock. And the seed was able to penetrate into the ground in that split, and you have a tree growing up there.

[John Weaver] It's unbelievable. So when you and I think of stony ground, we normally think of Ground just has a lot of rocks in it, but that's not true. When our Lord speaks of stony ground, He's talking about a ground or a field in which there's only a few inches of topsoil and under it is a solid layer of stone or solid layer of rock. In such a field, plants really cannot find much depth. They cannot really take root and therefore they spring up very quickly.

[John Weaver] Let me give you a comparison before I get started. If you had two gardens, one with what you and I would call good soil or good ground, where that soil has been tilled and plowed deeply, and over here you have a second garden and the soil is very shallow and under it is a solid layer of rock and you till it as deep as you can till it because of the rock. If you plant gardens on both plots in both types of soils, you're going to make a very important and clear and cogent observation just shortly. Here's what's going to happen. You're going to be admiring your stony ground garden because all of a sudden those plants are going to shoot up and spring up very quickly. They're going to look green and they're going to look great and you're going to wish that your good ground garden would do as well as this stony ground garden. In fact, you're going to be absolutely amazed at how good your stony ground garden really does. In fact, you become concerned that your good ground garden is not doing any good at all.

[John Weaver] because over on the stony ground you already have plants up and they look green and they look great and over here on the good ground you don't even have any plants up they're not even protruding from the soil and you think, man I wish this garden would do as well as this garden what's the difference? why is it the stony ground garden looks so great so quickly? the answer is this the stony ground garden looks great simply because those seeds that you planted cannot produce a solid root structure. Yes, they have some roots, but they're very shallow, and consequently all the energy of that plant is gone to producing the stalk, shooting it up above ground. When you look at the good ground garden, and you say it's doing poorly, there's nothing up. That's because the seed is developing a root system first. And once it has a stable root system, then it begins to send energy to the plant to send the stalk up above ground. So you've got these two gardens, and you're looking then at this stony ground garden, and it appears fine, it appears great and healthy, it promises great results until the heat comes.

[John Weaver] Or the wind comes. Or a rainstorm like we had recently with seven or eight inches of rain. And all of a sudden, all of those plants on the stony ground fall over and die. Because they cannot take the pressure. They cannot take the tribulation. Now, the stony ground here, according to our Lord, is much like this. The stony ground here, or the shallow ground here, is one who immediately rejoices at the Word of God.

[John Weaver] He receives it quickly, joyfully, readily, and easily. He's exuberant, he's responsive, and he's joyful. He's excited about the Word of God. And he excites all of those who are around him, and those who are around him marvel at how easily and how quickly he was converted. There are peers in his life A promise of real fruit. But appearances fade away very quickly. Because he fades away and he falls away very quickly.

[John Weaver] Because the shallow ground hearer cannot take persecution. He cannot take prosecution. He cannot take tests and trials and tribulations. And in such problems, his attitude quickly becomes, well, if I have to go through this to be a Christian, I don't want any part of Or I did not sign up for all of this or the cost is too high. And he jumps out as quickly as he jumped in. He does not want to suffer or face any difficulties for the truth's sake.

[John Weaver] Each of us have seen and have known individuals like this. They respond so quickly and so readily and so easily to the word of God. They begin with a burst of energy. Their motivation is great. And you look at that individual and you think that boy, this man is going to set the world on fire. And a year later. You can't find him. Sometimes it does not even take a year. Sometimes just months. Weeks. Or sometimes, just a few days. Our Lord is talking about the man who hears with a shallow heart.

[John Weaver] The seed fell on stony ground. Now, what are the lessons that we are to learn from the stony ground hearer? Let me give them to you. First, and I want you to listen very carefully to what I am about to say. Okay? First, We must learn that there is such a thing as a temporary believer. Now, I did not say that there was such a thing as a temporary Christian. I said we must learn that there is such a thing as a temporary believer. Now, if you define. A Christian.

[John Weaver] As someone who is Christ like. Then yes, I'm afraid there are temporary Christians as well, because there are times in our lives that none of us act like Christ consistently and constantly. But I'm not using the word Christian like that. I'm using the word Christian to refer to true, genuine believers that have been regenerated and converted and have repented of their sins and believe savingly upon Jesus Christ. In that sense of the word, there is no such thing as a temporary Christian. A real, genuine Christian does not apostatize and he does not leave the faith. But the Scripture is teaching us there is such a thing as a temporary believer.

[John Weaver] You say, how do you know that? Well, because the Bible tells us. I want you to look in your Bibles, first of all, to Matthew 13. and verse 31. I want you to see. What the Scripture says Matthew Chapter 13. And verse 21. Matthew 13 verse 21. Look at what our Lord says now he's talking about the stony ground here or the shallow hearted here and he says this. Matthew 13 verse 21, yet hath he not rooted himself, but dureth for a while.

[John Weaver] For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended." Now look, if you would, at Mark 4, verse 17. Our Lord, once again, is interpreting this parable for us. Mark 4, verse 17, he says this, talking about the stony ground here,"...and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time." Afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. Now, if you look in the book of Luke chapter 8 and verse 13, again, our Lord is talking about the shallow hearted or the stony ground hearer. And he says this.

[John Weaver] This is his interpretation, not mine. In Luke 8 and verse 13, he says. They on the rock are they which when they hear receive the word with joy, And these have no root, which for a while believe, and in the time of temptation fall away.

[John Weaver] Now, I've given you three phrases from Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Matthew says he doeth for a while. Mark says he endures for a time. And in Luke he says, which for a while believe. So the only conclusion that you can come to is there is such a thing as a temporary believer. They are not saved. They've never been saved, but they temporarily believe. They may have joined the church. They may have gotten baptized. They may sing in the choir. They may even teach a Sunday school class temporarily, but they're not saved.

[John Weaver] And how do we know? And the answer is, because the Word of God specifically tells us. I want you to look at Mark chapter 4 again, and let's begin reading at verse 14. And I want you to see this in light of the context.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to remember the message that I preached last week. Did you lose something on the wayside here? Watch this carefully. Mark chapter 4 and verse 14. The sower soweth the word. Now watch. Our Lord says, And these are they by the wayside where the word is sown. But when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a question. Is the wayside here saved? It couldn't possibly be because the word of God is stolen from him. OK, now watch verse 16.

[John Weaver] Now our Lord is talking about the stony ground here. And he says, And these are they Likewise, in other words, they're just like the wayside here. These are they likewise, which are sown on stony ground, who would they have heard the word immediately receive it with gladness. In other words, obviously, clearly, these are they likewise, in other words, the stony ground here is in the same predicament as the wayside here. The wayside here have the word of God stolen from him. He was negligent. He had no concern for the Word of God. And now our Lord says these that fall on stony ground, they are likewise. In other words, just as the wayside hearer is lost, so our Lord says the stony ground hearer is lost as well.

[John Weaver] Now, I don't know if you've ever asked yourself this question or not, but I'm going to ask it. Have you ever considered and have you ever asked yourself, Why do professing believers? Leave the church. Leave the faith. And walk away from everything. That has to do with Christianity. Have you ever asked that question? The truth of the matter is, we're given the answer to that question. And the reason they leave the faith and leave the church and leave any and everything to do with Christianity Just because they were never Christians to begin with.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in your Bibles to 1st John, chapter 2 and verse 19. 1st John, chapter 2 and verse 19. I want you to look at what the Apostle John teaches us. 1st John 2 and verse 19. Here it is. 1st John 2, verse 19. John talking about these people. He says they went out from us. But they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. Now, would you look what John says? They went out.

[John Weaver] That is, they left and they forsook the true believers. They forsook the church. They forsook the work of God. that it might be made manifest that they were not genuinely converted to begin with. John clearly states, for if they had been of us, that is, if they had really, genuinely been one of us, no doubt, he said, they would have continued with us. True believers always persevere in faith and repentance and obedience, and they hold steadfast to the Word of God. Those who are truly regenerate, those who are born of incorruptible seed and trust Christ and continue in the apostles doctrine and fellowship of the church as true believers, they will not and they cannot ever apostatize. You say, but true believers have trials, true believers have tribulations, true believers have problems. Yes, they do. And yes, we do. And yes, I do. And yes, you do. But tests and trials and persecution will always drive a true believer closer to the Lord Jesus Christ, closer to His Word.

[John Weaver] It will drive him to claim His promises, and it will drive him to seek divine help and mercy. Those who have real faith will never defect and never apostatize. Those who do not have real genuine faith will always defect and will always apostatize. I want you to understand one simple truth. The Lord knows who belongs to him. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 10, John, chapter 10. I'm sure many of you can quote this passage, but I want you to turn there because I'm going to show you the opposite truth in just a moment. Look in John, chapter 10. And notice, if you would please, verse 14 and what our Lord said, John chapter 10 and verse 14. Look at what our Lord says. John 10, verse 14, our Lord said, I'm the good shepherd. I know my sheep. And I'm known of mine. What does he say? I know my sheep. Now let me just quote a verse and then we're going to look at another verse here in John chapter 10.

[John Weaver] In 2 Timothy chapter 2 in verse 19. The Bible says this. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

[John Weaver] Now listen to that again. The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. Now, when our Lord says, I know my sheep. And when the scripture tells us that he knows his own people. There's an opposite truth. He also knows who does not belong to him. For instance, look in John 10 and verse 26. John 10 in verse 26, and look what he told those Pharisees. He said.

[John Weaver] But you believe me not. Because you're not of my sheep, as I said unto you, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. So our Lord knows not only who his sheep is. Or who his sheep are. Plural. The sheep is singular or plural. Isn't that amazing? But he also knows who does not belong to him. I got out of that one easily.

[John Weaver] So I want to read to you what John Gill said about the stony ground here. I want you to listen carefully. Just one little paragraph. John Gill wrote, He is one, talking about the stoning around here, the shallow-hearted here, he says, he is one that not only constantly attends upon it, but he receives it, he gives an assent to it, he believes in it historically, makes a profession of his faith in it, holds it for a while,

[John Weaver] being under some convictions of the truth of it, and having some speculative notions of it, and lightened his understanding and judgment in it, He has some flashes of natural affection for it, and delivers some outward expressions of pleasure and delight in it, like Herod and the heroes of John the Baptist, but has no heart work, and so is like the rock in stony ground. The natural hardness of his heart continues.

[John Weaver] It remains unbroken by the word, without any true sense of sin and repentance for it, and destitute of spiritual life, of true faith, love, joy, hence, And his profession is taken up in haste, immediately upon a flash of affection and a little head knowledge, he does not last long, nor prove honorable. So scripture is telling us there is such a thing as a temporary believer. So when you see people fall away from the faith and you see people leave the church and leave other believers and want nothing to do with Christianity, mark her down. They were a temporary believer.

[John Weaver] And they went out from us that it might be made manifest. They were not of us, for had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us.

[John Weaver] Now, here's a second truth we've got to learn from the stony ground here. We must understand that not all joyful response to the word of God is a saving response. Not all joyful response to the word of God is a saving response. All true Christians are happy to see people respond positively to the Word of God. We're especially thrilled when we see someone readily and eagerly and quickly and joyfully respond to the Word of God. In fact, we see so little positive response, at times, we're gratified just to see any response. Well, we have an old saying, and everyone in this room has heard it, in fact, You've probably recited it from your youth. Here it is.

