Romans 10:17 (HCSB)
17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Parable of the SOWER:
Matthew 13:3-13 (HCSB)
3 Then He told them many things in parables, saying: “Consider the sower who went out to sow.
4 As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up.
[Unbelievers, Atheists, Agnostics, Cults]
5 Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep.
6 But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered.
[Unsaved Church Goers, no deep roots, no harvest, non-born again.]
7 Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them.
[Unsaved Church Goers, no deep roots, no harvest, non-born again.]
8 Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times ⌊what was sown⌋.
[Born Again Believers, will always produce a harvest, and their SALVATION will NEVER BE LOST, because HE HANGS ON TO IT.]
9 Anyone who has ears should listen!”
10 Then the disciples came up and asked Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11 He answered them, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.
12 For whoever has, ⌊more⌋ will be given to him, and he will have more than enough. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
13 For this reason I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand.
[ Wood, Hay, and Stubble, or Filthy Rags are works done for the wrong reason.
Good Works done for any other MOTIVE than LOVE FOR GOD & others, will not be accepted by GOD. ]