Believers sow, plant, and water the seed of the gospel, while God alone gives the increase and completes salvation.
Les Feldick, using 1 Corinthians 3, says believers are witnesses who plant and water through their testimony, but they are not the ones who save. God almost always uses a human instrument to lead another to a knowledge of salvation, yet the miracle of salvation itself is entirely God's work. Believers are responsible to share the Word, but the increase belongs to God.
1 Corinthians 3:6 — This verse shows the believer's role of planting and watering, with God giving the increase — the direct answer to the question.
1 Corinthians 3:9 — This verse establishes that believers are laborers together with God in His work.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 clearly describes the role of believers in reaching others for Christ. Paul asks, "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?" He then explains the process: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." The passage goes on to say, "So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." This shows that believers are instruments, but God is the one who produces the increase. Paul also says, "Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour" (1 Corinthians 3:8). And in verse 9, "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." This gives the believer an active but subordinate role in the work. Acts 16:14 provides another example: "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul." The believer shared the Word, but the Lord opened the heart.
Les Feldick teaches from 1 Corinthians 3 that believers are to sow the seed of the Word through their witness and testimony. He says, "All you have to do is sow the seed. Someone else may come along and add to their understanding, and maybe even a third person will come along and bring them along a little further." He also stresses that a believer does not have to see the person saved because God brings the increase (Clip 0). Les further teaches that "God has almost always used one human instrument to lead another human to a knowledge of salvation" (Clip 2). He encourages believers to become skilled in Scripture so they can share it clearly. However, he is emphatic that salvation itself is totally God's work — "God has to perform the miracle of salvation... he can't do it first" (Clip 3). After salvation, Les says believers are expected to work, but not for salvation: "You work absolutely not at all for salvation. It's all of grace by faith plus nothing. But once we've entered in to that glorious salvation experience, then God expects us to work for reward" (Clip 7). He also describes the fruit of a believer connected to Christ as "other believers," which is where soul winning and witness come in (Clip 6).
No. Les uses Paul's example: "I planted, Apollos came along and watered. But who brought about the increase? Well God did" (Clip 0). Believers plant and water by sharing the Word, but salvation is entirely the work of God (Clip 3).
Les says God did not leave the Word in the hands of angels but in the hands of people. "He has almost always used one human instrument to lead another human to a knowledge of salvation" (Clip 2). Believers should learn the Scripture so they can share it clearly with others.
Les says believers are left here to remind lost people that salvation is by faith. "That's why He's left us here. That we can constantly remind lost people... it isn't what you do... it's what you do in the area of faith. Do you believe it? Have you appropriated it?" (Clip 1). New believers often become consumed with the lost condition of family and loved ones, and that is as it should be.
Les makes a distinction: "Once salvation takes place, that is an event, and then the Christian experience, the sanctification... that is a process." He adds, "We don't just suddenly become mature believers" (Clip 5). The believer's labor is not for salvation but for growth and reward.
Les is clear that believers do not work for salvation. "You work absolutely not at all for salvation. It's all of grace by faith plus nothing. But once we've entered in to that glorious salvation experience, then God expects us to work for reward" (Clip 7). This work includes soul winning and witness, which Les calls the fruit of a believer connected to Christ (Clip 6).
Planting and Watering the Seed
Les explains that believers plant the seed through witnessing and others water it, but God alone brings the increase; believers do not have to see the final result.
Left Here to Remind Lost People
Les says believers remain on earth to remind lost people that salvation is not by works but by faith in what Christ has done.
Human Instruments for the Word
Les teaches that God almost always uses one human instrument to lead another to salvation, so believers need to be skilled in Scripture.
Salvation Is Totally God's Work
Les stresses that God must perform the miracle of salvation and the sinner cannot do anything first; God looks only for faith.
Laborers Together With God
Les points to 1 Corinthians 3 where believers are called laborers together with God; salvation was complete the moment they believed, but rewards come from labor after salvation.
Salvation Is an Event, Sanctification Is a Process
Les distinguishes salvation as an event and sanctification as a process, noting believers grow into maturity over time.
Fruit That Wins Others
Les says the fruit of a believer connected to Christ is other believers — soul winning and witness are the natural outcome.
Work After Salvation
Les says believers do not work in any way for salvation, but after entering the salvation experience God expects them to work for reward to enhance His work and bring glory to His name.
1 Corinthians 3:5: Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
Shows that Paul and Apollos were simply ministers through whom others believed.
1 Corinthians 3:6: I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
The direct verse Les uses to describe the believer's role and God's role in giving the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:7: So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Identifies God as the only one who gives the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:8: Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
Uses the planter and waterer to show that every believer will receive his own reward according to his labour.
1 Corinthians 3:9: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
Sums up the believer's role as laborers together with God.
Acts 16:14: And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Shows the Lord opening Lydia's heart while Paul spoke, illustrating the believer's role and God's sovereign work in salvation.
No. Les says, "You don't have to always see the fruits of your witnessing and testimony. All you have to do is sow the seed." Others may water, and God gives the increase (Clip 0).
No. Salvation is totally the work of God. Les stresses that the sinner cannot do anything first; God must perform the miracle of salvation. Believers are simply human instruments who share the Word (Clips 2, 3).
Believers are to work for reward, not for salvation. This includes soul winning and witness, which Les calls the fruit of a believer living in Christ. The purpose is to enhance God's work and bring honor and glory to His name (Clips 6, 7).
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