[John Weaver] Don't count your chickens before they hatch. OK, we could expand upon that. Don't count your Christians until they prove true. Because you never know what a man is until he gets under persecution, until he gets in tribulations and trials and affliction just because someone gives a joyful response to the Word of God does not mean that he's a genuine Christian. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 8. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John Acts chapter 8. And I want to show you someone who joyfully responded to this truth along with a whole lot of others.

[John Weaver] And yet this one was definitely lost. He was never converted, never saved, never regenerated. Let's begin reading in verse 5. Acts chapter 8 verse 5. I want you to watch carefully now. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many that were possessed with them, and many taken with palsies that were lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Watch this joyful response. And there was great joy in that city.

[John Weaver] But there was a certain man called Simon. which before time in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one, to whom they all gave heed from the least of the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him that they had regard, because that of a long time he bewitched them with sorceries." Now watch.

[John Weaver] But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also. Did you see that? Simon believed also. You've got to remember now, there is such a thing as a temporary believer. Now watch. Then Simon himself believed also. And when he was baptized, wow. He continued with Philip. He not only was baptized, he stayed with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and sights which were done.

[John Weaver] Now, when the apostles, which were Jerusalem, heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost. For as yet he was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, watch, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee. Because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money, for thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thine heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this by wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

[John Weaver] For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." Now, I want you to note something. Here's a man who evidently, joyfully, happily, easily, quickly and readily receive the Word of God. He was not only receptive of the Word of God, he was baptized. He was not only baptized, he continued with Philip. Yet when Peter caught up with Simon, he had some strong words for him. Because when Simon offered the money to buy the gift of the Holy Ghost, look in verse 20. I want you to see this. Here's what Peter said to Simon. By money perish with thee. Because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Now I want you to watch carefully. He said, by money perish with thee. Can I tell you what Peter literally said? Here's what Peter said. Your money go to hell with you. The Greek word perish is Apollia in the Greek. It's a very strong word, and it literally means to go to hell or to go to the destruction which consists of eternal punishment.

[John Weaver] So he told Simon very clearly, your money and you are on your way to hell. And then he said to Peter, then Peter said to Simon, thou shalt neither part nor lot in this matter. In other words, you have nothing to do with Christianity. You're not a Christian. You're not regenerated. You're not saved. That's what he told him. And then he says in verse 23, I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bough of iniquity. Here's a man. That professed faith. And was baptized. And continue to fill.

[John Weaver] And it was lost as he could be. So not all joyful response to the Word of God is a saving response. Simon joyfully responded, but he had nothing to do with Christ or Christianity. In fact, we could say this, that the immediate reception of the Word of God with joy tends to prove that the heart will not retain the seed, for it means, therefore, that the conscience was probably never, ever really penetrated. When you really, genuinely get convicted of your sins, It's a serious matter. And you consider the fact that you are in the presence of God and your sins are so great and plentiful and the punishment they deserve and that God is infinitely holy and infinitely righteous. I mean, conviction of sin makes you a serious person. And if the conscience has never been penetrated, then the seed can take no root. The word which was received for the joy it imparted, when tribulation comes and there is no joy, then the faith is given up. Such a faith is nothing more than a flash in the pan.

[John Weaver] You know where we get the expression of flash in the pan? From those old muzzle loaders. flintlocks, because that powder that was in the pan should set off the powder in the muzzle or in the barrel, but sometimes the pan just flashes and no spark goes in to the barrel, so the weapon is never really fired. It's just a flash in the pan. It's worthless. It's useless.

[John Weaver] And so that's what our Lord is saying about this individual, such a temporary faith and such a joyful response with no root. It's just a flash in the plan. Why? Because immediate joy without conviction of sin is absolutely worthless. And something else you better remember, there is no grace. That has not been counterfeited by the wicked one. For every real grace, there's always a counterfeit. And you need to understand that immediate joy by itself is no indication of a real, genuine conversion.

[John Weaver] So two things we've learned so far. First of all, there is a temporary believer. And secondly, not all joyful response to the word of God is a saving response.

[John Weaver] Thirdly, Time is the great test of faith. Time is the great test of faith. Enduring for a while, believing for a time, and professing and possessing a temporary faith will not suffice. Let me put it to you like this. The one that is ever savingly believed evidences that faith by continuing to believe. The one who is ever savingly repented Evidence is that repentance by continuance in repentance.

[John Weaver] I want you to look back to John Chapter 8 at what our Lord said in verses 30 and 31. John 8 verses 30 and 31. Watch carefully what our Lord says. John 8 verse 30. And as he spake these words. And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed, or then are you my true disciples. What did our Lord say? If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed, or my true disciples.

[John Weaver] Perseverance is always demonstrated by preservation. Now, I want to show you the truth of preservation, I want you to turn. To the book of Jude and hold John, because we're coming right back to John 10, but I want you to look in the book of Jude right before the book of Revelation. I want you to look at the book of Jude and notice if you would. Verse one, Jude one one. It's only one chapter there, so you can only have one chapter. Alright, here we go. Jude 1. Look at verse 1. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James. You know, I've always thought that was interesting. You know who James was? He was the brother of Christ too. And so was Jude, but he says, I'm the brother of James. He doesn't say I'm the brother of Christ. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called. So we are preserved.

[John Weaver] There's no two ways about that. We're not pickled, we're preserved, OK? You're preserved with sweet stuff, you're pickled with sour stuff. I want you to turn back to John chapter 10, just showing you our preservation. I could multiply passages, but watch John chapter 10, beginning there in verse 27. John 10, verse 27. Our Lord says, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

[John Weaver] Now watch, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father which gave them Me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." So Jude says that we are preserved in Jesus Christ. Our Lord said He gives us eternal life, and we shall never perish.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to ask you some questions. How do I know that I have eternal life? How do I know that I am preserved in Jesus Christ? Here's the answer. Our preservation comes to light in our perseverance. Those who have been preserved or enabled to persevere by the grace of God. That's why our Lord said, if you continue in my word, then are my disciples indeed. The proof that we've ever savingly believed is that we continue to believe. The proof that we've ever savingly repented is that we continue in repentance.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn to several other passages that you might not be aware of. First of all, I want you to look in the book of Colossians chapter 1 and verse 23. Then we will turn over to Hebrews. Colossians 1 verse 23. Colossians 1 verse 23. Look what the apostle says. If you continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached unto every creature which is under heaven, whereof I, Paul, am made a minister." What did he say, if you continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel?

[John Weaver] So God then preserves us. But the preserving power and the preserving grace of God comes to light in the fact that He enables us to continue and we do not move away from the faith. We do not move away from repentance. We continue in those things. Look in Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 14. Hebrews 3 and notice verse 14. Here the author of Hebrews says it again very plainly. Hebrews 3 verse 14.

[John Weaver] For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast into the end. What? We are made partakers of Christ if we hold fast. How can any man in his own strength hold fast? We cannot even keep our minds clean and clear by ourselves for one second. And the answer is very clear in Scripture, it is God's preserving power that enables us to persevere. So we've learned. There is such a thing as a temporary believer, we've learned Not all, not all joyful response to the Word of God is a saving response. We've learned that time is a great tester of the faith.

[John Weaver] In other words, you tell me I used to believe, well do you now? I used to be a Christian, are you one now? Time is the great tester of the faith. And the fourth thing we're to learn today is this. Trials and temptations manifest real faith. Fairweather Christians abound everywhere. But the question must be asked, where are the Christians when the storms of life and the persecution and the trials and the tribulations abound? Anyone who forsakes the faith due to trials and tribulations is just revealing the fact that he was never, ever a Christian to begin with. The Apostle Paul in Acts 14 and verse 22 said this, listen carefully, confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and that we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God. What did Paul do? Encourage those believers to continue in the faith and let them understand there was only through much tribulation that we would enter into the kingdom of God. You know, our Lord never promised an easy life.

[John Weaver] He never promised us that as a Christian, everything would be rosy. He never said that we would not have trials and tribulations and persecutions. I want to show you what He did say. I want you to look in John 15. I'm sure that you already know what I'm about to point out, Here's what our Lord did say, and we can put this down for truth. John chapter 15, look in verse 18. Look what our Lord said. If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you. But because you're not of the world, but I've chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord.

[John Weaver] And if they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my saying, they'll keep yours also. He said, but all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. So our Lord said, look, you're going to have trials. You're going to be hated. You're going to be despised. You're going to be persecuted. So just mark it down.

[John Weaver] You remember that passage I read it earlier and first John chapter two and verse 19, where John said they went out from us. Why? That it might be made manifest. They were none of us. If you flee in a test, in a trial, in a tribulation, in persecution. Our Lord says it's evident, it's evidence that you were never, ever genuinely saved to begin with.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to tell you something. One of the reasons our Lord allows persecution and tests and trials is it's absolutely necessary for the church. And we should never ever be disturbed and upset or perturbed by what happens to us or what happens to other Christians. Or what happens to a lot of people in general. You remember In the Old Testament, when they were cleaning the wheat, they would usually go up on the top of a hill or a mountain where you had a good wind. They'd throw the wheat up in there on a sheet. And as the chaff hit in the air, the wind took the chaff and blew it away.

[John Weaver] And all you had basically was a real genuine grain left. You know what persecution, tribulation does? It separates the wheat from the chaff. I have known individuals who really seem to be gung-ho Christians and boy this and we'll do this and we'll do that and you let trouble come, you let persecution come and they flee like rats from a sinking ship. They can't take the pressure. Persecutions.

[John Weaver] And trials and afflictions are a great way to purge the flock. Because you're going to find that only real, genuine, committed Christians will remain and stay true. Four things that we're to learn. Let me make some applications. The first one is this. We must remember the old Puritan saying, I've quoted it often, but please remember it. Or the old Puritans used to say, the sharp needle of the law must precede the scarlet thread of the gospel. Anyone that has not been thoroughly convicted of his sins, even if he gives a joyful response to the Word of God, will not remain. He cannot remain.

[John Weaver] It's impossible for the seed to penetrate a stony heart. So if that sharp needle of the law has not broken that stony heart and produced real, genuine conviction and real, genuine repentance, the response given will not stand.

[John Weaver] Secondly, many are much affected with the word for the immediate present, yet they receive no real benefit or abiding benefit from it. It's much like the crackling of thorns under a pot. You can get a bunch of thorns, dried grass, put it under your pot, it will ignite instantly, burn brightly and beautifully. But oh so shortly. And it's gone. Likewise, the stony ground here is burn and shine temporarily only because they're temporary believers.

[John Weaver] You've got to remember, even King Herod, the Bible tells us, heard John and heard him gladly. But he still cut his head off. And was still unrepentant. And did you know this same King Herod? was glad to see Jesus Christ. In fact, Luke 23 and verse 8 says he was exceedingly glad. Why? For he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Not that he wanted to believe in Him or trust in Him.

[John Weaver] So just because someone is affected immediately does not mean that it's permanently. Because time is the great test of faith. You've got to remember, there are those that rejoice at the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, but their rejoicing is shallow and superficial. It's much like in Ezekiel 33 and verse 32, where God told Ezekiel, he said, Son of man, all you are to these people is a very lovely song. He said, they come to you as my people. They sit before you as my people, but they don't listen. And they don't receive.

[John Weaver] And all you are to them is entertainment. That's it. Just entertainment. So the question is, how deep is your faith? Does it produce fruit? Is it evident? And does it manifest itself in perseverance? The depth of your faith does matter. Because it has not penetrated the heart, the conscience, the mind. Then it's only a temporary faith. And time and persecution will reveal it. What we want is real, genuinely, conversions, real genuine conversions that are evidenced and manifested by our continuance in truth and in the Word of God. Without it, there are no real Christians. Real Christians are made by God, not by circumstances, not by situations, not by responses. They're made by the grace and the power of God.

