“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? “(Matthew 16:26NKJV)
The significant of asking Questions
Life is often defined by the questions we ask. The questions we are asking often reveal what we are thinking – or the direction we are going. Questions are the building blocks of comprehensive writing. The answers to the questions that we ask are what build our life story. When it comes to non-fiction writing – journalism in particular – there are 5 Ws which need to be answered in any given news story: Who, What, Where, When, Why. And then, sometimes, it is instructive to add an H – How.
The question is very important--so is the answer. Apart from the Bible, there is no valid answer. All human answers are vain and do not satisfy the longing soul. The Bible answers these questions with the authority of God. Believe it or not, the kind of questions you ask determine the kind of life you lead. That’s because your questions activate its own set of answers, which lead to certain emotions, which then lead to certain actions (or inactions), followed by results. If you ask yourself limiting questions, you’ll get limited results. If you ask yourself mind-opening, forwarding questions, you’ll gain a lot more out of them.
People have long asked: what’s the origin of life? Where do we come from? Who am I? , Why am I here? Is there a God? Where am I going? What can I do? Is there life after death?" What is the world made of? What holds it together? What is truth? What is good and what is evil? What is moral code in relation to right and wrong? What is the meaning of life? What's our destiny? How do you find peace? When talking to people of all walks of life, we find that we differ most in opinion about the above questions but the Bible is the only reliable source that gives answers to all these questions.
Most people unfortunately never struggle to think about or find answers for the basic questions of existence and the origin, nature and destiny of life. The answers to these questions will consciously or unconsciously condition, empower or limit almost everything in that individual's life. Three of the most crucial questions we can ask about life are these: Where did we come from? Why are we here? And where will we go when we leave the earth? That last question is critical because it has eternal consequences. Since God created us with souls that will not die, and since God alone decides each person’s destiny, a fourth question becomes necessary: How can I be sure I am in the right relationship with God?
Just as we as human beings ask questions about life, so the God who created and sustains all things asks questions. We have a choice, to start with the questions of God or with our own questions. God is the source and centre of all reality. There is no other alternate autonomous religious reality where we might meet him. We live and move and have all our being in his presence. The God who has called our life into being relates deeply with his creation. Everything that exists does so because God called it into being for his purposes. Hence the questions of the Bible are still the most important.
God’s first question
God begins His transactions to the fallen man with a question. The first question is found in (Genesis 3:9) “But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Notice the importance of this question, Where are you? “He said, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid.” (Genesis 3:10) Until you can answer that, in some sense at least, there is no other option of moving forward or help. When a man is lost this is the most important question he can ask: Where am I?
Man’s first question found in the New Testament.
This first question here in the Old Testament is matched by the first question asked in the New Testament. Here it is God asking man, "Where are you?" and in the New Testament, in Matthew, the first question that appears is that of certain wise men who come asking, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:2). "Where is He?" Here we must pause and consider the meaning of these powerful Question.
The story begins when Jesus was born in a stable, city of Bethlehem. Sometime later, wise men, or magi, from eastern countries saw a star in the sky that signaled the birth of a new king. They came to Judea, the region around Jerusalem, to worship Jesus, the new king. A man named Herod was the king of Judea. He called the wise men to a meeting and told them to find the new king so he could go and worship him, too.
The wise men continued on to Bethlehem and followed the star until it was directly above the house where Jesus was. They found Mary and Jesus in the house and knelt down to worship Him. They brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, some of the finest things in the ancient world.
The Jews were anxiously looking for the coming of the Messiah. By computing the time mentioned by Daniel (Dan 9:25-27), they knew that the period was approaching when he would appear. It was natural that this expectation should spread into other countries. Many Jews at that time lived in Egypt, in Rome, and in Greece; many, also, had gone to Eastern countries, and in every place they carried their sacred writings, and diffused the expectation that some remarkable person was about to appear. Wise men question and consequent event shows five remarkable things:
(1) That they partook of the general expectation that about this time there would appear in the East a Ruler divinely appointed to his mission. The works of profane writers of this period show that this expectation was general.
(2) It is plain that the wise men presumed the mission of Christ and expected him to be a king.
