The Value Of The Soul

1. The Value Of The Soul • In a chapel in Southern France, the great Emperor Charlemagne is buried. In that chapel is a large dome and in the center of that dome is where the body of Charlemagne is placed. It is not unusual that his body is buried in a prominent place. However, the manner of his burial is. He's seated on a marble chair and wrapped in his emperor's robes. In his lap is a copy of the New Testament, and his finger is pointing to a verse. That verse is Matt 16:26. For what profit is it to a man 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

2. The Value Of The Soul • The soul is the most valuable possession one has, therefore in this lesson we want to ask and answer three basic questions: • Does the Bible teach that man has a soul? • Why is one's soul valuable? • What will one give in exchange for his soul?

3. The Value Of The Soul • Does The Bible Teach That Man Has An Eternal Soul? • Two passages which reveal that man has a soul - Acts 9:36-42

4. At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. Acts 9:36-42

5. The Value Of The Soul • Does The Bible Teach That Man Has An Eternal Soul? • Two passages which reveal that man has a soul - Acts 9:36-42 • Notice, "While she was with them" - Vs. 39

6. The Value Of The Soul • Does The Bible Teach That Man Has An Eternal Soul? • Two passages which reveal that man has a soul - Acts 9:36-42 • Her body was still there when the statement was made - Vs. 40 • Something was not there anymore • When you and I pass on, the real person or the soul will be gone • What the people see laying in the coffin is not the real person

7. The Value Of The Soul • Does The Bible Teach That Man Has An Eternal Soul? • Two passages which reveal that man has a soul - Acts 9:36-42; Lk 16:19-23

8. There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Lk 16:19-23

9. The Value Of The Soul • Does The Bible Teach That Man Has An Eternal Soul? • Two passages which reveal that man has a soul - Acts 9:36-42; Lk 16:19-23 • Is this just a parable? • Parable (lit. "to lay beside") - something well known "laid beside" something not well known • Always taken from things true to life • Jesus did not make up fictitious tales to illustrate things

10. The Value Of The Soul • Does The Bible Teach That Man Has An Eternal Soul? • Two passages which reveal that man has a soul - Acts 9:36-42; Lk 16:19-23 • Is this just a parable? • Thus, Luke 16 is a revelation of what actually happens when one dies. One's soul or spirit departs at death and has conscious existence in the realm beyond.

11. The Value Of The Soul • Does The Bible Teach That Man Has An Eternal Soul? • Two passages which reveal that man has a soul - Acts 9:36-42; Lk 16:19-23 • Is this just a parable? • If Luke 16 is only a parable, what do the things in it represent?

12. The Value Of The Soul • Why Is One’s Soul Valuable? • Made in the image of God - Gen. 1:26-27

13. Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Gen 1:26-27

14. The Value Of The Soul • Why Is One’s Soul Valuable? • Made in the image of God - Gen. 1:26-27 • God does not have a physical body like ours - Jn 4:24; Lk 24:39 • It is that part on the inside, our eternal nature, that is like God • For this reason we should not be so much concerned with outward appearance • People should be more concerned about developing their inner makeup - Prov. 31:30; 1 Tim. 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 1 Tim 4:8 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. Jn. 4:24 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have. Lk 24:39 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Prov 31:30

15. The Value Of The Soul • Why Is One’s Soul Valuable? • Existence not terminated when body is laid to rest • The body dies, and is laid in the ground and quickly returns back to the dust - Gen 3:19; Eccl 12:7 • The nature of the soul is altogether different and this is what makes the soul valuable • Of course, that is what Jesus is trying to teach us in Matt. 16:26 and other passages For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Psa 90:10 For what profit is it to a man 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 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return. Gen 3:19 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. Eccl 12:7

16. The Value Of The Soul • Why Is One’s Soul Valuable? • The cost to redeem it • It took the life of the Son of God to redeem our souls - 1 Pet. 1:18-19 • We may not understand why the Son of God had to die, but we do understand that the soul must be extremely valuable for that to have had to happen knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Pet 1:18-19

17. The Value Of The Soul • What Will One Give In Exchange For His Soul? • The word "exchange" pictures a business transaction in which one is bartering for something. • "Barter" means "to trade or exchange one commodity for another." (Webster)

18. The Value Of The Soul • What Will One Give In Exchange For His Soul? • If the devil came to you and began to bargain with you for your soul, what would it take for him to have it? • How much money would it take for the devil to buy your soul? • Hundred thousand? • Half million? • One million? • What?

