Covenant Reformed News – October 2015 • Volume XV, Issue 18
This article addresses a misinterpretation of the Parable of the Sower that claims individuals have only one opportunity to believe the gospel upon their first hearing. The author refutes this view through logical implications, scriptural evidence, and examples from church history, arguing that God's grace provides multiple opportunities for conversion and that the parable does not teach such a restrictive doctrine.
Only One Opportunity to Believe? A reader in England asked about an interpretation of the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23) that he heard a while ago: Does this parable teach that everyone only has one opportunity to believe the gospel, namely, the first time they hear it? First of all, it is worth pointing out that, if this view were correct, there would be no positive point in witnessing to or praying for anyone whom you know has already heard the gospel, once or more often, and...