The Eternal Value of the Soul: A Divine Perspective
Summary
In Matthew 16:26, Jesus poses a profound question: "For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" This question, asked by the most significant person to ever walk the earth, demands our utmost attention. It challenges us to consider the eternal value of our soul compared to the fleeting gains of the world. Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God, emphasizes that every person possesses a soul, a divine gift that distinguishes us from animals and connects us to God. This soul can either be in a saved or lost condition, and its state will determine our eternal destiny.
The soul's condition is revealed through our thinking and priorities. A lost soul is characterized by worldly, flesh-and-blood thinking, focused on self-interest and the opinions of others. Such a person is consumed by the temporal concerns of this life, neglecting the eternal significance of their soul and their relationship with God. In contrast, a saved soul is one that aligns its thoughts with God's truth, denying self and following Christ, regardless of worldly opinions or losses.
The loss of a soul is the greatest tragedy, for no worldly gain can compensate for it. The wealth, power, and pleasures of the world are temporary and cannot satisfy the soul's eternal longing. True fulfillment and eternal security are found only in a soul that is right with God. Jesus Christ, recognizing the soul's infinite value, came to earth, suffered, and died to redeem our souls. He offers hope and restoration to the lost soul, asking only that we believe in Him, deny ourselves, and follow Him.
Key Takeaways:
- The Eternal Value of the Soul: Our soul is a divine gift that connects us to God and determines our eternal destiny. It is of greater value than all worldly possessions, as it is the only part of us that endures beyond this life. [06:13]
- The Condition of the Soul: A soul can be either saved or lost, and this is determined by its relationship with God. A saved soul functions as God intended, while a lost soul is disconnected from Him. Our eternal destiny hinges on the state of our soul. [09:27]
- Worldly Thinking vs. Spiritual Thinking: The type of thinking we engage in reveals the condition of our soul. Worldly thinking focuses on self-interest and temporal concerns, while spiritual thinking aligns with God's truth and eternal values. [19:10]
- The Greatest Loss: Losing one's soul is the greatest loss imaginable, as no worldly gain can compensate for it. The soul's eternal value surpasses all earthly wealth and achievements, which are temporary and ultimately unsatisfying. [36:29]
- Hope for the Lost Soul: Jesus Christ values our souls so highly that He came to earth and sacrificed His life to redeem them. He offers hope and restoration to the lost soul, asking us to believe in Him, deny ourselves, and follow Him. [51:25]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction and Context
- [00:35] - The Profound Question
- [01:18] - The Importance of the Question
- [03:27] - The Significance of the Questioner
- [05:00] - Understanding the Soul
- [08:31] - The Condition of the Soul
- [10:03] - Judgment Based on the Soul
- [11:11] - Eternal Destiny and the Soul
- [13:11] - How to Know the Condition of Your Soul
- [14:20] - The Test of Our Thinking
- [19:10] - Worldly vs. Spiritual Thinking
- [24:16] - The Content of Our Thinking
- [32:22] - What We Fail to Consider
- [36:29] - The Greatest Loss
- [45:21] - The Value of a Saved Soul
- [51:25] - Hope for the Lost Soul
- [54:40] - The Call to Follow Christ
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 16:26
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#### Observation Questions
1. What question does Jesus pose in Matthew 16:26, and why is it considered profound? [00:35]
2. According to the sermon, what distinguishes a human soul from that of an animal? [06:13]
3. How does the sermon describe the thinking of a lost soul versus a saved soul? [19:10]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the greatest loss a person can experience? [36:29]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the eternal value of the soul compared to worldly possessions? [37:22]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that worldly thinking can lead to a lost soul? [23:10]
3. How does the sermon describe the hope and restoration offered by Jesus Christ to a lost soul? [51:25]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between self-denial and following Christ? [25:10]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there areas in your life where you might be prioritizing worldly gains over the condition of your soul? How can you realign your priorities this week? [01:18]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual thinking. What are some practical steps you can take to shift your focus from worldly concerns to spiritual truths? [19:10]
3. Consider a time when you were influenced by the opinions of others. How did it affect your relationship with God? What can you do to prioritize God's opinion over others in the future? [31:01]
4. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him. What is one specific area of your life where you feel called to practice self-denial? How can you take a step towards that this week? [25:10]
5. The sermon speaks of the eternal value of the soul. How does this perspective change the way you view your daily decisions and interactions? [37:22]
6. Jesus offers hope and restoration to the lost soul. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear this message of hope? How can you share it with them this week? [51:25]
7. Reflect on the concept of the greatest loss being the loss of one's soul. How does this understanding impact your long-term goals and aspirations? [36:29]
Devotional
Day 1: The Soul's Eternal Worth
Our soul is a divine gift that connects us to God and determines our eternal destiny. It is of greater value than all worldly possessions, as it is the only part of us that endures beyond this life. Jesus emphasizes the profound worth of the soul, urging us to consider its eternal significance over temporary worldly gains. The soul's value is not measured by material wealth or achievements but by its connection to God. This connection is what gives the soul its eternal worth, surpassing all earthly treasures. [06:13]
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you been prioritizing worldly gains over the care of your soul? How can you begin to shift your focus towards nurturing your soul's relationship with God today?
Day 2: The State of the Soul
A soul can be either saved or lost, and this is determined by its relationship with God. A saved soul functions as God intended, while a lost soul is disconnected from Him. Our eternal destiny hinges on the state of our soul. The condition of the soul is revealed through our thoughts and priorities. A saved soul aligns its thoughts with God's truth, while a lost soul is consumed by worldly concerns. Understanding the state of our soul is crucial, as it determines our eternal future. [09:27]
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your current priorities and thoughts. Do they align with God's truth, or are they more focused on worldly concerns? What steps can you take to ensure your soul is in a saved condition?