[John Weaver] The wayside here was lost. The stony ground here is lost. It does matter how deep our faith really is. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your love, for your grace, for your mercy, for your truth. And we ask, Heavenly Father, that you would be pleased to make us understand these principles to bring our lives into greater conformity in Your Word and give us grace, Lord, to persevere and continue in those graces and mercies in our lives. Give us grace that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray, Amen.

[John Weaver] This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, You may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N Street, Suite 705, P-M-B 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-925-7000.

[John Weaver] You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com

How Deep is Your Faith

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	59131444120
Subject	Apologetics
Course	Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture
Genre	Sermon
Date	2013-02-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 064: Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	73

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review of the Wayside Hearer

Weaver reviews the previous sermon on the wayside hearer, noting Satan's activity, the need for heart preparation, and the hearer's negligence.

Mark chapter 4, we're going to read verses 5 and 6, and then verses 16 and 17. The title of the message is, "How Deep Is Your Faith?" How Deep Is Your Faith? So look at Mark chapter 4, beginning there with verse 5. Our Lord says, "And some fell on stony ground where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth." "But when the sun was up, it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away." Now if you'll skip down to verse 16, you'll see how our Lord interprets this parable. He says,

Scripture Reading — Mark 4:16-17

"...and these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness, and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended."

The parable of the sower, as I pointed out last week, is also sometimes known as the parable of the soils. And it's all about hearing the Word of God. I pointed out last week as well that there are four distinct types of hearers that are given to us in this parable. Each one of these hearers was not only present in our Lord's time, but they are also present in our time as well. I want you to notice how our Lord began this parable. Look in Mark 4 and verse 3. He says, "Hearken."

"Behold, there went out a sower to sow." So begins with the word "Hearken," and if you'll skip down to verse 23, he ends the parable. Basically, he says this, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." So you begin with "Hearken," and then "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." Now let me remind you just of last week's message and the main points. Because the title of last week's message was, "Did You Lose Something?" And it was all about the wayside hearer. I told you that there was another name for the wayside hearer. Sometimes he is called the hard-hearted hearer. But the main points that I covered last week was this. That first of all, whenever the Word of God is preached, there's a present activity of Satan to hinder and destroy and disturb. So mark it down, whenever the Word of God is preached, there is always Satan, according to this parable, attempting to steal the Word of God.

The second point I made is this. Unless our hearts are prepared, we will never benefit from the Word of God. And obviously the wayside hearer's heart was never prepared because the seed fell upon the wayside. It was trod upon. He could care less about it, and obviously the ground was not tilled. There was nothing there concerning preparation. And the third point I made was this, that the wayside hearer was a negligent hearer. The seed was there in plain sight. He could have picked it up. He did not. So he cared absolutely nothing about it. I want you to understand it is our responsibility to make sure that we hear the word of God. You remember the scripture said, and I gave it last week, "Take heed what you hear." Then in Luke 8 in verse 18, he said, "Take heed how you hear." So it's our responsibility not only to hear the Word of God, to make sure also that it does not slip from our mind. Now today I want to come and consider the second type of hearer.

The Stony Ground Hearer Described

The stony ground hearer is characterized by shallow soil over rock, causing quick sprouting but no root, leading to withering under sun.

He's also known not only as the stony ground hearer, but also as a shallow-hearted hearer. Look in your Bibles to verse 5, Mark 4 verse 5, "And some fell on stony ground where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, it was scorched because it had no root, it withered away." Now, I want you to connect the words "stony" and "shallow."

Illustration of Stony Ground vs. Good Ground

Weaver contrasts two gardens: stony ground plants shoot up quickly but die under heat, while good ground plants develop roots first and endure.

Let me give you a comparison before I get started. If you had two gardens, one with what you and I would call good soil or good ground, where that soil has been tilled and plowed deeply, and over here you have a second garden and the soil is very shallow and under it is a solid layer of rock and you till it as deep as you can till it because of the rock. If you plant gardens on both plots in both types of soils, you're going to make a very important and clear and cogent observation just shortly. Here's what's going to happen. You're going to be admiring your stony ground garden because all of a sudden those plants are going to shoot up and spring up very quickly. They're going to look green and they're going to look great and you're going to wish that your good ground garden would do as well as this stony ground garden. In fact, you're going to be absolutely amazed at how good your stony ground garden really does. In fact, you become concerned that your good ground garden is not doing any good at all.

Because over on the stony ground you already have plants up and they look green and they look great and over here on the good ground you don't even have any plants up, they're not even protruding from the soil and you think, "Man, I wish this garden would do as well as this garden." What's the difference? Why is it the stony ground garden looks so great so quickly? The answer is this: the stony ground garden looks great simply because those seeds that you planted cannot produce a solid root structure. Yes, they have some roots, but they're very shallow, and consequently all the energy of that plant is gone to producing the stalk, shooting it up above ground. When you look at the good ground garden, and you say it's doing poorly, there's nothing up. That's because the seed is developing a root system first. And once it has a stable root system, then it begins to send energy to the plant to send the stalk up above ground. So you've got these two gardens, and you're looking then at this stony ground garden, and it appears fine, it appears great and healthy, it promises great results until the heat comes.

Or the wind comes. Or a rainstorm like we had recently with seven or eight inches of rain. And all of a sudden, all of those plants on the stony ground fall over and die. Because they cannot take the pressure. They cannot take the tribulation. Now, the stony ground hearer, according to our Lord, is much like this. The stony ground hearer, or the shallow ground hearer, is one who immediately rejoices at the Word of God.

The Shallow-Hearted Hearer's Response

The stony ground hearer receives the Word with immediate joy and excitement but falls away quickly when persecution or trials arise.

He receives it quickly, joyfully, readily, and easily. He's exuberant, he's responsive, and he's joyful. He's excited about the Word of God. And he excites all of those who are around him, and those who are around him marvel at how easily and how quickly he was converted. There are peers in his life, a promise of real fruit. But appearances fade away very quickly. Because he fades away and he falls away very quickly.

Because the shallow ground hearer cannot take persecution. He cannot take prosecution. He cannot take tests and trials and tribulations. And in such problems, his attitude quickly becomes, "Well, if I have to go through this to be a Christian, I don't want any part of it." Or "I did not sign up for all of this" or "The cost is too high." And he jumps out as quickly as he jumped in. He does not want to suffer or face any difficulties for the truth's sake.

Lesson 1: There Is Such a Thing as a Temporary Believer

Scripture teaches that some believe for a while but are not truly saved; they endure only temporarily and are lost like the wayside hearer.

The seed fell on stony ground. Now, what are the lessons that we are to learn from the stony ground hearer? Let me give them to you. First, and I want you to listen very carefully to what I am about to say. Okay? First, we must learn that there is such a thing as a temporary believer. Now, I did not say that there was such a thing as a temporary Christian. I said we must learn that there is such a thing as a temporary believer. Now, if you define a Christian...

As someone who is Christ-like, then yes, I'm afraid there are temporary Christians as well, because there are times in our lives that none of us act like Christ consistently and constantly. But I'm not using the word Christian like that. I'm using the word Christian to refer to true, genuine believers that have been regenerated and converted and have repented of their sins and believe savingly upon Jesus Christ. In that sense of the word, there is no such thing as a temporary Christian. A real, genuine Christian does not apostatize and he does not leave the faith. But the Scripture is teaching us there is such a thing as a temporary believer. You say, how do you know that? Well, because the Bible tells us. I want you to look in your Bibles, first of all, to Matthew 13 and verse 21. I want you to see what the Scripture says. Matthew chapter 13 and verse 21. Look at what our Lord says now he's talking about the stony ground hearer or the shallow-hearted hearer and he says this. Matthew 13 verse 21, "Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while."

"For when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." Now look, if you would, at Mark 4, verse 17. Our Lord, once again, is interpreting this parable for us. Mark 4, verse 17, he says this, talking about the stony ground hearer, "...and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." Now, if you look in the book of Luke chapter 8 and verse 13, again, our Lord is talking about the shallow-hearted or the stony ground hearer. And he says this. This is his interpretation, not mine. In Luke 8 and verse 13, he says, "They on the rock are they which when they hear receive the word with joy, and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in the time of temptation fall away."

Now, I've given you three phrases from Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Matthew says he "dureth for a while." Mark says he "endures for a time." And in Luke he says, "which for a while believe." So the only conclusion that you can come to is there is such a thing as a temporary believer. They are not saved. They've never been saved, but they temporarily believe. They may have joined the church. They may have gotten baptized. They may sing in the choir. They may even teach a Sunday school class temporarily, but they're not saved.

And how do we know? And the answer is, because the Word of God specifically tells us. I want you to look at Mark chapter 4 again, and let's begin reading at verse 14. And I want you to see this in light of the context.

Now, I want you to remember the message that I preached last week. "Did You Lose Something?" on the wayside hearer. Watch this carefully. Mark chapter 4 and verse 14.

Scripture Reading — Mark 4:14-16

"The sower soweth the word."

Now watch. Our Lord says,

Scripture Reading — Mark 4:14-16

"And these are they by the wayside where the word is sown. But when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts."

Now, let me ask you a question. Is the wayside hearer saved? It couldn't possibly be because the word of God is stolen from him. OK, now watch verse 16.

Now our Lord is talking about the stony ground hearer. And he says, "And these are they likewise." In other words, they're just like the wayside hearer. "These are they likewise, which are sown on stony ground, who when they have heard the word immediately receive it with gladness." In other words, obviously, clearly, "these are they likewise," in other words, the stony ground hearer is in the same predicament as the wayside hearer. The wayside hearer had the word of God stolen from him. He was negligent. He had no concern for the Word of God. And now our Lord says these that fall on stony ground, they are likewise. In other words, just as the wayside hearer is lost, so our Lord says the stony ground hearer is lost as well.

Now, I don't know if you've ever asked yourself this question or not, but I'm going to ask it. Have you ever considered and have you ever asked yourself, why do professing believers leave the church? Leave the faith? And walk away from everything that has to do with Christianity? Have you ever asked that question? The truth of the matter is, we're given the answer to that question. And the reason they leave the faith and leave the church and leave any and everything to do with Christianity is just because they were never Christians to begin with.

Lesson 2: Not All Joyful Response Is Saving

Immediate joy without conviction of sin is not evidence of genuine conversion; Simon the sorcerer is an example of a false, temporary believer.

Now, here's a second truth we've got to learn from the stony ground hearer. We must understand that not all joyful response to the word of God is a saving response. Not all joyful response to the word of God is a saving response. All true Christians are happy to see people respond positively to the Word of God. We're especially thrilled when we see someone readily and eagerly and quickly and joyfully respond to the Word of God. In fact, we see so little positive response, at times, we're gratified just to see any response. Well, we have an old saying, and everyone in this room has heard it, in fact, you've probably recited it from your youth. Here it is.

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch." OK, we could expand upon that. "Don't count your Christians until they prove true." Because you never know what a man is until he gets under persecution, until he gets in tribulations and trials and affliction. Just because someone gives a joyful response to the Word of God does not mean that he's a genuine Christian. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 8. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Acts chapter 8. And I want to show you someone who joyfully responded to this truth along with a whole lot of others. And yet this one was definitely lost. He was never converted, never saved, never regenerated. Let's begin reading in verse 5. Acts chapter 8 verse 5. I want you to watch carefully now.

