What choice will you make?

(Deuteronomy 30:15-16)

"See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it." 

Here the Lord was addressing the Israelites on living a life worthy for Him, by keeping His commandments and turning away from the sins/idols in the land. And like the Israelites, this ultimatum still applies today for us all; every nation, every tongue. With the choices we make, it sets up our path either to blessings or curses. This is why the Lord spoke clearly on what decision would be wise; choose life through Jesus Christ our Lord and you will receive good. But if you choose death (sins/world) you will receive evil.

The Lord loves us and brings warnings upon warnings before events were to take place, and the majority of the time people choose death, thinking they have all the time in the world to fix it and make it right all in the last minute; their wrong. We are not promised tomorrow, the next hour, or even when we shall take our last breath; just know we are to be ready and in the book of life in heaven when we die.

Let us look back in Noah's time, the people are very wicked, and the Lord saw the many hearts and thoughts of them, and was hurt in His heart, even regretting creating them.

Genesis 6:5-7

"And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them."

But there was one that sought favor from God, and that was Noah, an upright and holy man of God. God had told him to make an arc, for there was to be a flood that would come upon the earth to destroy all those who had a breath of life. Noah took to that commandment for the respect of God; see he chose life and made the right decision, as God seeks for all to do the same.

Genesis 6:13

"And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth."

In all the time that Noah had made the arc, the people continued to choose to continue in their wicked ways, rejecting the warning signs given by God.

Matthew 24:37-39

"But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

We don't know when the Lord shall return, but by the Word of God being our road map/instructions to help navigate in life, we are to make sure to live by it, and please the Lord by making the right choices regarding our soul. Today as I look around in our society, people have turned their face from God by removing Him from schools, work places, even to the extreme of removing the ten commandments monument from public view in America. As the world darkens more and more by the rejection of God's light, I see where things are all coming in line on how the end shall be, for we are already here; only few will make it in, as the same applied in Noah's time, only 8 people (noah, his wife, their 3 sons and their wives)along with animals chosen by God to collect in twos, were saved.

Matthew 7:13-14

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

So as I have spoken in my discussion the results and consequences of our choices between good and evil, what choice will you make? Will you choose wisely?

You should

for it will cost you your soul......

Take heed on what you hear

           Take Heed on what you hear

                  

 

I.            As charged to the disciples

A.     That which is hidden is to be made known….

1.      Jesus asked rhetorical questions involving a lamp-

(Mark 4:21)

“And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?”

2.      What was hidden would be revealed, what was secret should come to light-

(Mark 4:22)

“22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.”

3.      The context regards His use of parables and the ultimate intention of His teaching

A.      Jesus spoke publicly in parables at the time-

(Mark 4:11)

“And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:”

B.     The meaning was explained privately-

(Mark 4:33-34)

“And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. 34But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

C.     But His teaching was meant one day to be proclaimed abroad

D.    His disciples would be involved in publicly proclaiming it

(Matthew 10:27)

“What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.”

4.      Thus they were to pay close attention to what He was saying

(Mark 4:23)

“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”

** Jesus intended one day for all to hear and know His teaching. **

(Revelation 3:20)

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

 

II.                Take Heed what you hear

1.      Jesus charged His disciples to take heed what they hear-

(Mark 4:24)

“And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.”

2.      The importance of taking heed is repeatedly stressed-

(Mark 4:25)

“For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.”

a.       With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you

b.      To you who hear, more will be given

c.       For whoever has, to him more will be given

d.      But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

3.      This is illustrated in the parable of The Talents

a.       Talents given according to each person’s ability-

(Matthew 25:15)

“15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”

b.      Those who utilized their talents received more responsibility

(Matthew 25:20-23)

“And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

c.       The one talent man lost that which he did not utilize

(Matthew 25:24-29)

“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

** Jesus promised more for those who take heed to what they hear, utilize what they have. **

-The one talent- The design of this part of the parable is to show that no one is excused for neglecting his duty because he has few talents. God will require of him only according to his ability.-

(1 Corinthians 10:13)

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

(Luke 12:48)

“But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

(2 Corinthians 8:12)

“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”

(John 4:36-38)

“And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.”