(3) Star portrays that - Among the ancients the appearance of a new star or comet was regarded as an omen of some remarkable event. Many such appearances are recorded by the Roman historians at the birth or death of distinguished men.
(4)The worship depict that they regarded him as the King of Jews and came to honor and worship Him as a divinely appointed king.
(5) Finally it is in Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus that we read this very beautiful and important phrase: "born King." That is a very amazing statement by Matthew. When the queen of a royal family gives birth to a male child he is born a prince. But this was not so of our precious Lord! Jesus was born a King. But He is more than that! According to the Apostle John in Revelation chapter 17 verses 14 Jesus is called "Lord of lords and King of kings." Jesus is the ultimate Ruler of the universe. Though the world has not recognized this as yet, I can assure you one day it will. Listen to these words of the Apostle Paul: "Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. "(Philippians 2:9-11AMP).
God’s second question
God's second question to man is even more significant: “GOD said, ““Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Genesis 3:11) God does not expect any information, but it is a question designed to make Adam think. How do you know this? The answer, of course, is: "No one told him." Well then, how did he know? A change had occurred within him, and, instinctively, he senses that change and knows something that he did not know before. An evil knowledge has come to man, just as God said it would. The tree of which he partook was the tree of "the knowledge of good and evil," and, by partaking, man gained immediately an evil knowledge. From where did it come? It came from within. This is what God wants Adam to see. Remember that Jesus said, "It is not that which enters a man which defiles him, but that which comes from within," (Matthew 15:11). "For from within," he says, "out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts, fornication, murder, adultery, covetousness, licentiousness, pride, foolishness, all these evil things come from within and defile a man," (Matthew 15:18-19).
God’s Third question
Now God moves to His third question, and it is in two parts, one addressed to the man and one to the woman. “GOD said to the Woman, “What is this that you’ve done?” (Genesis 3:12b) There is something very interesting here. God asks both the same question, essentially. He is saying to each, "Tell me, what it that you did is? Clearly; what is it that you did?" To the man he is forthright and blunt. But to the woman he puts the question much more softly and gently. It is comforting to realize how fully God understands women and to see him put the question to her very gently. He says, "Tell me in your own way now, what is this that you have done?" In their answer it is significant that both of them come out at the same place. Each blames someone else (we now call this human nature, it is so widespread, so universally true) but when they come to their final statement they both use exactly the same words, "and I ate." That is where God wants to bring them. That is what the Bible calls repentance. God has led them gently, graciously and yet unerringly to the place where each of them, in his own way, has said, "Yes, Lord, I sinned; I ate." Bible says “He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whosoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
God will never admit a sinful, rebellious soul, into his kingdom. He that covers his sins shall not prosper, God may cover a man's sins, and it is an instance of his grace but a man may not cover his own: it is right in one good man to cover the sins of another, reproving him secretly, and freely forgiving him; but it is wrong in a man to cover his own: not that any man is bound to expose his sins to the public, which would be to the hurt of his credit but whenever he is charged with sin, and reproved for it, be should not cover it, that is, he should own it; for not to own and acknowledge it is to cover it; he should not deny it, which is to cover it with a lie, and is adding sin to sin; nor should he justify it, as if he had done a right thing; nor excuse it, or impute it to others that drew him into it,
Bible says “If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:”(Job 31:33) for such a man "shall not prosper"; in soul or body, in things temporal or spiritual; he shall not have peace of mind and conscience; but, sooner or later, shall feel the stings it; he shall not succeed even in those things he has in view by covering his sins; he shall not be able to cover them long, for there is nothing covered but what shall be revealed; if not in this life, which yet often is, however at the day of judgment, when every secret thing shall be made manifest; nor shall he escape the shame and punishment he thought to avoid by covering it, but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy; sin is only in this sense to be confessed to God, against it is committed, and who only can pardon it; and though it is known unto him, yet he requires an acknowledgment of it, which should be done from the heart, with an abhorrence of the sin, and in the faith of Christ, as a sacrifice for it; and it is not enough to confess, there must be a forsaking likewise, a parting with sin, a denying of sinful self, a leaving the former course of sin, and a quitting the company of wicked men before used to, and an abstaining from all appearance of evil But if he confesses his sin, with a penitent and broken heart, and, by forsaking every evil way, then God will have mercy on him and he shall have salvation of the soul, .
