[wmfights]

And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance

I'm thinking along these lines as well. The one unforgiveable sin is to "speak against the Holy Spirit". IOW, those that deny The Gospel will not be saved. Also, it implies everyone will be given that opportunity to accept or deny The Gospel.

If I'm right it's just one more example of how deserving we are of God's wrath in that no one can deny that the Holy Spirit called them. Does it mean there is some degree of free will involved I'm not sure. From the individual's perspective it sure seems like it, but from God's percpective I don't see how. God knows what we will do before we our born. God already knows who will answer the call and who won't.

[1000 silverlings]

It's called "good ground". And we all know Who is "good".

It didn't make itself good, just as we cannot regenerate our hearts ourselves.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Regarding the parable of the good soil -- who makes the soil good? Who nurtures the soil and turns it and replenishes it so that it becomes "good soil?"

And who withholds the rain and nutrients and sunlight from the rocky soil where nothing good grows?

God creates the soil, all kinds, and thus God determines where the seed of Scripture will take root.

It's all God's doing, from start to finish.

Free will and predestination are my favorite topics, and I'm really behind in reading the posts. Too many rocks recently. 8~)