Scripture Reading — Acts 8:5-23

"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many that were possessed with them, and many taken with palsies that were lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city."

Watch this joyful response.

Scripture Reading — Acts 8:5-23

"And there was great joy in that city."

"But there was a certain man called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one, to whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of a long time he bewitched them with sorceries." Now watch. "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also." Did you see that? Simon believed also. You've got to remember now, there is such a thing as a temporary believer. Now watch. "Then Simon himself believed also. And when he was baptized," wow. "He continued with Philip." He not only was baptized, he stayed with Philip "and wondered, beholding the miracles and sights which were done."

"Now, when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost. For as yet he was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money," watch, "saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money, for thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thine heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."

"For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." Now, I want you to note something. Here's a man who evidently, joyfully, happily, easily, quickly and readily received the Word of God. He was not only receptive of the Word of God, he was baptized. He was not only baptized, he continued with Philip. Yet when Peter caught up with Simon, he had some strong words for him. Because when Simon offered the money to buy the gift of the Holy Ghost, look in verse 20. I want you to see this. Here's what Peter said to Simon. "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." Now I want you to watch carefully. He said, "Thy money perish with thee." Can I tell you what Peter literally said? Here's what Peter said. "Your money go to hell with you." The Greek word "perish" is "apoleia" in the Greek. It's a very strong word, and it literally means to go to hell or to go to the destruction which consists of eternal punishment.

So he told Simon very clearly, "Your money and you are on your way to hell." And then he said to Peter—then Peter said to Simon, "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter." In other words, you have nothing to do with Christianity. You're not a Christian. You're not regenerated. You're not saved. That's what he told him. And then he says in verse 23, "I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity." Here's a man that professed faith, and was baptized, and continued with Philip. And he was as lost as he could be. So not all joyful response to the Word of God is a saving response. Simon joyfully responded, but he had nothing to do with Christ or Christianity. In fact, we could say this, that the immediate reception of the Word of God with joy tends to prove that the heart will not retain the seed, for it means, therefore, that the conscience was probably never, ever really penetrated. When you really, genuinely get convicted of your sins, it's a serious matter. And you consider the fact that you are in the presence of God and your sins are so great and plentiful and the punishment they deserve and that God is infinitely holy and infinitely righteous. I mean, conviction of sin makes you a serious person. And if the conscience has never been penetrated, then the seed can take no root. The word which was received for the joy it imparted, when tribulation comes and there is no joy, then the faith is given up. Such a faith is nothing more than a flash in the pan.

Lesson 3: Time Is the Great Test of Faith

True faith perseveres; those who are preserved by God continue in faith and repentance, proving they are genuine disciples.

Thirdly, time is the great test of faith. Time is the great test of faith. Enduring for a while, believing for a time, and professing and possessing a temporary faith will not suffice. Let me put it to you like this. The one that is ever savingly believed evidences that faith by continuing to believe. The one who is ever savingly repented evidences that repentance by continuance in repentance. I want you to look back to John chapter 8 at what our Lord said in verses 30 and 31. John 8 verses 30 and 31. Watch carefully what our Lord says. John 8 verse 30.

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-31

"And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed,"

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-31

"then are ye my true disciples."

What did our Lord say?

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-31

"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed,"

or "my true disciples."

Perseverance is always demonstrated by preservation. Now, I want to show you the truth of preservation, I want you to turn to the book of Jude and hold John, because we're coming right back to John 10, but I want you to look in the book of Jude right before the book of Revelation. I want you to look at the book of Jude and notice if you would, verse 1. Jude 1:1. It's only one chapter there, so you can only have one chapter. Alright, here we go. Jude 1. Look at verse 1. "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James." You know, I've always thought that was interesting. You know who James was? He was the brother of Christ too. And so was Jude, but he says, "I'm the brother of James." He doesn't say "I'm the brother of Christ." "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called." So we are preserved.

There's no two ways about that. We're not pickled, we're preserved, OK? You're preserved with sweet stuff, you're pickled with sour stuff. I want you to turn back to John chapter 10, just showing you our preservation. I could multiply passages, but watch John chapter 10, beginning there in verse 27. John 10, verse 27. Our Lord says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

Now watch, "And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father which gave them Me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." So Jude says that we are preserved in Jesus Christ. Our Lord said He gives us eternal life, and we shall never perish.

Now, I want to ask you some questions. How do I know that I have eternal life? How do I know that I am preserved in Jesus Christ? Here's the answer. Our preservation comes to light in our perseverance. Those who have been preserved are enabled to persevere by the grace of God. That's why our Lord said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." The proof that we've ever savingly believed is that we continue to believe. The proof that we've ever savingly repented is that we continue in repentance.

Now, I want you to turn to several other passages that you might not be aware of. First of all, I want you to look in the book of Colossians chapter 1 and verse 23. Then we will turn over to Hebrews. Colossians 1 verse 23. Colossians 1 verse 23. Look what the apostle says. "If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached unto every creature which is under heaven, whereof I, Paul, am made a minister." What did he say? "If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel."

So God then preserves us. But the preserving power and the preserving grace of God comes to light in the fact that He enables us to continue and we do not move away from the faith. We do not move away from repentance. We continue in those things. Look in Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 14. Hebrews 3 and notice verse 14. Here the author of Hebrews says it again very plainly. Hebrews 3 verse 14.

"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." What? We are made partakers of Christ if we hold fast. How can any man in his own strength hold fast? We cannot even keep our minds clean and clear by ourselves for one second. And the answer is very clear in Scripture, it is God's preserving power that enables us to persevere. So we've learned there is such a thing as a temporary believer, we've learned not all joyful response to the Word of God is a saving response. We've learned that time is a great tester of the faith.

Lesson 4: Trials and Temptations Manifest Real Faith

Persecution and tribulation separate true believers from false; those who forsake the faith under pressure reveal they were never truly saved.

In other words, you tell me "I used to believe," well do you now? "I used to be a Christian," are you one now? Time is the great tester of the faith. And the fourth thing we're to learn today is this. Trials and temptations manifest real faith. Fair-weather Christians abound everywhere. But the question must be asked, where are the Christians when the storms of life and the persecution and the trials and the tribulations abound? Anyone who forsakes the faith due to trials and tribulations is just revealing the fact that he was never, ever a Christian to begin with. The Apostle Paul in Acts 14 and verse 22 said this, listen carefully,

Scripture Reading — Acts 14:22

"Confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and that we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God."

What did Paul do? Encourage those believers to continue in the faith and let them understand there was only through much tribulation that we would enter into the kingdom of God. You know, our Lord never promised an easy life.

He never promised us that as a Christian, everything would be rosy. He never said that we would not have trials and tribulations and persecutions. I want to show you what He did say. I want you to look in John 15. I'm sure that you already know what I'm about to point out. Here's what our Lord did say, and we can put this down for truth. John chapter 15, look in verse 18. Look what our Lord said.

Scripture Reading — John 15:18-21

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own. But because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord." "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my saying, they'll keep yours also."

He said,

Scripture Reading — John 15:18-21

"But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me."

So our Lord said, look, you're going to have trials. You're going to be hated. You're going to be despised. You're going to be persecuted. So just mark it down. You remember that passage I read it earlier in 1 John chapter 2 and verse 19, where John said "they went out from us." Why? "That it might be made manifest they were none of us." If you flee in a test, in a trial, in a tribulation, in persecution, our Lord says it's evident, it's evidence that you were never, ever genuinely saved to begin with.

Now, I want to tell you something. One of the reasons our Lord allows persecution and tests and trials is it's absolutely necessary for the church. And we should never ever be disturbed and upset or perturbed by what happens to us or what happens to other Christians. Or what happens to a lot of people in general. You remember in the Old Testament, when they were cleaning the wheat, they would usually go up on the top of a hill or a mountain where you had a good wind. They'd throw the wheat up in there on a sheet. And as the chaff hit in the air, the wind took the chaff and blew it away.

And all you had basically was a real genuine grain left. You know what persecution, tribulation does? It separates the wheat from the chaff. I have known individuals who really seem to be gung-ho Christians and "boy this" and "we'll do this" and "we'll do that" and you let trouble come, you let persecution come and they flee like rats from a sinking ship. They can't take the pressure. Persecutions. And trials and afflictions are a great way to purge the flock. Because you're going to find that only real, genuine, committed Christians will remain and stay true. Four things that we're to learn. Let me make some applications. The first one is this. We must remember the old Puritan saying, I've quoted it often, but please remember it. Or the old Puritans used to say, "The sharp needle of the law must precede the scarlet thread of the gospel." Anyone that has not been thoroughly convicted of his sins, even if he gives a joyful response to the Word of God, will not remain. He cannot remain.

Applications and Conclusion

Weaver applies the lessons: the law must convict before the gospel heals; shallow responses are temporary; true faith is evidenced by perseverance and fruit.

It's impossible for the seed to penetrate a stony heart. So if that sharp needle of the law has not broken that stony heart and produced real, genuine conviction and real, genuine repentance, the response given will not stand. Secondly, many are much affected with the word for the immediate present, yet they receive no real benefit or abiding benefit from it. It's much like the crackling of thorns under a pot. You can get a bunch of thorns, dried grass, put it under your pot, it will ignite instantly, burn brightly and beautifully. But oh so shortly. And it's gone. Likewise, the stony ground hearer burns and shines temporarily only because they're temporary believers.

You've got to remember, even King Herod, the Bible tells us, heard John and heard him gladly. But he still cut his head off. And was still unrepentant. And did you know this same King Herod was glad to see Jesus Christ. In fact, Luke 23 and verse 8 says he was exceedingly glad. Why? For he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Not that he wanted to believe in Him or trust in Him.

So just because someone is affected immediately does not mean that it's permanently. Because time is the great test of faith. You've got to remember, there are those that rejoice at the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, but their rejoicing is shallow and superficial. It's much like in Ezekiel 33 and verse 32, where God told Ezekiel, He said, "Son of man, all you are to these people is a very lovely song." He said, "They come to you as my people. They sit before you as my people, but they don't listen. And they don't receive." And all you are to them is entertainment. That's it. Just entertainment. So the question is, how deep is your faith? Does it produce fruit? Is it evident? And does it manifest itself in perseverance? The depth of your faith does matter. Because if it has not penetrated the heart, the conscience, the mind, then it's only a temporary faith. And time and persecution will reveal it. What we want is real, genuine conversions, real genuine conversions that are evidenced and manifested by our continuance in truth and in the Word of God. Without it, there are no real Christians. Real Christians are made by God, not by circumstances, not by situations, not by responses. They're made by the grace and the power of God.

The wayside hearer was lost. The stony ground hearer is lost. It does matter how deep our faith really is. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your love, for your grace, for your mercy, for your truth. And we ask, Heavenly Father, that you would be pleased to make us understand these principles to bring our lives into greater conformity in Your Word and give us grace, Lord, to persevere and continue in those graces and mercies in our lives. Give us grace that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray, Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Temporary Faith vs. Saving Faith

Summary: The sermon distinguishes between temporary belief that withers under trial and genuine, persevering faith that endures.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'there is such a thing as a temporary believer' and cites Matthew 13:21, Mark 4:17, and Luke 8:13 to show some 'believe for a while' but fall away.

The Deceptiveness of Immediate Joyful Response

Summary: Joyful reception of the Word does not guarantee salvation; true conversion requires deep conviction of sin, not just emotional excitement.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'not all joyful response to the word of God is a saving response' and uses Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8 as an example of a joyful but false believer.

