The Seed of Life vs The Seed of Faith

 

The Seed of Life vs The Seed of Faith  

John 12:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Ephesians 4:13-15 "Until we all reach the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man, attaining to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ... in all things to him, who is the head, even Christ."

Comparison Aspects	Seed of Life	Seed of Faith
Type	Grain of wheat (John 12:24) Word of God (Luke 8:11) Christ as the unique grain	Mustard seed (Matt 17:20) Root of all virtues
Meaning	Christ Himself as the embodiment of life Contains the essence, embryo and reproductive power of life For production, resurrection, expansion, transformation and growth	All-inclusive seed Contains all divine riches For believers' spiritual life development
Distinction	Focuses on life's essence and power Emphasizes life's multiplication and expansion Centers on the transmission of Christ's life	Focuses on believers' experience and development Emphasizes cultivation of virtues Centers on believers' life growth
Explanation	Embodiment of life, including: - Life's essence - Life's embryo - Life's reproductive power - Life's transformation - Resurrected life	Root source of virtues, including: - Foundation of faith - Development of virtues - Growth in knowledge - Cultivation of self-control - Perfection of love
Examples	- Christ's incarnation - Christ's death and resurrection - Believers' regeneration - Church building	- Believers' spiritual growth - Development process of virtues - Expression of life maturity - Realization of the kingdom
Application	- Receiving Christ as life - Experiencing life transformation - Living out Christ's life - Building Christ's Body	- Developing faith - Cultivating spiritual virtues - Pursuing life maturity - Preparing for the kingdom
Relationship	Both are complementary: The seed of life is the foundation, providing life's essence and power; the seed of faith is the development and expression of this life. The seed of life gives reality to the seed of faith, while the seed of faith brings the seed of life to full development.
Related Scriptures	Basic Scripture: - John 12:24 "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." Source of Life: - Acts 3:15 "You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this." Word as Seed: - Luke 8:11 "The seed is the word of God." Experience of Regeneration: - 1 Peter 1:23 "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." Life Transmission: - 2 Peter 1:3-4 "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life... you may participate in the divine nature."	Preciousness of Faith: - 2 Peter 1:1 "To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours." Development of Virtues: - 2 Peter 1:5-7 "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." Growth in Life: - Colossians 2:19 "They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow." Goal of Maturity: - Ephesians 4:13-15 "Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ... grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."

 

Conclusion:

The Seed of Life and the Seed of Faith represent two crucial aspects of God's divine economy. The Seed of Life, being Christ Himself, provides the divine life and nature, while the Seed of Faith enables the development and growth of this divine life within believers. Together, they work for the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose.

 

*Please refer to the 2024 Thanksgiving International Blending Conference for God’s Economy, Living the Christian Life and the Church Life under God’s Administration, Chapter 6 Participating in the Divine Nature and Developing the Divine Life and the Divine Nature , enter the eternal kingdom with abundance