 

** We must be obedient of our Lord, because when we become born again, we give ownership of ourselves to Him and to him only. Where as a sinner we were a servant to sin, in chains to satan. But when giving your Heart to Jesus, you are set free from your sins of death, and are alive in Christ who died for our sins, and we become His servants through the word of God.**

 

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

Many are called, but few are chosen

Many are called, but few are chosen

 

 

 

 

 

Luke 13:23-24

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”

**Finding salvation requires more concentrated effort than most people are willing to put forth. Obviously we cannot save ourselves—there is no way we can work ourselves into God’s favor. The work we must do “to enter in at the strait gate” is earnestly desiring to know Jesus and diligently striving to follow him whatever the cost. We dare not put off making this decision, because the door will not stay open forever. **

I. FEW WILL BE SAVED

A. MANY THINK MOST WILL BE SAVED...

1. Or to put it another way, that most people will go to heaven

2. Yet Jesus taught that few would be saved

 Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

 

**The gateway to eternal life Is called “strait”, an old word for “narrow”. This does not mean it is difficult to become a Christian, but that there is only one way to live eternally with God and that only a few decide to walk that road. Believing in Jesus is the only way to heaven, because he alone died for our sins and made us right before God. Living his way may not be popular, but it is true and right. Thank God there is one way! **

 

B. WE DO WELL TO REMEMBER...

1. Only eight souls were saved during The Flood –

Genesis 7:21-23

“And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: 22All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. 23And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.”

1Peter 3:20

“Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. ”

2Peter 2:5

“And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;”

 

2. Only three souls escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

- Genesis 19:24-29

“Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.26But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.27And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 28And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.29And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.” 

3. Only two men out of 603,550 over the age of 20 were permitted

to enter the land of Canaan

 Numbers 14:26-32

“26And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 27How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 28Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: 29Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. 32But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.”

 

II. JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY

 

A. MANY THINK ALL RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WILL BE SAVED...

1. As some put it, "It doesn't really matter what you believe..."

2. Yet Jesus taught that no one comes to the Father but through

Him –

John 14:6

“6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

B. WE DO WELL TO REMEMBER...

1. The example of Cornelius, a religious person who needed

salvation –

Acts 10:1-6

“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.”

2. The example of many other religious people who needed salvation

a. The devout Jews on the Day of Pentecost

 Acts 2:5

“And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.”

Acts 2:36-38

“36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

[Being religious is not enough, and one cannot truly be a Christian who

believes that salvation can be found outside of Christ

(Acts 4:12)

“neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

 

III. FOR THOSE WHO OBEY

A. MANY THINK THAT ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS WILL BE SAVED...

1. That we are saved by faith only, with no need for obedience

2. Yet Jesus warned of those who believed in Him but were lost

a. They believed Him to be their Lord

b. They spent their lives in service to the Lord

c. But they had not done the Father's will!

 

B. WE DO WELL TO REMEMBER...

1. That Jesus is the author of salvation to all who obey Him

 Hebrews 5:9

“and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”

2. The end of those who do not obey His gospel –

2Thessalonians 1:7-9

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”

 

3. Not all believers will be saved

a. The demons believe, yet tremble! –

James 2:19

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

 

b. Some believed, but were unwilling to confess Him 

 

John 12:42-43

“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

 

 

 

The Spirit of the AntiChrist is Here!

The Spirit of the Anti-Christ Is Here

 

1 John 4:3

“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

**Through Scriptures we have heard how Jesus expressed on how the end times will be, and how it will take an effect on the true believers of Jesus Christ; we are in that time right now. The Christians are being persecuted more and more and it progresses every day, while we see a change in the hearts of many today; many hearts shall wax cold. In (1 John), it speaks of how the antichrist is already here and that is the truth! The Antichrist is anybody who denounces the belief of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and who rejects the Word of God as the truth. Clearly signs have shown us today, that many have rejected the truth, and are in progressive motion in removing anything to do with True Holiness. As time goes on, the gospel is preached but is not accepted so easily as in previous years, this is a true sign on how far we are in this world today. Be ready, because the spirit of the antichrist is here! **

Matthew 24:11-15

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)”

** Jesus predicted that his followers would be severely persecuted by those who hated what he stood for. In the midst of terrible persecutions, however, they could have hope, knowing that salvation was theirs. Times of trial serve to sift true Christians from false or fair weather Christians. When you are pressured to give up and turn your back on Christ, don’t do it. Remember the benefits of endurance, and continue to live for Christ. **

1 John 2:18

“Little Children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”

 

What are you waiting for?

 

What are you waiting for?

("I Got Time")

 

 

Many think that they have all the time in the world to repent and be saved, but that is far from the truth. Don't you realize that our time on earth is like a ticking time bomb, and at any moment something is bound to happen. Either we are at the brink of death, by accident or in old age or that the Lord returns and you have no second chance to enter in. We are not promised of what tomorrow brings, as it says in....