Depravity of human nature and God's search for wise
Psalm 14:1-3 we see a description of the depravity of human nature, and the deplorable corruption of a great part of mankind. “Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!”
The sinner here described is an agnostic, one that says there is no God ruling over the affairs of men. He says this in his heart. He cannot satisfy himself that there is none, but wishes there were none. This sinner is a fool and unwise, and this is evidence of it: he is wicked and profane, and this is the cause. The word of God is a discerner of these thoughts. No man will say, There is no God, till he is so hardened in sin, that it is become his interest that there should be none to call him to an account. The disease of sin has infected the whole race of mankind. They are all gone aside, there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
“The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. “ (Psalm 14:2) The objects of the Lord's search are not wealthy men, great men, or learned men; these, with all they can offer, cannot meet the demands of the great Governor: at the same time, he is not looking for superlative eminence in virtue, he seeks for any that understand themselves, their state, their duty, their destiny, their happiness; he looks for any that seek God, who, if there be a God, are willing and anxious to find him out. Surely this is not too great a matter to expect; for if men have not yet known God, if they have any right understanding, they will seek him.
God's all-seeing, all-piercing eyes scrutinize the whole human race. Is there one who shows discernment in thought and act, one to whom fellowship with God is the highest good, and consequently that after which he strives? - When God asked Adam, “Where are you?” he was asking him to “come out of hiding” to confess the truth about his condition. Sin leads to the shame of alienation and ultimately to death. "GOD IS SEARCHING FOR MAN--More than the other way around" Religion is man searching for God; Incarnation of Jesus is the ultimate search of God for man. The life of repentance teaches us that man should return to God, as did the Prodigal Son when he returned to his father. He addressed himself, saying:"I will arise and go to my father" (Luke 15:18).
The Creator of heaven and earth finds His pleasure in seeking the dust and ashes! This gives us an idea of the loving kindness of paternity and of the forgiveness of the tolerant heart In searching for man, God used many different means among which some were frightening, reproaching, convincing, and showing kindness and Judgment. The most important thing to Him is to reach man's heart and find Himself a place there. God's pleasure is man's love. He wants to rest in man's heart. When we understand that God is in search of man (us), more so than man in search of God, our spiritual experience is greatly enhanced. God, in the form of man here on earth, Jesus Christ, searched for man. Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:23-24). He is not one of an infinite number of ways to God; He is the way, the truth and the life. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” That is “probably the most exclusive statement ever made by anyone.” “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The value of the Soul
Thus Jesus the redeemer and savior of the world invite us to consider this Question alertly, “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? “(Matthew 16:26NKJV)
This is one of the most vital questions ever asked. It is also found in the hearts of all thinking people. This question has been asked in different forms, but in all its forms it amounts to the same thing that is the ultimate salvation of the mankind. The Lord Jesus Christ stated it this way: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” With these words of Jesus we are reminded of the incredible value of your soul.
Jesus said that all earthly possessions, position, pleasure, and power are not worth of the value of your soul! It is the most valuable possession one has. This means that a man's soul has more value than the whole visible world. And if a man loses his soul, with what can he make payment, with what can he buy it back again?
If he shall gain the whole world; all that is precious and valuable in it; all the power, pleasures, and riches of it; if with Alexander, he had the government of the whole world, and with Solomon, all the delights of it; and was possessed with the popularity and the wealth of people like Bill gates, and Carlos Slim Helu , and lose our own soul? If that should be consigned to everlasting torment and misery, be banished the divine presence, and continually feel the gnawing of the worm of conscience that never dies, and the fierceness of the fire of God's wrath, that shall never be quenched, he will have a miserable bargain of it. Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Or, "for the redemption" of it, Not even if he gives the whole world can he buy his lost soul. Therefore he who saves his soul will save everything, and he who loses his soul will lose everything. Jesus teaches here a "the Utmost Wisdom of Redemption” -- a wisdom that calls us to surrender our lives to the will of God, live for him, and serve others. It is in giving up our lives for something and someone greater that we truly find life. The radical example and call of Jesus is to follow him in laying down our lives to honor God and redeem others -- there are no short-cuts. The cross casts its shadow over all of us. Now let us look at the spiritual reality and the revelation of God in the light of God’s word.
