Articles
The Seed Principle
What is the seed principle? It simply means that seed will always produce after it’s own kind. An apple seed will always produce an apple. A watermelon seed will always produce a watermelon, etc. From the very beginning, God created it to be this way.
“Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth’; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:11-12).
This same seed principle also applies in the religious realm. In explaining the parable of the sower, Jesus said in Luke 8:11, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” The Word of God is compared to seed sown in the hearts of men. Some will receive it with a good and honest heart, many others will not (vv. 12-15).
The apostle Peter wrote: “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (I Peter 1:22-23).
Peter said that sinners are “born again” of incorruptible SEED, the word of God. When men obey the gospel of Christ they receive salvation (Romans 1:16; Mark 16:15-16). In the first century, whenever the gospel (seed) was preached and obeyed, it produced a Christian (Acts 11:26). In the 21st century, whenever the gospel (seed) is preached and obeyed, it will produce a Christian.
Here’s the point. If I teach someone from the Book of Mormon and they accept that message, they will become a Mormon convert. If I teach someone the Roman Catholic Catechism and they accept its teachings, they will become a Roman Catholic. The Methodist Discipline will produce a Methodist. The Baptist Manual will produce a Baptist. Etc.
However, if we will simply teach someone the pure, unadulterated Word of God, it will produce a New Testament Christian every time (Gal. 1:6-9; I Cor. 4:6; Rev. 22:18-19). Nothing more, and nothing less. Why? Because of the seed principle. Seed only yields fruit according to its kind.
