“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap”
that he will also reap
It is inevitable that what a man sows, he will reap. This is the overarching principle. The next verse is more specific about what we sow and reap. If we sow corruption, then we will reap ruin.
There is a cause-and-effect correlation to life. As we think and behave, so we will end. There are absolutes. God ordered the universe on unalterable laws. If we live by legalism, we automatically pre-empt grace. Grace and works are mutually exclusive,
“And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work” (Romans 11:6).
This verse does not have anything to do with salvation. The argument in chapters 5 and 6 is about Christians and their rewards.
Principle:
We reap what we sow.
Application:
We reap what we sow, and reaping is a reward. A Christian will never reap reward in eternity if he does not produce in time.
The Christian does not give in order to get. However, if we give, we get (Proverbs 11:24,25).
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:
‘He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.’
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God” (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).
God’s law of cause and effect is universal. It applies to anyone, any time, anywhere. It is as impartial and immutable as the law of gravity. There are no exclusions.
The principle of grace does not deny the law of sowing and reaping. We need the grace of God because we cannot measure up to God’s standards. Only Jesus could do that. When we embrace Him, we measure up to perfection in Him. He enables us to produce for Him.
This does not mean that a believer is immune from failure. When we sin, we will reap the consequences of our sin. Faithful teaching of the full counsel of the Word of God will build into us a fortress against sowing evil.
There is great danger in deceiving ourselves. We kid ourselves if we deny the principle of sowing and reaping or cause/effect. We cannot sin with impunity.
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).