The Significance of Creation Story
“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.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26–27)
This sweeping statement of the creation of man is both profound and perplexing. In part it answers the question of why man is unique in all creation. When God created man in His own image, He gave him a distinctive nature and place in creation (Genesis 5:3; 9:6; I Corinthians 15:39; James 3:9). Man "is the image and glory of God" (I Corinthians 11:7), "made a little lower than the angels and [God] has crowned him with glory and honour" (Psalm 8:5; cf. Hebrews 2:9). As sovereign among the creatures, man had dominion over everything on earth (Genesis 1:26, 28). The spiritual nature of man reflects God's image. This means man has a "spirit and soul and body" (I Thessalonians 5:23). Soul and spirit seem to be two distinctive features: Mary said "My soul doth magnify the Lord; And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour" (Luke 1:46, 47); the writer of Hebrews speaks of the word of God being able to divide the "soul and spirit" (Hebrews 4:12). These scriptures seem to indicate the soul and spirit are two different identities. Jesus comments that "thou shalt love the Love thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. And with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37) shows still other aspects (heart, mind) of mans being. Man was given intellect, which means he could think and reason. As a rational being, man was unique in creation and clearly distinct from the animals.
To be like someone means you possess many, but not all of the characteristics of that person. Obviously, man does not possess God's omnipotence, wisdom, perfection, ability to create, and divineness. It is a likeness mentally, morally, and socially. Mentally, man was created as a rational, volitional agent. In other words, man can reason and man can choose. This is a reflection of God’s intellect and freedom. God has given man free will, which likewise reflects God's image. Every man has the ability to choose for himself his actions. He is morally aware. Morally, man was created in righteousness and perfect innocence, a reflection of God’s holiness. Our conscience or “moral compass” is a vestige of that original state. Whenever someone writes a law, recoils from evil, praises good behavior, or feels guilty, he is confirming the fact that we are made in God’s own image. Man understands that certain things are good and certain things are evil. Socially, man was created for fellowship. This reflects God's triune nature and His love. Every time someone exposes divine love, he is demonstrating the fact that we are made in the likeness of God.
The creation of mankind adds special significance in the Creation Story. Man was created in the image of God- describes an exact resemblance, like a son who is the very image of his father. Having the “image” or “likeness” of God means, in the simplest terms, we were made to resemble God. “God is spirit” (John 4:24) the image of God refers to the immaterial part of man and enables him to commune with his Maker. The image of God in man means he was "created in the divine character, righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24; cf. Colossians 3:10). Man therefore would have had a natural tendency to do what is right. In his moral perfection, man had free and open communion and fellowship with his Maker. Man walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden. Part of being made in God’s image is that Adam had the capacity to make free choices. Although Adam was given a righteous nature, he made an evil choice to rebel against his Creator. In so doing, Adam marred the image of God within himself, and he passed that damaged likeness on to all his descendants. Today, we still bear the image of God (James 3:9), but we also bear the scars of sin. Mentally, morally, socially, and physically, we show the effects of sin.
Genesis chapter three is vital to understand the present condition of human because it alone explains things as they are. When Adam and Eve rebelled, man was separated from Heavenly father through sin. Whenever we sin, there are consequences that come as a result of the sin. Some of those consequences are spiritual and some are physical. When Adam and Eve sinned they experienced both physical and spiritual consequences (Genesis 3).Our world is a blend of both beauty and beastliness, of loveliness and that which is ugly. The beauty which remains is evidence of the goodness and greatness of the God who created all things (Romans 8:1-30). The ugliness is the evidence of man’s sinfulness (Romans 1:18-31). There is much to be learned here about sin. Essentially sin is disobedience. The seriousness of sin can be seen in two significant facts; first, sin is serious because of its roots. The eating of the forbidden fruit was not the essence of the sin, but merely its expression. It is not the source of sin, but its symbol. So the root of the sin of Adam and Eve was rebellion, unbelief, and ingratitude. Their act was a deliberate choice to disobey a clear instruction from God. It refused to gratefully accept the good things as from God and the one prohibition as for their good as well. Secondly, sin is serious because of its fruits. Adam and Eve did not experience a higher form of existence, but shame and guilt. It did not provide them with more to enjoy, but spoiled what they previously experienced without shame. Worse yet, it brought about the downfall of the entire race. The beginnings of the effects of the fall are seen in the rest of the Bible. We see the results of that sin today, in our lives and in society. The result of sin is judgment. That judgment is both present and future.
