WHAT CAN WE EXCHANGE FOR OUR SOUL? (Outline)
February 21, 2021 - Lent 1 - MATTHEW 16:21-26
INTRO: Jesus taught about counting the cost. A king counts the cost of going to war. Do we have the means and ability to defeat our enemy? A person who builds a tower counts the cost for these materials. Will there be enough money to finish the project? These are physical examples. How do we count the cost of the spiritual? Things unseen? “But even more than that, I consider everything to be a loss because of what is worth far more: knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have lost all things and consider them rubbish…” (PHILIPPIANS 3:8). “WHAT CAN WE EXCHANGE FOR OUR SOUL?” I. Jesus exchanged his life. II. Followers have changed lives.
I. JESUS EXCHANGED HIS LIFE
A. Verse 21. Jesus was 6 months away from being crucified near Jerusalem. Prepared disciples.
1. Jesus had to go. Must go or necessary in Greek. No turning aside from his Father’s will.
2. Jesus would suffer greatly and be killed at the hands of the religious leaders. Shocking.
3. “…and on the third day be raised again.” Shocking news. No one comes back from the dead.
B. Verse 22. Killed by religious leaders was not what the disciples expected. Or rise from the dead.
1. Peter scolds the Lord Jesus for saying such things. Peter does not want any to harm Jesus.
2. Interesting that in the verses before our text Peter, the rock, confessed Jesus as the Christ.
C. Verse 23. Jesus rebuked Peter. Commanded Satan to get behind him.
1. Satan was using Peter to be a trap for Jesus. Greek = scandal. Dangerous devil.
2. Peter was thinking with human emotions. Needed to think like God. God’s will be done.
D. Probably none of us would have reacted much differently than Peter. We also would not want Jesus to be mistreated. To suffer. To die. All of this was necessary. Only by giving in to death could Jesus be raised again on the third day. Our sinful nature keeps on thinking like man and not like God. We want our lives to be easy. Comfortable. Free of any concern. Free of worry. We live in a sinful world. The perfectness of the Garden of Eden no longer exists. Satan strives to dis-tract our full attention on our Savior’s sacrifice. Jesus exchanged his life for our souls. “But we look to Jesus (the one who was made lower than the angels for a little while, so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone), now crowned with glory and honor, because he suffered death" (HEBREWS 2:9). Jesus has tasted death for us. We pass from life through death to life eternal. We will not taste death’s bitter pangs.
E. Our loving, heavenly Father counted the cost of a soul. The cost to bring sinners back to him was the birth, life, suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of his only Son, Christ Jesus. The Lord Jesus is our only way to heaven. Too many try to earn their way into heaven. Too many try to buy God’s grace. Such false teachings have even found their way into church bodies. None of us deserve God’s forgiveness. Thank the Lord that he has freely exchanged our sins with the sinlessness of our Savior Jesus Christ! "But no one can by any means redeem himself. He cannot give God a ransom for himself— (Yes, the ransom for their souls is costly. Any payment would fall short.)” (PSALM 49:7, 8).
F. Jesus exchanged his life for our souls. His sinlessness for our sins. Crucified. Died. Buried. Rose again from the dead. Jesus willingly exchanged himself for our selfish selves. Forgiveness is won for by the blood of Jesus. The devil is defeated. Guilt is removed. Death is conquered. This is God’s price demanded in exchange for our souls. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by be-coming a curse for us. As it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’” (GALATIANS 3:13).
WHAT CAN WE EXCHANGE FOR OUR SOUL? Our Savior, Jesus, exchanged his life for us.
II. FOLLOWERS HAVE CHANGED LIVES
A. Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples for the end of his life that is coming. Must happen.
1. Peter tries to stop him. Thinking like man he does not want God’s will to be done.
2. Disciples saw Jesus’ miracles. Heard his teachings. Still adjusting to Jesus’ news.
B. Verse 24. Disciples had heard the call of Jesus. They did deny selves. Gave up everything.
1. Peter, James, and John the sons of Zebedee left behind fishing boats. Followed Jesus.
2. Matthew, well-to-do tax collector, left behind lucrative business. Followed Jesus.
C. Verse 25. Disciples gave up everything worldly in lives. Found real life: Christ the Messiah!
1. Verse 26. Jesus asked the simple, easy to answer questions. What benefit to forfeit soul?
2. What can a person exchange for his soul? No benefit and no earthly exchange for soul.
D. What can anyone exchange for a soul? There is nothing to benefit by giving up eternal life in heaven. Only Jesus can and did exchange his life…death…resurrection to redeem our souls. Our eternity in heaven is our final destination. Jesus exchanged his life so we can have changed lives. No longer do we have to listen to Satan. Or serve the world’s whims. Or give in to sinful desires. We tell Satan to get behind us. We say no to the world’s attractions. We give up the evil for the good. The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts to focus on the best that is yet to come. We look beyond the earthly and into eternity. “…a treasure in the heavens that will not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (LUKE 12:33b, 34).
E. The Lord Jesus taught here about following him. Taking up the cross. The cross does not necessarily mean extreme suffering. Jesus was the suffering servant who endured the eternal suffering we deserved. To be a Christ follower always includes bearing the cross of Christ. When we follow his steps we will be mocked. Hated. Despised. I do not think we will have to follow steps that lead to be crucified. (But things could always change.) “But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is favorable with God. Indeed, you were called to do this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an ex-ample so that you would follow in his steps” (1 PETER 2:20b, 21). Yes…doing good is a cross. At this time in history we are living in the fulfillment of God’s Word in Isaiah. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil. Those who exchange sweet for bitter and bitter for sweet. Believers we know what is good and right in God’s sight. This is not welcomed in today’s society. God’s truth divides.
F. Let’s examine what it means to live changed lives. Lives that walk in the footsteps of Jesus. How did Jesus walk in this world? Our Savior walked humbly among the people. He loved those who followed him. And those who did not love him back. Jesus healed those who were not Jews. He had compassion. Showed kindness. Patience. God’s love and mercy. These are our Savior’s examples for us. “Therefore, as God’s elect, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (COLOSSIANS 3:12). Our world desperately needs to see compassion…kindness…humility…gentleness…patience. Only God’s children know these virtues. Have these virtues. Live to reveal these divine virtues. Our changed lives reveal divine character.
CONC.: What can we exchange for our soul? Nothing. Jesus exchanged his life for our souls. We are forgiven. Fully. Freely. We have changed lives. “And he died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves but for him, who died in their place and was raised again" (2 CORINTHIANS 5:15). Jesus died for us that we might live for him. WHAT CAN WE EXCHANGE FOR OUR SOUL? We exchange nothing. Jesus exchanged his life for all sins. All people. Amen.
Pastor Timm O. Meyer
LENT 1 rdgs: GENESIS 22:1-18; ROMANS 8:31-39; MARK 1:12-15; (PSALM 6)
SERVICES: 8:00am @ McCook (SUN) / 10:30am @ Redeemer (SUN)
BIBLE STUDIES following worship
redeemernorton.org & trinitymccook.com