Perseverance as Evidence of Genuine Faith

Summary: True believers continue in faith and repentance; those who fall away under persecution demonstrate they were never truly saved.

Evidence: Weaver cites John 8:31, Colossians 1:23, and Hebrews 3:14 to show that continuing in the faith is the mark of true disciples, and 1 John 2:19 to show that those who leave were never of the faith.

The Necessity of Conviction of Sin

Summary: Without the 'sharp needle of the law' breaking the stony heart, any response to the gospel is shallow and temporary.

Evidence: Weaver quotes the Puritan saying, 'The sharp needle of the law must precede the scarlet thread of the gospel,' and explains that without conviction, the seed cannot penetrate a stony heart.

Trials as a Purifying Test

Summary: Persecution and tribulation serve to separate true believers from false, purging the church of those with shallow faith.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'persecution, tribulation does? It separates the wheat from the chaff' and notes that only genuine Christians remain under pressure.

Key Arguments

The stony ground hearer is lost, not saved.

Summary: Weaver argues that the stony ground hearer is in the same lost condition as the wayside hearer, based on Jesus' phrase 'these are they likewise' in Mark 4:16.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'our Lord says the stony ground hearer is lost as well' and points to the parallel with the wayside hearer who had the word stolen.

Temporary believers exist but are not true Christians.

Summary: Scripture describes people who 'believe for a while' but fall away, proving they were never regenerated; true Christians cannot apostatize.

Evidence: Weaver cites Luke 8:13 ('which for a while believe') and 1 John 2:19 to show that those who leave were never truly of the faith.

Joyful response without conviction is worthless.

Summary: Immediate joy at hearing the Word, without deep conviction of sin, indicates a shallow heart that will not endure.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'immediate joy without conviction of sin is absolutely worthless' and uses the example of Simon the sorcerer who believed and was baptized but remained lost.

Perseverance proves preservation.

Summary: Those whom God preserves will persevere in faith; continuing in the Word is the evidence of being a true disciple.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Our preservation comes to light in our perseverance' and cites John 8:31 and Colossians 1:23.

Trials reveal the genuineness of faith.

Summary: Fair-weather Christians abandon the faith under persecution, showing they were never truly saved; trials are necessary to purge the church.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Anyone who forsakes the faith due to trials and tribulations is just revealing the fact that he was never, ever a Christian to begin with' and references Acts 14:22.

Scripture References

Mark 4:5-6

Context: The seed falling on stony ground, springing up quickly but withering under the sun because it had no root.

Mark 4:16-17

Context: Jesus' interpretation: the stony ground hearers receive the word with gladness but have no root and fall away when affliction or persecution arises.

Mark 4:3

Context: Jesus begins the parable with 'Hearken,' emphasizing the call to listen.

Mark 4:23

Context: Jesus ends the parable with 'If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.'

Matthew 13:21

Context: The stony ground hearer endures for a while but is offended when tribulation or persecution arises.

Luke 8:13

Context: Those on the rock believe for a while but in time of temptation fall away.

Mark 4:14-16

Context: The sower sows the word; the wayside hearer has the word stolen by Satan; the stony ground hearer is 'likewise' lost.

1 John 2:19

Context: Those who went out from the church were not truly of them, revealing they were not genuine believers.

John 10:14

Context: Jesus says, 'I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.'

2 Timothy 2:19

Context: The foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: 'The Lord knoweth them that are his.'

John 10:26-27

Context: Jesus tells the Pharisees they believe not because they are not of his sheep; his sheep hear his voice and follow him.

Acts 8:5-23

Context: Simon the sorcerer believed, was baptized, and continued with Philip, but Peter declared his heart was not right and he was in the gall of bitterness.

John 8:30-31

Context: Jesus tells those who believed on him that if they continue in his word, they are his disciples indeed.

Jude 1:1

Context: Believers are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ.

John 10:27-30

Context: Jesus gives his sheep eternal life; they shall never perish, and no one can pluck them out of his hand.

Colossians 1:23

Context: Paul says believers are reconciled if they continue in the faith, grounded and settled, not moved away from the hope of the gospel.

Hebrews 3:14

Context: We are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

Acts 14:22

Context: Paul exhorted believers to continue in the faith, saying that through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God.

John 15:18-21

Context: Jesus warns that the world will hate and persecute his followers because it hated him first.

Ezekiel 33:32

Context: God tells Ezekiel that the people treat him as a lovely song but do not listen or obey.

Historical References

John Gill's commentary on the stony ground hearer

Context: Weaver quotes John Gill describing the temporary believer as one with head knowledge and flashes of affection but no heart work, remaining unbroken by the word.

Puritan saying: 'The sharp needle of the law must precede the scarlet thread of the gospel'

Context: Weaver cites this saying to emphasize that conviction of sin must precede genuine conversion.

Herod's hearing of John the Baptist and Jesus

Context: Weaver notes that Herod heard John gladly but beheaded him, and was exceedingly glad to see Jesus hoping for a miracle, yet remained unrepentant.

Important Quotes

There is such a thing as a temporary believer. They are not saved. They've never been saved, but they temporarily believe.

Significance: Central thesis that temporary faith exists but does not indicate salvation.

Not all joyful response to the word of God is a saving response.

Significance: Key warning that emotional joy does not prove genuine conversion.

Immediate joy without conviction of sin is absolutely worthless.

Significance: Emphasizes the necessity of conviction for true faith.

Time is the great test of faith.

Significance: Succinct statement that enduring faith proves genuineness.

Our preservation comes to light in our perseverance.

Significance: Links God's preserving grace with the believer's continuing in faith.

Anyone who forsakes the faith due to trials and tribulations is just revealing the fact that he was never, ever a Christian to begin with.

Significance: Argues that apostasy under pressure proves a lack of genuine conversion.

The sharp needle of the law must precede the scarlet thread of the gospel.

Significance: Puritan saying used to stress that conviction of sin must come before saving faith.

Discussion Questions

What does the parable of the stony ground teach us about the difference between temporary belief and saving faith?

Context: Weaver explains that the stony ground hearer receives the word with joy but falls away under trial, showing he was never truly saved.

Why is immediate joyful response to the gospel not a reliable indicator of genuine conversion?

Context: Weaver uses Simon the sorcerer as an example of someone who believed and was baptized but remained lost, emphasizing the need for conviction of sin.

How does perseverance serve as evidence of true faith, according to the scriptures cited?

Context: Weaver references John 8:31, Colossians 1:23, and Hebrews 3:14 to show that continuing in the faith is the mark of true disciples.

In what ways do trials and persecutions reveal the genuineness of a person's faith?

Context: Weaver argues that those who forsake the faith under pressure were never truly saved, and that trials separate the wheat from the chaff.

What does the Puritan saying 'The sharp needle of the law must precede the scarlet thread of the gospel' mean, and why is it important?

Context: Weaver applies this saying to stress that without deep conviction of sin, any response to the gospel will be shallow and temporary.

How can we examine the depth of our own faith in light of this parable?

Context: Weaver asks, 'How deep is your faith? Does it produce fruit? Is it evident? And does it manifest itself in perseverance?'

Applications

Examine the depth of your faith

Summary: Weaver challenges listeners to assess whether their faith has truly penetrated the heart and produces perseverance and fruit, or is merely shallow and temporary.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'How deep is your faith? Does it produce fruit? Is it evident? And does it manifest itself in perseverance?'

Do not trust in emotional responses alone

Summary: Listeners are warned not to equate immediate joy or excitement at hearing the Word with genuine salvation; true conversion requires conviction of sin.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'immediate joy without conviction of sin is absolutely worthless' and uses Simon as a cautionary example.

Persevere in faith through trials

Summary: Believers are encouraged to continue in the faith despite tribulations, knowing that perseverance is evidence of God's preserving grace.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Our preservation comes to light in our perseverance' and cites Acts 14:22 about entering the kingdom through much tribulation.

Preach the law before the gospel

Summary: Weaver implies that evangelism must include the convicting work of the law to break stony hearts before the gospel can take root.

Evidence: He quotes the Puritan saying, 'The sharp needle of the law must precede the scarlet thread of the gospel.'

Expect and endure persecution as a Christian

Summary: Weaver reminds believers that Jesus promised hatred and persecution from the world, and that such trials are normal and purifying.

Evidence: He cites John 15:18-21 and says, 'our Lord never promised an easy life.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:49:07Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T01:25:33Z