Day 3: Aligning Thoughts with God's Truth
The type of thinking we engage in reveals the condition of our soul. Worldly thinking focuses on self-interest and temporal concerns, while spiritual thinking aligns with God's truth and eternal values. Our thoughts are a reflection of our soul's state, and they influence our actions and decisions. By aligning our thoughts with God's truth, we can ensure that our soul is in a right relationship with Him. This alignment requires a conscious effort to deny self and follow Christ, regardless of worldly opinions or losses. [19:10]
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)
Reflection: What are some specific thoughts or beliefs you hold that may not align with God's truth? How can you begin to transform your thinking to reflect spiritual values?
Day 4: The Tragedy of a Lost Soul
Losing one's soul is the greatest loss imaginable, as no worldly gain can compensate for it. The soul's eternal value surpasses all earthly wealth and achievements, which are temporary and ultimately unsatisfying. The tragedy of a lost soul lies in its disconnection from God, resulting in an eternal separation from Him. This loss is irreversible and cannot be compensated by any amount of worldly success or pleasure. Recognizing the gravity of this loss should motivate us to prioritize our soul's relationship with God above all else. [36:29]
"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36, ESV)
Reflection: Consider the areas in your life where you may be at risk of losing your soul. What changes can you make to ensure that your soul remains connected to God and not lost to worldly pursuits?
Day 5: Hope and Restoration for the Lost Soul
Jesus Christ values our souls so highly that He came to earth and sacrificed His life to redeem them. He offers hope and restoration to the lost soul, asking us to believe in Him, deny ourselves, and follow Him. This hope is available to all, regardless of the current state of their soul. Jesus' sacrifice provides a way for lost souls to be restored and reconciled with God. By accepting His offer of redemption, we can secure our soul's eternal destiny and experience true fulfillment. [51:25]
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world... But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:1-5, ESV)
Reflection: Have you accepted Jesus' offer of redemption for your soul? If not, what is holding you back? If you have, how can you continue to live in a way that reflects the hope and restoration He provides?
Quotes
The soul is that which differentiates a man from an animal. A soul is that which is within us, every one of us who is a human being, which links us to God and makes us capable of fellowship with God. The soul is that part of man which reaches out not to the seen and the visible that is round and about him but rather to the Unseen, the invisible, the Eternal, and especially, I say, to God. [00:06:00]
The soul is something immaterial. You can dissect a human body and you can't find it. No, but the soul is that which has been placed in man by God and which separates him essentially from all the animals. In many respects, man is similar to the animals. In many respects, in his physical constitution, he is remarkably similar to the animal. [00:06:37]
The saved soul is a soul that is functioning as God meant it to do, and a soul which doesn't function in that way is a soul that is lost. So our Lord emphasizes this momentous and tremendous truth that a man's soul may be lost or it may be in a saved condition. [00:09:24]
Our eternal destiny will depend upon the state and the condition of our soul when we stand before him in the Judgment. Now that is something that our Lord was constantly saying. There is a division, a final division of the saved and the lost, and those who are saved go on to eternal and everlasting glory, and those who have lost the soul go on into eternal and everlasting misery. [00:11:03]
The first thing that indicates whether a man's soul is lost or not is the very type of thinking in which he indulges. Because according to the Bible, there are two main ways in which men may think, and in fact, two ways in which men do think. There is what you may call a natural way of thinking, the way of thinking which is characteristic of the world and everybody who belongs to the world. [00:14:46]
The content of the man's thinking whose soul is lost is thinking that is governed and controlled by self and by self-interest and by life in this world. That's the thing our Lord is talking about. He says now if you're going to be my disciple, you've got to deny yourself. [00:24:54]
The man whose soul is lost doesn't think about his soul. Neither does he think about God and his relationship to him. And in the same way, he is unconcerned about this truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, who says, "If any man would be my disciple, let him deny himself, let him take up his cross, and let him follow me." [00:34:41]
There is no greater loss than the loss of the soul. What shall a man be profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? There is no greater loss than the loss of the soul. Indeed, he puts it like this: that to gain the whole world is no compensation for the loss of the soul. [00:36:25]
The wealth of the whole world does not and cannot satisfy the soul. It doesn't matter if you gained the whole world of wealth and knowledge and influence and power and popularity and anything else you may like to throw in, it will profit you nothing. It will not satisfy you unless you possess your soul and have it in a healthy and in a saved condition. [00:37:19]
The world and all its wealth is only temporary. Its money, its knowledge, its honors, its reputations, everything that the world can give us, and it can give us much, ends with this life and with this world. It is what our Lord's talking about: whosoever shall save his life in this world shall lose it. [00:42:07]
The soul goes on, but all that the world can give us at its best and highest does not go on, and we cannot take it with us. And therefore, I argue that to lose the soul is to lose everything because there I shall find myself at the end having lost my soul and having lost all that the world has given me. [00:43:03]
The Lord Jesus Christ does realize the value of the soul. Look again, I say, at the one who asked this momentous question. There he stands, Jesus of Nazareth, apparently only a man, and yet an unusual man because everybody is looking at him and talking about him. Some say that he's John the Baptist, some that he is Elias, some that he is Jeremias, or at any rate, that he must be one of the prophets. [00:51:53]
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