One of the striking things about the teachings of Jesus is the way He gets
to the heart of every issue. There is no better illustration than the
following: "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and
loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
(Matt. 16:26).
According to the context, Jesus is talking about the value of the soul of a
person, not his physical body. In reality, man is a soul. In the
beginning, God said, "Let us make man in Our image, according to our
likeness...And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (a
living soul, KJV)"
(Gen.1:26; 2:7).
The questions Jesus raised in
Matthew 16:26
have some sobering implications:
1. Humans possess an eternal, immortal nature.
Mankind has a physical body and a soul or spirit. When a man
dies, the spirit leaves the body
(Jas. 2:26).
Observe that James said "the body without the spirit is dead," not the
spirit without the body is dead. The word of God teaches us that "the
spirit will return to God who gave it"
(Eccl. 12:7).
Jesus speaks of "both soul and body" in
Matthew 10:28.
Such false philosophies as atheism, humanism, and evolution deny this
truth----that man has a soul or spirit. This makes man merely a physical
creature with no more soul or spirit than a rock.
2. The soul is our most priceless possession.
It is worth more than all material things combined. It is of divine origin
(Eccl. 12:7; Heb. 12:9),
eternal in duration
(Matt. 25:46; Mk. 9:43-46),
and can transcend earthly relationships
(Jn. 4:24).
Concerning the soul, the Apostle Peter stated: “...you were not redeemed
with corruptible things...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a
lamb without blemish and without spot...Since you have purified your souls
in obeying the truth through the Spirit...having been born again not of
corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and
abides forever”
(1 Pet. 1:18-23).
3. The soul can be sold or exchanged.
Some people exchange their souls for pleasure
(2 Tim. 3:4).
Others sell out for popularity, loving the approval of men more than the
praise of God
(Jn.12:43).
Many exchange their souls for the love of the world
(1 Jn. 2:15-17).
Then there are those who trade their souls for error and the false
philosophies of men
(Col. 2:8).
Others trade their souls for material prosperity
(Lk. 12:16-21).
4. Whatever the exchange, it is foolish and costly.
The world and all that is in it can never satisfy the deep, vital need of
the soul in order to be at peace with God. This world and all its material
contents will ultimately be destroyed by fire
(2 Pet. 3:10).
At death we must leave everything behind. The Apostle Paul stated: "For we
brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out"
(1 Tim. 6:7).
5. There is no loss as tragic as that of the soul.
The loss of health, of a child, of one's family, of one's life in attempting
to gain the "whole world" would be tragic enough, but they are not
comparable to the losing of one's soul. The damnation of the soul is a
multiple loss: the beauties of heaven are forfeited and the agonies of hell
must be endured forever. A lost soul in hell is everlastingly abandoned
“from the presence of the Lord”
(2 Thes. 1:9);
there is no help or hope for such a horrible condition. A soul in hell is
lost for all eternity!
What could possibly be more important to us than to obey “the gospel of
Christ...the power of God to salvation”
(Rom. 1:16)
and do whatever the Lord commands and teaches in the New Testament for our
soul's eternal salvation. Jesus, while on earth, stated: “For the Son of Man
has come to seek and to save that which was lost”
(Lk. 19:10).
.
Other Articles by R. J. Evans
Good Relationships Among Brethren
Are We Committed in Our Marriage?
The
Blight of Bitterness
Murmurers and Complainers
Responding to Our Enemies
Envy and Jealousy
I Am Praying For You
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
For Past Auburn Beacons go to:
www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm
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