Clean Transcript

How Deep is Your Faith

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Mark chapter 4, we're going to read verses 5 and 6, and then verses 16 and 17. The title of the message is, "How Deep Is Your Faith?" How Deep Is Your Faith? So look at Mark chapter 4, beginning there with verse 5. Our Lord says, "And some fell on stony ground where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth."
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"But when the sun was up, it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away." Now if you'll skip down to verse 16, you'll see how our Lord interprets this parable. He says, "...and these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness, and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." The parable of the sower, as I pointed out last week, is also sometimes known as the parable of the soils. And it's all about hearing the Word of God. I pointed out last week as well that there are four distinct types of hearers that are given to us in this parable. Each one of these hearers was not only present in our Lord's time, but they are also present in our time as well. I want you to notice how our Lord began this parable. Look in Mark 4 and verse 3. He says, "Hearken."
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"Behold, there went out a sower to sow." So begins with the word "Hearken," and if you'll skip down to verse 23, he ends the parable. Basically, he says this, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." So you begin with "Hearken," and then "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."
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Now let me remind you just of last week's message and the main points. Because the title of last week's message was, "Did You Lose Something?" And it was all about the wayside hearer. I told you that there was another name for the wayside hearer. Sometimes he is called the hard-hearted hearer. But the main points that I covered last week was this. That first of all, whenever the Word of God is preached, there's a present activity of Satan to hinder and destroy and disturb. So mark it down, whenever the Word of God is preached, there is always Satan, according to this parable, attempting to steal the Word of God.
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The second point I made is this. Unless our hearts are prepared, we will never benefit from the Word of God. And obviously the wayside hearer's heart was never prepared because the seed fell upon the wayside. It was trod upon. He could care less about it, and obviously the ground was not tilled. There was nothing there concerning preparation. And the third point I made was this, that the wayside hearer was a negligent hearer. The seed was there in plain sight. He could have picked it up. He did not. So he cared absolutely nothing about it. I want you to understand it is our responsibility to make sure that we hear the word of God. You remember the scripture said, and I gave it last week, "Take heed what you hear." Then in Luke 8 in verse 18, he said, "Take heed how you hear." So it's our responsibility not only to hear the Word of God, to make sure also that it does not slip from our mind. Now today I want to come and consider the second type of hearer.
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He's also known not only as the stony ground hearer, but also as a shallow-hearted hearer. Look in your Bibles to verse 5, Mark 4 verse 5, "And some fell on stony ground where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, it was scorched because it had no root, it withered away." Now, I want you to connect the words "stony" and "shallow."
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Now, there are many gardens and fields with stones in them, and their plants bear quite well. When we hear of stony ground, we tend to think of ground that has an awful lot of rocks in it, or a lot of stones. Now, if you go up north, you're going to find plenty of fields with lots of stones in them. We do not have that problem down south. In fact, there are a few fields that we might find some rocks in, but they're those little red rocks and they're little pebbles, and sometimes you might find a quarter-sized red rock or a 50-cent-sized red rock, but that's about it. But when you go up north, there are simply rocks everywhere.
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But you can have an excellent crop in a rocky field like that. Years ago, I was preaching in Pennsylvania, and I was preaching at a camp. And they had a creek running by this cabin in which I was staying. Now, of course, down here is a creek, up there is a creek. And I tried to explain to them that a creek is what you have in your neck. And a creek is something in which water runs, but they didn't quite understand that. But I was staying in this cabin, and the creek ran right by the cabin. So one morning, I got up and I took a walk down by the creek. And as I walked, I don't know, several hundred yards from the cabin, I came upon a sight that just absolutely amazed me. I've never forgotten it. Because right there in front of me was a rock.
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The rock was at least as big around as half the size of this room. And it was probably 12 to 15 feet high. I mean, I looked up and it was double my height and then some. And guess what? Sitting right on top of that rock was a full-grown pine tree. The diameter of the tree was probably 15 to 20 inches. And the roots of that tree went down around that rock into the ground and into the creek. Unbelievable. And it was a healthy, live pine tree right on top of that rock. So a rock will not necessarily stop a plant from growing. If you've ever been to Yosemite, and some of that part of the country, you look up and you see a solid sheet of rock, a mountain that is a solid sheet of rock. And right in a crevice somewhere, you see a big tree growing right out of that solid rock. And what it is, there's a little split in that rock. And the seed was able to penetrate into the ground in that split, and you have a tree growing up there.
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It's unbelievable. So when you and I think of stony ground, we normally think of ground that just has a lot of rocks in it, but that's not true. When our Lord speaks of stony ground, He's talking about a ground or a field in which there's only a few inches of topsoil and under it is a solid layer of stone or solid layer of rock. In such a field, plants really cannot find much depth. They cannot really take root and therefore they spring up very quickly.
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Let me give you a comparison before I get started. If you had two gardens, one with what you and I would call good soil or good ground, where that soil has been tilled and plowed deeply, and over here you have a second garden and the soil is very shallow and under it is a solid layer of rock and you till it as deep as you can till it because of the rock. If you plant gardens on both plots in both types of soils, you're going to make a very important and clear and cogent observation just shortly. Here's what's going to happen. You're going to be admiring your stony ground garden because all of a sudden those plants are going to shoot up and spring up very quickly. They're going to look green and they're going to look great and you're going to wish that your good ground garden would do as well as this stony ground garden. In fact, you're going to be absolutely amazed at how good your stony ground garden really does. In fact, you become concerned that your good ground garden is not doing any good at all.
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Because over on the stony ground you already have plants up and they look green and they look great and over here on the good ground you don't even have any plants up, they're not even protruding from the soil and you think, "Man, I wish this garden would do as well as this garden." What's the difference? Why is it the stony ground garden looks so great so quickly? The answer is this: the stony ground garden looks great simply because those seeds that you planted cannot produce a solid root structure. Yes, they have some roots, but they're very shallow, and consequently all the energy of that plant is gone to producing the stalk, shooting it up above ground. When you look at the good ground garden, and you say it's doing poorly, there's nothing up. That's because the seed is developing a root system first. And once it has a stable root system, then it begins to send energy to the plant to send the stalk up above ground. So you've got these two gardens, and you're looking then at this stony ground garden, and it appears fine, it appears great and healthy, it promises great results until the heat comes.
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Or the wind comes. Or a rainstorm like we had recently with seven or eight inches of rain. And all of a sudden, all of those plants on the stony ground fall over and die. Because they cannot take the pressure. They cannot take the tribulation. Now, the stony ground hearer, according to our Lord, is much like this. The stony ground hearer, or the shallow ground hearer, is one who immediately rejoices at the Word of God.
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He receives it quickly, joyfully, readily, and easily. He's exuberant, he's responsive, and he's joyful. He's excited about the Word of God. And he excites all of those who are around him, and those who are around him marvel at how easily and how quickly he was converted. There are peers in his life, a promise of real fruit. But appearances fade away very quickly. Because he fades away and he falls away very quickly.
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Because the shallow ground hearer cannot take persecution. He cannot take prosecution. He cannot take tests and trials and tribulations. And in such problems, his attitude quickly becomes, "Well, if I have to go through this to be a Christian, I don't want any part of it." Or "I did not sign up for all of this" or "The cost is too high." And he jumps out as quickly as he jumped in. He does not want to suffer or face any difficulties for the truth's sake.
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Each of us have seen and have known individuals like this. They respond so quickly and so readily and so easily to the word of God. They begin with a burst of energy. Their motivation is great. And you look at that individual and you think that boy, this man is going to set the world on fire. And a year later, you can't find him. Sometimes it does not even take a year. Sometimes just months. Weeks. Or sometimes, just a few days. Our Lord is talking about the man who hears with a shallow heart.
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The seed fell on stony ground. Now, what are the lessons that we are to learn from the stony ground hearer? Let me give them to you. First, and I want you to listen very carefully to what I am about to say. Okay? First, we must learn that there is such a thing as a temporary believer. Now, I did not say that there was such a thing as a temporary Christian. I said we must learn that there is such a thing as a temporary believer. Now, if you define a Christian...
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As someone who is Christ-like, then yes, I'm afraid there are temporary Christians as well, because there are times in our lives that none of us act like Christ consistently and constantly. But I'm not using the word Christian like that. I'm using the word Christian to refer to true, genuine believers that have been regenerated and converted and have repented of their sins and believe savingly upon Jesus Christ. In that sense of the word, there is no such thing as a temporary Christian. A real, genuine Christian does not apostatize and he does not leave the faith. But the Scripture is teaching us there is such a thing as a temporary believer.
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You say, how do you know that? Well, because the Bible tells us. I want you to look in your Bibles, first of all, to Matthew 13 and verse 21. I want you to see what the Scripture says. Matthew chapter 13 and verse 21. Look at what our Lord says now he's talking about the stony ground hearer or the shallow-hearted hearer and he says this. Matthew 13 verse 21, "Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while."
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"For when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." Now look, if you would, at Mark 4, verse 17. Our Lord, once again, is interpreting this parable for us. Mark 4, verse 17, he says this, talking about the stony ground hearer, "...and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended." Now, if you look in the book of Luke chapter 8 and verse 13, again, our Lord is talking about the shallow-hearted or the stony ground hearer. And he says this.
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This is his interpretation, not mine. In Luke 8 and verse 13, he says, "They on the rock are they which when they hear receive the word with joy, and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in the time of temptation fall away."
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Now, I've given you three phrases from Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Matthew says he "dureth for a while." Mark says he "endures for a time." And in Luke he says, "which for a while believe." So the only conclusion that you can come to is there is such a thing as a temporary believer. They are not saved. They've never been saved, but they temporarily believe. They may have joined the church. They may have gotten baptized. They may sing in the choir. They may even teach a Sunday school class temporarily, but they're not saved.
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And how do we know? And the answer is, because the Word of God specifically tells us. I want you to look at Mark chapter 4 again, and let's begin reading at verse 14. And I want you to see this in light of the context.
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Now, I want you to remember the message that I preached last week. "Did You Lose Something?" on the wayside hearer. Watch this carefully. Mark chapter 4 and verse 14. "The sower soweth the word." Now watch. Our Lord says, "And these are they by the wayside where the word is sown. But when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts."
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Now, let me ask you a question. Is the wayside hearer saved? It couldn't possibly be because the word of God is stolen from him. OK, now watch verse 16.
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Now our Lord is talking about the stony ground hearer. And he says, "And these are they likewise." In other words, they're just like the wayside hearer. "These are they likewise, which are sown on stony ground, who when they have heard the word immediately receive it with gladness." In other words, obviously, clearly, "these are they likewise," in other words, the stony ground hearer is in the same predicament as the wayside hearer. The wayside hearer had the word of God stolen from him. He was negligent. He had no concern for the Word of God. And now our Lord says these that fall on stony ground, they are likewise. In other words, just as the wayside hearer is lost, so our Lord says the stony ground hearer is lost as well.
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Now, I don't know if you've ever asked yourself this question or not, but I'm going to ask it. Have you ever considered and have you ever asked yourself, why do professing believers leave the church? Leave the faith? And walk away from everything that has to do with Christianity? Have you ever asked that question? The truth of the matter is, we're given the answer to that question. And the reason they leave the faith and leave the church and leave any and everything to do with Christianity is just because they were never Christians to begin with.
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I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 John, chapter 2 and verse 19. 1 John, chapter 2 and verse 19. I want you to look at what the Apostle John teaches us. 1 John 2 and verse 19. Here it is. 1 John 2, verse 19. John talking about these people. He says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." Now, would you look what John says? "They went out."
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That is, they left and they forsook the true believers. They forsook the church. They forsook the work of God, that it might be made manifest that they were not genuinely converted to begin with. John clearly states, "For if they had been of us," that is, if they had really, genuinely been one of us, "no doubt," he said, "they would have continued with us." True believers always persevere in faith and repentance and obedience, and they hold steadfast to the Word of God. Those who are truly regenerate, those who are born of incorruptible seed and trust Christ and continue in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship of the church as true believers, they will not and they cannot ever apostatize. You say, but true believers have trials, true believers have tribulations, true believers have problems. Yes, they do. And yes, we do. And yes, I do. And yes, you do. But tests and trials and persecution will always drive a true believer closer to the Lord Jesus Christ, closer to His Word.
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It will drive him to claim His promises, and it will drive him to seek divine help and mercy. Those who have real faith will never defect and never apostatize. Those who do not have real genuine faith will always defect and will always apostatize. I want you to understand one simple truth. The Lord knows who belongs to him. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 10. John, chapter 10. I'm sure many of you can quote this passage, but I want you to turn there because I'm going to show you the opposite truth in just a moment. Look in John, chapter 10. And notice, if you would please, verse 14 and what our Lord said, John chapter 10 and verse 14. Look at what our Lord says. John 10, verse 14, our Lord said, "I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and am known of mine." What does he say? "I know my sheep." Now let me just quote a verse and then we're going to look at another verse here in John chapter 10.
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In 2 Timothy chapter 2 in verse 19, the Bible says this: "Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
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Now listen to that again. "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his." Now, when our Lord says, "I know my sheep," and when the scripture tells us that he knows his own people, there's an opposite truth. He also knows who does not belong to him. For instance, look in John 10 and verse 26. John 10 in verse 26, and look what he told those Pharisees. He said.
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"But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." So our Lord knows not only who his sheep is—or who his sheep are. Plural. The sheep is singular or plural. Isn't that amazing? But he also knows who does not belong to him. I got out of that one easily.
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So I want to read to you what John Gill said about the stony ground hearer. I want you to listen carefully. Just one little paragraph. John Gill wrote, "He is one," talking about the stony ground hearer, the shallow-hearted hearer, he says, "he is one that not only constantly attends upon it, but he receives it, he gives an assent to it, he believes in it historically, makes a profession of his faith in it, holds it for a while,
