What Can We Exchange For Our Soul?

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.