Redemption of the soul
Bible states that “The ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough”-- Psalm 49:8 –
The word "life" here means "soul," and not the immortal part. The only question which the psalmist here considers is the value of wealth in preserving "life," or in saving man from the grave. For the redemption of their soul is precious - It is of too high a price to be redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver or gold, and has required the sacrificial death of Christ. You may ask why? Now think about the remarkable and phenomenal thing it is to be you! Of all the people who have come and gone on the earth, since the beginning of time, not ONE of them is like YOU.
King David said “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”(Psalm 139:14) When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,( Psalm 8:3–8) Your soul is a priceless treasure. There are certain vital other facts also that make our life valuable:
No one who has ever lived or is to come has had your combination of abilities, talents, appearance, friends, acquaintances, burdens, sorrows and opportunities. No one’s finger prints are like yours. You are absolutely unique and exceptional! You do not have to pretend in order to seem more like someone else. You weren’t meant to be like someone else. You were meant to be different. Nowhere ever in all of history will the same things be going on in anyone’s mind, soul and spirit as are going on in yours right now. If you did not exist, there would be a hole in creation, a gap in history, something missing from the plan for humankind. No one can reach out to others in the same way that you can. No one can speak your words. No one can convey your meanings. No one can comfort with your kind of comfort. No one can bring your kind of understanding to another person. No one can be cheerful and lighthearted and joyous in your way. No one can smile your smile. No one else can bring the whole unique impact of you to another human being. Treasure your uniqueness. It is a gift given only to you. Enjoy it and share it! Let it be free to flow out among your family and friends and people you meet in the rush and clutter of living wherever you are. That gift of yourself was given you to enjoy and share hence the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-.
Now God’s holiness required Punishment and payment (atonement) for sin, which was (and still is) eternal death. Our death is not sufficient to cover the payment for sin. Only a perfect, spotless sacrifice, offered in just the right way, can pay for our sin. Jesus, the perfect God-man, came to offer the pure, complete and everlasting sacrifice to remove, atone, and make eternal payment for sin. The result of their sin was their awareness of their nakedness. They lost their innocence. In their embarrassment, they tried to cover themselves by making some sort of clothing. Even with their fig leaf garment, they still felt naked. God knew what had happened, but he wanted Adam and Eve to understand and admit their sin. When people make mistakes, there are two responses to the sin. Either they acknowledge their sin or they try to hid it. The last consequence of Adam and Eve's sin was deportation from the Garden. As a gesture of kindness, God replaced their inadequate fig leaf garments with tunics made of animal skins. This may have been the first death after their sin, when an animal was killed to produce the skins for Adam and Eve's clothing. The physical consequence to sin will vary with the sin that is committed. However, the spiritual consequence remains the same; "for the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). The solution to the spiritual consequence of sin is also the same, no matter what the sin, "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Man’s sin has turned God’s creation inside-out. The only solution is for God to do something to bring about redemption and restoration. This has been accomplished in Jesus Christ. The penalties for man’s sins have been borne by Him. The consequences for Adam’s sins need not destroy us. The choice which confronts us is this: Do we wish to be united with the first Adam or the last? In the first Adam we are constituted sinners and are subject to physical and spiritual death. In the last we become new creatures, with eternal life (physical and spiritual). God has not placed two trees before us, but two men: Adam and Christ. We must decide with whom we will identify. In one of these two our eternal future rests. What kept Adam and Eve from everlasting blessing was their desire to have pleasure at the cost of unbelief and disobedience. Such, Paul writes, was also the case with Israel (I Cor 10:1-5). The same temptations face us, but God has given us sufficient means to be have victory. What are these means? No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).