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being under some convictions of the truth of it, and having some speculative notions of it, and lightened his understanding and judgment in it, he has some flashes of natural affection for it, and delivers some outward expressions of pleasure and delight in it, like Herod and the hearers of John the Baptist, but has no heart work, and so is like the rock in stony ground. The natural hardness of his heart continues.
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It remains unbroken by the word, without any true sense of sin and repentance for it, and destitute of spiritual life, of true faith, love, joy, hence, and his profession is taken up in haste, immediately upon a flash of affection and a little head knowledge, he does not last long, nor prove honorable." So scripture is telling us there is such a thing as a temporary believer. So when you see people fall away from the faith and you see people leave the church and leave other believers and want nothing to do with Christianity, mark it down. They were a temporary believer.
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And they went out from us that it might be made manifest they were not of us, for had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us.
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Now, here's a second truth we've got to learn from the stony ground hearer. We must understand that not all joyful response to the word of God is a saving response. Not all joyful response to the word of God is a saving response. All true Christians are happy to see people respond positively to the Word of God. We're especially thrilled when we see someone readily and eagerly and quickly and joyfully respond to the Word of God. In fact, we see so little positive response, at times, we're gratified just to see any response. Well, we have an old saying, and everyone in this room has heard it, in fact, you've probably recited it from your youth. Here it is.
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"Don't count your chickens before they hatch." OK, we could expand upon that. "Don't count your Christians until they prove true." Because you never know what a man is until he gets under persecution, until he gets in tribulations and trials and affliction. Just because someone gives a joyful response to the Word of God does not mean that he's a genuine Christian. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 8. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Acts chapter 8. And I want to show you someone who joyfully responded to this truth along with a whole lot of others.
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And yet this one was definitely lost. He was never converted, never saved, never regenerated. Let's begin reading in verse 5. Acts chapter 8 verse 5. I want you to watch carefully now. "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many that were possessed with them, and many taken with palsies that were lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city." Watch this joyful response. "And there was great joy in that city."
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"But there was a certain man called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one, to whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of a long time he bewitched them with sorceries." Now watch.
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"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also." Did you see that? Simon believed also. You've got to remember now, there is such a thing as a temporary believer. Now watch. "Then Simon himself believed also. And when he was baptized," wow. "He continued with Philip." He not only was baptized, he stayed with Philip "and wondered, beholding the miracles and sights which were done."
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"Now, when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost. For as yet he was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money," watch, "saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money, for thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thine heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."
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"For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." Now, I want you to note something. Here's a man who evidently, joyfully, happily, easily, quickly and readily received the Word of God. He was not only receptive of the Word of God, he was baptized. He was not only baptized, he continued with Philip. Yet when Peter caught up with Simon, he had some strong words for him. Because when Simon offered the money to buy the gift of the Holy Ghost, look in verse 20. I want you to see this. Here's what Peter said to Simon. "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." Now I want you to watch carefully. He said, "Thy money perish with thee." Can I tell you what Peter literally said? Here's what Peter said. "Your money go to hell with you." The Greek word "perish" is "apoleia" in the Greek. It's a very strong word, and it literally means to go to hell or to go to the destruction which consists of eternal punishment.
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So he told Simon very clearly, "Your money and you are on your way to hell." And then he said to Peter—then Peter said to Simon, "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter." In other words, you have nothing to do with Christianity. You're not a Christian. You're not regenerated. You're not saved. That's what he told him. And then he says in verse 23, "I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity." Here's a man that professed faith, and was baptized, and continued with Philip.
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And he was as lost as he could be. So not all joyful response to the Word of God is a saving response. Simon joyfully responded, but he had nothing to do with Christ or Christianity. In fact, we could say this, that the immediate reception of the Word of God with joy tends to prove that the heart will not retain the seed, for it means, therefore, that the conscience was probably never, ever really penetrated. When you really, genuinely get convicted of your sins, it's a serious matter. And you consider the fact that you are in the presence of God and your sins are so great and plentiful and the punishment they deserve and that God is infinitely holy and infinitely righteous. I mean, conviction of sin makes you a serious person. And if the conscience has never been penetrated, then the seed can take no root. The word which was received for the joy it imparted, when tribulation comes and there is no joy, then the faith is given up. Such a faith is nothing more than a flash in the pan.
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You know where we get the expression of "flash in the pan"? From those old muzzle loaders, flintlocks, because that powder that was in the pan should set off the powder in the muzzle or in the barrel, but sometimes the pan just flashes and no spark goes in to the barrel, so the weapon is never really fired. It's just a flash in the pan. It's worthless. It's useless.
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And so that's what our Lord is saying about this individual, such a temporary faith and such a joyful response with no root. It's just a flash in the pan. Why? Because immediate joy without conviction of sin is absolutely worthless. And something else you better remember, there is no grace that has not been counterfeited by the wicked one. For every real grace, there's always a counterfeit. And you need to understand that immediate joy by itself is no indication of a real, genuine conversion.
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So two things we've learned so far. First of all, there is a temporary believer. And secondly, not all joyful response to the word of God is a saving response.
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Thirdly, time is the great test of faith. Time is the great test of faith. Enduring for a while, believing for a time, and professing and possessing a temporary faith will not suffice. Let me put it to you like this. The one that is ever savingly believed evidences that faith by continuing to believe. The one who is ever savingly repented evidences that repentance by continuance in repentance.
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I want you to look back to John chapter 8 at what our Lord said in verses 30 and 31. John 8 verses 30 and 31. Watch carefully what our Lord says. John 8 verse 30. "And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed," or "then are ye my true disciples." What did our Lord say? "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed," or "my true disciples."
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Perseverance is always demonstrated by preservation. Now, I want to show you the truth of preservation, I want you to turn to the book of Jude and hold John, because we're coming right back to John 10, but I want you to look in the book of Jude right before the book of Revelation. I want you to look at the book of Jude and notice if you would, verse 1. Jude 1:1. It's only one chapter there, so you can only have one chapter. Alright, here we go. Jude 1. Look at verse 1. "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James." You know, I've always thought that was interesting. You know who James was? He was the brother of Christ too. And so was Jude, but he says, "I'm the brother of James." He doesn't say "I'm the brother of Christ." "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called." So we are preserved.
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There's no two ways about that. We're not pickled, we're preserved, OK? You're preserved with sweet stuff, you're pickled with sour stuff. I want you to turn back to John chapter 10, just showing you our preservation. I could multiply passages, but watch John chapter 10, beginning there in verse 27. John 10, verse 27. Our Lord says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."
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Now watch, "And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father which gave them Me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." So Jude says that we are preserved in Jesus Christ. Our Lord said He gives us eternal life, and we shall never perish.
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Now, I want to ask you some questions. How do I know that I have eternal life? How do I know that I am preserved in Jesus Christ? Here's the answer. Our preservation comes to light in our perseverance. Those who have been preserved are enabled to persevere by the grace of God. That's why our Lord said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." The proof that we've ever savingly believed is that we continue to believe. The proof that we've ever savingly repented is that we continue in repentance.
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Now, I want you to turn to several other passages that you might not be aware of. First of all, I want you to look in the book of Colossians chapter 1 and verse 23. Then we will turn over to Hebrews. Colossians 1 verse 23. Colossians 1 verse 23. Look what the apostle says. "If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached unto every creature which is under heaven, whereof I, Paul, am made a minister." What did he say? "If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel."
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So God then preserves us. But the preserving power and the preserving grace of God comes to light in the fact that He enables us to continue and we do not move away from the faith. We do not move away from repentance. We continue in those things. Look in Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 14. Hebrews 3 and notice verse 14. Here the author of Hebrews says it again very plainly. Hebrews 3 verse 14.
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"For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." What? We are made partakers of Christ if we hold fast. How can any man in his own strength hold fast? We cannot even keep our minds clean and clear by ourselves for one second. And the answer is very clear in Scripture, it is God's preserving power that enables us to persevere. So we've learned there is such a thing as a temporary believer, we've learned not all joyful response to the Word of God is a saving response. We've learned that time is a great tester of the faith.
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In other words, you tell me "I used to believe," well do you now? "I used to be a Christian," are you one now? Time is the great tester of the faith. And the fourth thing we're to learn today is this. Trials and temptations manifest real faith. Fair-weather Christians abound everywhere. But the question must be asked, where are the Christians when the storms of life and the persecution and the trials and the tribulations abound? Anyone who forsakes the faith due to trials and tribulations is just revealing the fact that he was never, ever a Christian to begin with. The Apostle Paul in Acts 14 and verse 22 said this, listen carefully, "Confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and that we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God." What did Paul do? Encourage those believers to continue in the faith and let them understand there was only through much tribulation that we would enter into the kingdom of God. You know, our Lord never promised an easy life.
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He never promised us that as a Christian, everything would be rosy. He never said that we would not have trials and tribulations and persecutions. I want to show you what He did say. I want you to look in John 15. I'm sure that you already know what I'm about to point out. Here's what our Lord did say, and we can put this down for truth. John chapter 15, look in verse 18. Look what our Lord said. "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own. But because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord."
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"If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my saying, they'll keep yours also." He said, "But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me." So our Lord said, look, you're going to have trials. You're going to be hated. You're going to be despised. You're going to be persecuted. So just mark it down.
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You remember that passage I read it earlier in 1 John chapter 2 and verse 19, where John said "they went out from us." Why? "That it might be made manifest they were none of us." If you flee in a test, in a trial, in a tribulation, in persecution, our Lord says it's evident, it's evidence that you were never, ever genuinely saved to begin with.
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Now, I want to tell you something. One of the reasons our Lord allows persecution and tests and trials is it's absolutely necessary for the church. And we should never ever be disturbed and upset or perturbed by what happens to us or what happens to other Christians. Or what happens to a lot of people in general. You remember in the Old Testament, when they were cleaning the wheat, they would usually go up on the top of a hill or a mountain where you had a good wind. They'd throw the wheat up in there on a sheet. And as the chaff hit in the air, the wind took the chaff and blew it away.
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And all you had basically was a real genuine grain left. You know what persecution, tribulation does? It separates the wheat from the chaff. I have known individuals who really seem to be gung-ho Christians and "boy this" and "we'll do this" and "we'll do that" and you let trouble come, you let persecution come and they flee like rats from a sinking ship. They can't take the pressure. Persecutions.
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And trials and afflictions are a great way to purge the flock. Because you're going to find that only real, genuine, committed Christians will remain and stay true. Four things that we're to learn. Let me make some applications. The first one is this. We must remember the old Puritan saying, I've quoted it often, but please remember it. Or the old Puritans used to say, "The sharp needle of the law must precede the scarlet thread of the gospel." Anyone that has not been thoroughly convicted of his sins, even if he gives a joyful response to the Word of God, will not remain. He cannot remain.
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It's impossible for the seed to penetrate a stony heart. So if that sharp needle of the law has not broken that stony heart and produced real, genuine conviction and real, genuine repentance, the response given will not stand.
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Secondly, many are much affected with the word for the immediate present, yet they receive no real benefit or abiding benefit from it. It's much like the crackling of thorns under a pot. You can get a bunch of thorns, dried grass, put it under your pot, it will ignite instantly, burn brightly and beautifully. But oh so shortly. And it's gone. Likewise, the stony ground hearer burns and shines temporarily only because they're temporary believers.
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You've got to remember, even King Herod, the Bible tells us, heard John and heard him gladly. But he still cut his head off. And was still unrepentant. And did you know this same King Herod was glad to see Jesus Christ. In fact, Luke 23 and verse 8 says he was exceedingly glad. Why? For he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Not that he wanted to believe in Him or trust in Him.
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So just because someone is affected immediately does not mean that it's permanently. Because time is the great test of faith. You've got to remember, there are those that rejoice at the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, but their rejoicing is shallow and superficial. It's much like in Ezekiel 33 and verse 32, where God told Ezekiel, He said, "Son of man, all you are to these people is a very lovely song." He said, "They come to you as my people. They sit before you as my people, but they don't listen. And they don't receive."
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And all you are to them is entertainment. That's it. Just entertainment. So the question is, how deep is your faith? Does it produce fruit? Is it evident? And does it manifest itself in perseverance? The depth of your faith does matter. Because if it has not penetrated the heart, the conscience, the mind, then it's only a temporary faith. And time and persecution will reveal it. What we want is real, genuine conversions, real genuine conversions that are evidenced and manifested by our continuance in truth and in the Word of God. Without it, there are no real Christians. Real Christians are made by God, not by circumstances, not by situations, not by responses. They're made by the grace and the power of God.
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The wayside hearer was lost. The stony ground hearer is lost. It does matter how deep our faith really is. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your love, for your grace, for your mercy, for your truth. And we ask, Heavenly Father, that you would be pleased to make us understand these principles to bring our lives into greater conformity in Your Word and give us grace, Lord, to persevere and continue in those graces and mercies in our lives. Give us grace that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray, Amen.
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This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N Street, Suite 705, P-M-B 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-925-7000.
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You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:49:07Z

