THE TRUTH ABOUT SOWING AND REAPING

Teaching summary

In this sermon, Leonard Rola explains the biblical truth about sowing and reaping under the New Covenant of Grace. Contrary to traditional teachings that emphasize financial giving in expectation of rewards, the true meaning of sowing and reaping is centered on God's finished work in Christ. God sowed His Son in sin, sickness, poverty, and loneliness, and through this, He reaps righteous, healed, and blessed children. The New Covenant reality is not based on a do-it-yourself system but on God's grace and our belief in His provision.

Bible verses referenced

Galatians 6:7-8: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

Galatians 2:21: "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

Galatians 2:16: "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

Galatians 3:1: "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been set forth, crucified among you?"

Galatians 3:3: "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"

Galatians 3:10-11: "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."

Isaiah 53:4-5, 10-11: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes, we are healed… Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand."

2 Corinthians 5:21: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

Romans 4:25: "Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification."

Romans 5:1: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 5:17: "For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."

Psalm 22:18: "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture."

2 Corinthians 8:9: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."

Romans 8:29: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Ephesians 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."

Teaching notes

Introduction: Understanding the Finished Work of Christ
The Misuse of Galatians 6:7-8 in Modern Preaching
Sowing and Reaping in the Old Covenant: A System of Works
The Context of Paul's Letter to the Galatians
God’s Sowing and Reaping: Jesus as the Seed
Jesus Was Sown in Sin, and We Reap Righteousness
Jesus Was Sown in Sickness, and We Reap Healing
Jesus Was Sown in Poverty, and We Reap Abundance
Jesus Was Sown in Loneliness, and We Reap Fellowship
The True Heart of Grace Giving
Entering Into God’s Rest and Provision
Conclusion: Living in the Reaping of Grace

Introduction: Understanding the Finished Work of Christ

The finished work of Christ means that mankind has been redeemed, made holy, and sanctified. John 19:30 states, "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." If the work is finished, then no additional work is required to receive God's blessings. Many teachings on sowing and reaping misrepresent this truth, placing the focus on human effort rather than faith in Christ’s completed work.

The Misuse of Galatians 6:7-8 in Modern Preaching

Many sermons today use Galatians 6:7-8 to preach a works-based theology: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." However, Paul was addressing a deeper issue—those who were trying to attain righteousness through the law instead of faith. Galatians 2:21 confirms: "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

Sowing and Reaping in the Old Covenant: A System of Works

Under the Old Covenant, blessings were conditional upon human performance. Deuteronomy 28:1 states, "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God…" This do-it-yourself system contrasts sharply with the New Covenant, where blessings are freely given through Christ.

The Context of Paul's Letter to the Galatians

Paul’s letter to the Galatians was a direct response to believers who were returning to the law. He rebukes them in Galatians 3:1: "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth…?" His primary argument throughout the letter is that righteousness comes by faith, not by works.

God’s Sowing and Reaping: Jesus as the Seed

God sowed Jesus as the ultimate seed. Isaiah 53:10 says, "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him… when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed." The fruit of this sowing is the redemption of mankind.

Jesus Was Sown in Sin, and We Reap Righteousness

2 Corinthians 5:21 explains this exchange: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Jesus bore the sin of the world so we could receive His righteousness as a gift.

Jesus Was Sown in Sickness, and We Reap Healing

Jesus bore our sickness so we could be healed. Isaiah 53:5 states, "With his stripes, we are healed." 1 Peter 2:24 affirms, "By whose stripes ye were healed." This means healing is already provided for believers.

Jesus Was Sown in Poverty, and We Reap Abundance

2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." This demonstrates God's sowing and reaping principle—Jesus took on poverty so we could walk in provision.

Jesus Was Sown in Loneliness, and We Reap Fellowship

At the cross, Jesus was forsaken so that we could be brought into the family of God. Romans 8:29 declares, "That he might be the firstborn among many brethren." We are now co-heirs with Christ, never alone.

The True Heart of Grace Giving

Giving under grace is not about sowing to receive but about responding to God’s abundance. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." We give because we have already been blessed.

Entering Into God’s Rest and Provision

Our role is not to strive but to rest in what Christ has provided. Hebrews 4:10 states, "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." Believers are called to live from the place of rest, trusting in God's provision.

Conclusion: Living in the Reaping of Grace

The message of grace is that God has done the sowing, and we live in the reaping. Ephesians 1:3 reminds us, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." As believers, we receive all that Christ has accomplished, not by works but by faith.

Final Thoughts

This sermon clarifies that sowing and reaping under the New Covenant is not about financial giving to receive blessings but about God’s finished work in Christ. Jesus was sown in sin, sickness, poverty, and loneliness so that we might reap righteousness, healing, provision, and fellowship. Our role is to believe and enter into God’s rest. We hope this article blesses you—share this teaching with others to spread the message of grace!