Did you know that when God made you, God breathed into your nostrils what the Bible calls, "the breath of life?" And you became, “a living soul, made in the image of God. After God created man out of the elements of the earth, He "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). As a result of this divine action, man has both a material and a spiritual nature. You are not a body; you have a body. The body is the house in which your soul is. The body will one day die. It will be put in the ground and it will decay. But your soul, made in the image of God will last for eternity. When the sun, the moon, the stars have fallen out of orbit, when the sun has become a cinder, when time shall be no more, your soul will be in existence somewhere, either in heaven or hell--timeless, dateless, measureless; your soul, made in the image of God will exist forever and ever and ever and ever. That's why the Lord Jesus Christ asked the question we quoted in our text.
Death and Judgment
Bible says “Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends. The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it. (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7MSG)
A serious assessment of the logical and philosophical evidence for the existence of two realties, Seen and the unseen, the material and the immaterial will lead us to conclude that there is an immaterial reality, and we DO possess this thing we have come to know as the “soul”. But natural revelation and human reasoning will only bring us so far, and these must always eventually default to SPECIAL revelation in order to understand the precise nature of the world in which we live. While we are encouraged as Christians that there is never a conflict between natural revelation and special (Biblical) revelation, we do understand the priority here. We don't know when death will come for each of us, but we all will die. Death is the great equalizer. It is no respecter of persons. It doesn't matter if you are young or old, if you are a man or a woman, if you are rich or poor. Death knocks at every door.
At death, Body returns to its original earth; it becomes immediately a cloud of earth, a lifeless lump of clay, and is then buried in the earth, where it rots, corrupts, and turns into it; which shows the frailty of man, and may serve to humble his pride, as well as proves that death is not an annihilation even of the body; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it; from whom it is, by whom it is created, who puts it into the bodies of men, as a deposit urn they are entrusted with, and are accountable for, and should be concerned for the safety and salvation of it; this was originally breathed into man at his first creation, and is now formed within him by the Lord; hence he is called the God of the spirits of all flesh; Now at death the soul, or spirit of man, returns to God; which if understood of the souls of men in general, it means that at death they return to God the Judge of all, who passes sentence on them, and orders those that are good to the mansions of bliss and happiness, and those that are evil to hell and destruction. So "that it may stand in judgment before the Lord;''
The Bible teaches the following basic principles - in fact, it is the entire Theme of the Bible: Man, in his natural state, is sinful and has transgressed against a Holy God - a God Who is Infinitely Just. Jesus came to free us from self-centeredness, from sin, from the curse, from death. This wonderful freedom and new life, while it cost God dearly, is free to us. As the children of Israel trusted in the blood of the lamb in Egypt, the only way we can be free is through a similar act of simple faith - placing our trust, our very lives, solely and completely in the Blood of the Lamb that Jesus Christ gave on the cross for you and for me. Jesus Christ IS God - therefore His Payment was Infinite: One Death by an Infinite Being = Infinite Payment. God has offered Every Man and Woman access to the Infinite Payment made by Jesus - simply by turning around from wherever we were heading, turning to Christ, and accepting Forgiveness from His Hand. Hell - and the Eternal Lake of Fire - is reserved for Every Man and Woman who decide to ignore the offer of Jesus and decide to pay for their transgressions against God by their own
Eternal life
Jesus said in John 8:51“Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” Did you notice that we have a powerful promise here? When we place our trust in Christ we will NEVER see death. Our bodies may cease to function, but there will NEVER be a time when we could be considered DEAD. The question is: “Do we live beyond the grave, beyond the physical life?” Does the TRUE person die when the body dies? The scriptures seem to answer that question in a straightforward manner: Matthew 10:28-“And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
2 Corinthians 5:1-8-For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven; inasmuch as we, having put it on, shall not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord — for we walk by faith, not by sight — we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
In the above passages, it is evident that there is a clear distinction between the body and the soul as well as few important aspects of life.