How Deep is Your Faith

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver examines the stony ground hearer from the Parable of the Sower, emphasizing that shallow, temporary faith cannot endure trials. He teaches that there is such a thing as a temporary believer, that not all joyful response to the Word is saving, that time tests faith, and that trials reveal genuine faith. Applications stress the necessity of conviction of sin and perseverance.

Introduction and Review of the Wayside Hearer

Weaver reviews the previous sermon on the wayside hearer, noting Satan's activity, the need for heart preparation, and the hearer's negligence.

Scripture Reading — Mark 4:16-17

"...and these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness, and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended."

The Stony Ground Hearer Described

The stony ground hearer is characterized by shallow soil over rock, causing quick sprouting but no root, leading to withering under sun.

Illustration of Stony Ground vs. Good Ground

Weaver contrasts two gardens: stony ground plants shoot up quickly but die under heat, while good ground plants develop roots first and endure.

The Shallow-Hearted Hearer's Response

The stony ground hearer receives the Word with immediate joy and excitement but falls away quickly when persecution or trials arise.

Lesson 1: There Is Such a Thing as a Temporary Believer

Scripture teaches that some believe for a while but are not truly saved; they endure only temporarily and are lost like the wayside hearer.

Now, I want you to remember the message that I preached last week. "Did You Lose Something?" on the wayside hearer. Watch this carefully. Mark chapter 4 and verse 14.

Scripture Reading — Mark 4:14-16

"The sower soweth the word."

Now watch. Our Lord says,

Scripture Reading — Mark 4:14-16

"And these are they by the wayside where the word is sown. But when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts."

Now, let me ask you a question. Is the wayside hearer saved? It couldn't possibly be because the word of God is stolen from him. OK, now watch verse 16.

Lesson 2: Not All Joyful Response Is Saving

Immediate joy without conviction of sin is not evidence of genuine conversion; Simon the sorcerer is an example of a false, temporary believer.

Scripture Reading — Acts 8:5-23

"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many that were possessed with them, and many taken with palsies that were lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city."

Watch this joyful response.

Scripture Reading — Acts 8:5-23

"And there was great joy in that city."

Lesson 3: Time Is the Great Test of Faith

True faith perseveres; those who are preserved by God continue in faith and repentance, proving they are genuine disciples.

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-31

"And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed,"

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-31

"then are ye my true disciples."

What did our Lord say?

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-31

"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed,"

or "my true disciples."

Lesson 4: Trials and Temptations Manifest Real Faith

Persecution and tribulation separate true believers from false; those who forsake the faith under pressure reveal they were never truly saved.

Scripture Reading — Acts 14:22

"Confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and that we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God."

Scripture Reading — John 15:18-21

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own. But because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord." "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my saying, they'll keep yours also."

He said,

Scripture Reading — John 15:18-21

"But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me."

Applications and Conclusion

Weaver applies the lessons: the law must convict before the gospel heals; shallow responses are temporary; true faith is evidenced by perseverance and fruit.

How Deep is Your Faith

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	59131444120
Subject	Apologetics
Course	Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture
Genre	Sermon
Date	2013-02-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 064: Truth and the Interpretation of Scripture — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	73

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review of the Wayside Hearer: Weaver reviews the previous sermon on the wayside hearer, noting Satan's activity, the need for heart preparation, and the hearer's negligence.
The Stony Ground Hearer Described: The stony ground hearer is characterized by shallow soil over rock, causing quick sprouting but no root, leading to withering under sun.
Illustration of Stony Ground vs. Good Ground: Weaver contrasts two gardens: stony ground plants shoot up quickly but die under heat, while good ground plants develop roots first and endure.
The Shallow-Hearted Hearer's Response: The stony ground hearer receives the Word with immediate joy and excitement but falls away quickly when persecution or trials arise.
Lesson 1: There Is Such a Thing as a Temporary Believer: Scripture teaches that some believe for a while but are not truly saved; they endure only temporarily and are lost like the wayside hearer.
Lesson 2: Not All Joyful Response Is Saving: Immediate joy without conviction of sin is not evidence of genuine conversion; Simon the sorcerer is an example of a false, temporary believer.
Lesson 3: Time Is the Great Test of Faith: True faith perseveres; those who are preserved by God continue in faith and repentance, proving they are genuine disciples.
Lesson 4: Trials and Temptations Manifest Real Faith: Persecution and tribulation separate true believers from false; those who forsake the faith under pressure reveal they were never truly saved.
Applications and Conclusion: Weaver applies the lessons: the law must convict before the gospel heals; shallow responses are temporary; true faith is evidenced by perseverance and fruit.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

The stony ground hearer is lost, not saved.

Weaver argues that the stony ground hearer is in the same lost condition as the wayside hearer, based on Jesus' phrase 'these are they likewise' in Mark 4:16.

Weaver says, 'our Lord says the stony ground hearer is lost as well' and points to the parallel with the wayside hearer who had the word stolen.

Temporary believers exist but are not true Christians.

Scripture describes people who 'believe for a while' but fall away, proving they were never regenerated; true Christians cannot apostatize.

Weaver cites Luke 8:13 ('which for a while believe') and 1 John 2:19 to show that those who leave were never truly of the faith.

Joyful response without conviction is worthless.

Immediate joy at hearing the Word, without deep conviction of sin, indicates a shallow heart that will not endure.

Weaver states, 'immediate joy without conviction of sin is absolutely worthless' and uses the example of Simon the sorcerer who believed and was baptized but remained lost.

Perseverance proves preservation.

Those whom God preserves will persevere in faith; continuing in the Word is the evidence of being a true disciple.

Weaver says, 'Our preservation comes to light in our perseverance' and cites John 8:31 and Colossians 1:23.

Trials reveal the genuineness of faith.

Fair-weather Christians abandon the faith under persecution, showing they were never truly saved; trials are necessary to purge the church.

Weaver says, 'Anyone who forsakes the faith due to trials and tribulations is just revealing the fact that he was never, ever a Christian to begin with' and references Acts 14:22.

Scripture References

Mark 4:5-6: The seed falling on stony ground, springing up quickly but withering under the sun because it had no root.
Mark 4:16-17: Jesus' interpretation: the stony ground hearers receive the word with gladness but have no root and fall away when affliction or persecution arises.
Mark 4:3: Jesus begins the parable with 'Hearken,' emphasizing the call to listen.
Mark 4:23: Jesus ends the parable with 'If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.'
Matthew 13:21: The stony ground hearer endures for a while but is offended when tribulation or persecution arises.
Luke 8:13: Those on the rock believe for a while but in time of temptation fall away.
Mark 4:14-16: The sower sows the word; the wayside hearer has the word stolen by Satan; the stony ground hearer is 'likewise' lost.
1 John 2:19: Those who went out from the church were not truly of them, revealing they were not genuine believers.
John 10:14: Jesus says, 'I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.'
2 Timothy 2:19: The foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: 'The Lord knoweth them that are his.'
John 10:26-27: Jesus tells the Pharisees they believe not because they are not of his sheep; his sheep hear his voice and follow him.
Acts 8:5-23: Simon the sorcerer believed, was baptized, and continued with Philip, but Peter declared his heart was not right and he was in the gall of bitterness.
John 8:30-31: Jesus tells those who believed on him that if they continue in his word, they are his disciples indeed.
Jude 1:1: Believers are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ.
John 10:27-30: Jesus gives his sheep eternal life; they shall never perish, and no one can pluck them out of his hand.
Colossians 1:23: Paul says believers are reconciled if they continue in the faith, grounded and settled, not moved away from the hope of the gospel.
Hebrews 3:14: We are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.
Acts 14:22: Paul exhorted believers to continue in the faith, saying that through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God.
John 15:18-21: Jesus warns that the world will hate and persecute his followers because it hated him first.
Ezekiel 33:32: God tells Ezekiel that the people treat him as a lovely song but do not listen or obey.

Historical References

John Gill's commentary on the stony ground hearer: Weaver quotes John Gill describing the temporary believer as one with head knowledge and flashes of affection but no heart work, remaining unbroken by the word.
Puritan saying: 'The sharp needle of the law must precede the scarlet thread of the gospel': Weaver cites this saying to emphasize that conviction of sin must precede genuine conversion.
Herod's hearing of John the Baptist and Jesus: Weaver notes that Herod heard John gladly but beheaded him, and was exceedingly glad to see Jesus hoping for a miracle, yet remained unrepentant.

Important Quotes

There is such a thing as a temporary believer. They are not saved. They've never been saved, but they temporarily believe.

Central thesis that temporary faith exists but does not indicate salvation.

Not all joyful response to the word of God is a saving response.

Key warning that emotional joy does not prove genuine conversion.

Immediate joy without conviction of sin is absolutely worthless.

Emphasizes the necessity of conviction for true faith.

Time is the great test of faith.

Succinct statement that enduring faith proves genuineness.

Our preservation comes to light in our perseverance.

Links God's preserving grace with the believer's continuing in faith.

Anyone who forsakes the faith due to trials and tribulations is just revealing the fact that he was never, ever a Christian to begin with.

Argues that apostasy under pressure proves a lack of genuine conversion.

The sharp needle of the law must precede the scarlet thread of the gospel.

Puritan saying used to stress that conviction of sin must come before saving faith.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

What does the parable of the stony ground teach us about the difference between temporary belief and saving faith?

[Context]

Weaver explains that the stony ground hearer receives the word with joy but falls away under trial, showing he was never truly saved.

[Question]

Why is immediate joyful response to the gospel not a reliable indicator of genuine conversion?

[Context]

Weaver uses Simon the sorcerer as an example of someone who believed and was baptized but remained lost, emphasizing the need for conviction of sin.

[Question]

How does perseverance serve as evidence of true faith, according to the scriptures cited?

[Context]

Weaver references John 8:31, Colossians 1:23, and Hebrews 3:14 to show that continuing in the faith is the mark of true disciples.

[Question]

In what ways do trials and persecutions reveal the genuineness of a person's faith?

[Context]

Weaver argues that those who forsake the faith under pressure were never truly saved, and that trials separate the wheat from the chaff.

[Question]

What does the Puritan saying 'The sharp needle of the law must precede the scarlet thread of the gospel' mean, and why is it important?

[Context]

Weaver applies this saying to stress that without deep conviction of sin, any response to the gospel will be shallow and temporary.

[Question]

How can we examine the depth of our own faith in light of this parable?

[Context]

Weaver asks, 'How deep is your faith? Does it produce fruit? Is it evident? And does it manifest itself in perseverance?'

Applications

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