19. The Value Of The Soul • What Will One Give In Exchange For His Soul? • People sell their souls for nearly nothing - 1 Tim 6:10 • Will you sell your soul for the things of the world? • Through lack of faith and Bible knowledge, some people sell out far too cheap • Example, Esau - Heb. 12:15-17 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Tim 6:10

20. looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. Heb 12:15-17

21. The Value Of The Soul • What Will One Give In Exchange For His Soul? • People sell their souls for nearly nothing - 1 Tim 6:10 • Will you sell your soul for the things of the world? • Through lack of faith and Bible knowledge, some people sell out far too cheap • Example, Esau - Heb. 12:15-17 • Why did he sell his birthright so cheap? - Gen. 25:29-34

22. Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom. 31But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day." 32And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?" 33Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Gen 25:29-34

23. The Value Of The Soul • What Will One Give In Exchange For His Soul? • People sell their souls for nearly nothing - 1 Tim 6:10 • Will you sell your soul for the things of the world? • Through lack of faith and Bible knowledge, some people sell out far too cheap • Example, Esau - Heb. 12:15-17 • Why did he sell his birthright so cheap? - Gen. 25:29-34 • Many today say, "What good is the promise of heaven, when I have this present need, or this present problem." Thus, they sell out for a very cheap price.

24. The Value Of The Soul • What Will One Give In Exchange For His Soul? • People sell their souls for nearly nothing - 1 Tim 6:10 • Will you sell out for sinful pleasures? • Ex., the fornicator - Heb. 12:16 • Joseph didn't sell out did he? - Gen. 39:7-9 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. Heb 12:16

25. And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." 8But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?“ Gen 39:7-9

26. The Value Of The Soul • What Will One Give In Exchange For His Soul? • People sell their souls for nearly nothing - 1 Tim 6:10 • Will you sell out for sinful pleasures? • Ex., the fornicator - Heb. 12:16 • Joseph didn't sell out did he? - Gen. 39:7-9 • What's truly sad is that young people will sell their virginity for a cheap price • Or worse, some will throw away a good marriage, just for a moment's pleasure • They think they can repent and everything will be as it was

27. The Value Of The Soul • What Will One Give In Exchange For His Soul? • Will you let some man beguile you through his false teaching? - Col. 2:18 • The devil is the master of this - 2 Cor. 11:13-15 • Through lack of Bible study, we can loose the most valuable thing we have • Through unwillingness to stand for truth, we can let it happen Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, Col 2:18 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2 Cor 11:13-15

28. The Value Of The Soul Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. Eccl 12:13-14 • What Will One Give In Exchange For His Soul? • Will you loose your soul because you are to foolish to put forth the effort to save it? • What is the whole duty of man? Why? - Eccl. 12:13-14 • Due to lack of preparation, God said to the rich fool, "You fool..." - Luke 12:20 But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” Lk 12:20

29. The Value Of The Soul • It matters little what else you do in this life, if you do not save your own soul, you have been a complete failure. You might gather about you great riches and fame, and leave thousands of friends to mourn your departing, but if have not saved your soul, you have been a miserable failure. On the other hand, you may die in a charity home for the poor, and be buried in a potter's field without a single friend to mourn, but if you saved your soul, your life was a marvelous success.

30. The Value Of The Soul • You can't afford to loose your soul, for if you loose it, you loose all. To the faithful will be given the place of eternal rest. There will be no pain, sickness, or death there. It is the inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away. It is that city built by the living God. On the other hand, there is the place of eternal punishment. It is where the wicked will be tormented day and night forever.

31. The Value Of The Soul • You don't have to loose your soul. Humbly submit yourself to the will of God. Let His Word guide you, and let no man beguile you or your reward. Overcome temptations and suffer for His cause with rejoicing. If you do these things, you will save your soul, and heaven will be yours because the Eternal God who cannot lie, has promised it.