First of all that the Soul is Immortal and there are two realities in the universe: the unseen, immaterial, spiritual realm and the visible, physical, material world. The soul DOES exist and, in fact, WE ARE LIVING SOULS. We live even when our bodies die.
Second aspect is Souls Return to God. The spiritual world is the realm of God, and as living souls, we are spiritual beings. Therefore it shouldn’t surprise us to read that the moment we are NOT living in the physical world housed in our bodies, we WILL be living in the spiritual world with God. (Luke 16:19-31, Luke 23:39-43, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8)
Third aspect is Souls Are Active. Even after our bodies die, as living souls, we are not passively waiting for our resurrection bodies. In the time between our physical death and our resurrection at the Second Coming of Christ, we will no be in a state of dormancy. We will be active and available to God (Ecclesiastes 12:5-7, Matthew 17:1-3)
Fifth fact is Souls Interact and experiences. Souls are aware of each other in the spiritual realm. They are able to fellowship and communicate with each other, but Heaven and Hell are separate invisible realms. It is possible, for example, for the soul to experience great joy and great torment (Luke 16:19-31)
And finally the Souls Are Subject to God’s Judgment. Physical death does not end our life. God has complete control over our life (as a living soul), and our final death is NOT dependent on our body, but IS dependent on our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. (Luke 23:39-43, John 11:17-26, John 8:51)
If you love life, I plead you to lay hold on Christ at once, that your soul may be saved. Why not do it today? Why not this day join yourself to the Lord Jesus in an everlasting covenant which cannot be broken? Why not resolve, before tomorrow's sun dawns, to turn from the service of sin, and turn to Christ? Why not go to Christ this very day, and cast your soul on Him, with all its sins and all its unbelief, with all its doubts and all its fears?
The good news is that when God redeems an individual, He begins to restore the original image of God, creating a “new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). That redemption is only available by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior from the sin that separates us from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Through Christ, we are made new creations in the likeness of God (2 Corinthians 5:17). Eternity is endless, dateless and measureless. The soul that God has given us will be in heaven or hell throughout eternity. The fact that we are made in the image of God makes us uniquely distinct from the rest of God’s creation. Our souls will exist for eternity, either in Heaven or in Hell.(Daniel 12:2).
For your salvation, there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all men. (1 Tim. 2:5-6). Although Jesus died for all people’s sins, you cannot receive God’s forgiveness and pardon unless you personally receive this forgiveness through repentance and faith in Jesus. If you refuse, it is painful for God and you will not be saved. Repentance is more than confession. It is being truly sorry for and forsaking sin. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins. Without the pouring out of blood, there is no forgiveness for sins. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn. 1:9). Let the wicked forsake his way, and the evil man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon (Isa. 55:7).
Jesus said, “Except you repent, you will all likewise perish (Lk. 13:3,5).
Repent Means:- Turn to God and forsake your sins.
1. Turn from sin. Gal: 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; 1 Cor. 6:9-10.
2. Turn from the world. 1 John 2:15; James 4;4.
3. Turn from self. 2 Cor. 5;15; Luke 14:26.
4. Turn from the devil. Luke 4:1-13; James 4:7.
5. Turn from all other idol. 1 Thess. 1:9-10; Rev. 21;8.
6. Turn from evil deeds. Mark 1:17;
7. Make restitution where necessary. Luke 19:8.
Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). Your sins will be forgiven and your heart will be cleansed by the blood of Christ.(John 1:7,9). The Bible says that God gives eternal life to those repent toward God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Acts. 20:21).
Jesus knocks at the door of your heart and He wants to come into your heart. “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any one hear my voice and open the door I will come into him”. (Rev. 3:20). “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life”. (John 8:12). Believe in the light that you may become children of light. (John 12:36).
Beloved Reader, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" The single most valuable Prayer you can pray from the depth of your heart to God is: “Dear Jesus, I accept that, I am a sinner and confess my sins I believe that you Died for my Sins, Rose from the Dead and Will Come Again. Please forgive my sins. Jesus, come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. I accept you as my Personal Savior and Lord.”
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