 

Proverbs 27:1

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

 

 

Have you ever heard of the parable of "The Wedding Feast"?

 

 

Luke 14:16-24

"Then said he unto him, A certain man made a supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore i cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his Lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the Servant said, Lord it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out in to the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper."

 

 

A certain man had prepared a supper and invited many to attend, but those that had been invited made an excuse of not attending the supper. The man being angry had bid his servant to call upon those who were willing to attend that were worthy of the feast. The man told his servant to go quickly in the streets, and lanes of the city bringing in the poor, maimed and blind to attend this special event, which they fully accepted. This parable is referenced to the many that are called to live a holy life through Jesus Christ, but only few are chosen to enter into heaven. Don't be a part of those with excuses and procrastinating of getting right with the Lord.

 

Matthew 22:14

"For many are called, but few are chosen."

The Value of a Soul

The Value of a Soul

 

INTRODUCTION

1. After telling His disciples and others nearby the cost of being His

disciple, Jesus asked...

Mark 8:36-37

“36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

2. In these words of Jesus we are reminded of the value of the soul...

a. It is the most valuable possession one has

b. All the wealth and power one might gain is not worth the price of

one's soul!

3. It is a lesson we do well to remember, and so in this study we shall

examine three questions... 

a. Does the Bible teach that man has a soul?

b. Why is one's soul so valuable?

c. What will one give in exchange for his or her soul?

I. DOES MAN HAVE A SOUL?

 THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT MAN EXISTS AFTER DEATH...

1. In the teaching of Jesus

a. Man is both body and soul, and the soul can survive murder

by a fellow man

 Matthew 10:28

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

b. His promise to the thief on the cross

 Luke 23:42-43

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

2. In the teaching of Paul

a. There is "the inner man" that can renewed, even while "the

outer man" decays

 2Corinthians 4:16-18

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

b. One can be with the Lord, while absent from the body

2 Corinthians 5:6-8

“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

3. The teaching of Peter

a. He wrote of those who are "dead, but live in the spirit"

1Peter 4:6

“For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”

[So while one may say in the right context that man "is" a soul, we

must also be willing to say that the Bible teaches man "has" a soul.

Now let's consider the next question...] 

II. WHY IS THE SOUL OF MAN SO VALUABLE?

A. IT IS MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE...

1. Man was created in the image of God

 Genesis 1:26-27

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

a.   Therefore it must be our soul, or spirit, that is in God's

image

2. This is what enable us to comprehend abstract concepts as:

a. Life, death, eternity

b. Things of beauty

B. IT IS THAT PART OVER WHICH WE HAVE MUCH CONTROL...

1. The body is mostly the result of genetics

a. We might be able to change a little through exercise,

plastic surgery, etc.

b. But we cannot stop the eventual aging and dying process

2. The soul, however, is different...

a. Despite one's genetics, there is much that can be changed

b. By cooperating with God, we can change attitudes,

dispositions, character

 Romans 12:1-2

“1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Colossians 3:12-15

“12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

C. IT DOES NOT CEASE TO EXIST AT DEATH...

1. The body dies, and soon returns back to the dust

a. The soul, or spirit, returns back to God

Ecclesiastes 12:7

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”

2. After which comes the Judgment

 Hebrews 9:27

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

a. The soul, in its resurrected body, will bear the brunt of

that Judgment

b.  Either eternal life, honor, glory, and immortality  

Romans 2:7

“To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:”

c.  Or indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish

Romans 2:8-9

“But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;”

D. THE COST REQUIRED TO REDEEM IT...

1. What price was required to redeem our souls from the wrath of

God's judgment?

2. Nothing less than the blood of the Son of God!

1Peter 1:18-19

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

III. WHAT WILL ONE GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL? 

 THINGS FOR WHICH PEOPLE TRADE THEIR SOULS...

1. For some people, it is earthly riches and fame

a. In their quest for riches, they neglect their service to

God

 1Timothy 6:10

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

b. Yet they have traded their souls for that which is

corruptible and can be stolen

 Matthew 6:19-21

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

2. Then others allow their souls to be sold for some convenient

false doctrine

a.  Of which we need to beware

Colossians 2:8,18

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

“18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,”

 b.  For the devil is a master at this

2Corinthians 11:13-15

“13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

c. Through our own lack of Bible study, we can lose the most

valuable thing we have! 

Hosea 4:6

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”

b. They fail to apply the diligence necessary to grow

spiritually

 2Peter 1:5-11

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”