1. WELCOME VISITORS AND MEMBERS

3. A FUTILE SACRIFCE I. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, one sacrifices: MARK 8:36-38 36. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37. Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

4. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, Introduction: “TO BE OR NOT TO BE THAT IS THE QUESTION… is the opening line of a soliloquy from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet (written about 1600), act three, scene one. It is one of the most famous quotations in world literature and the best-known of this particular play.”soliloquyWilliam Shakespeare Hamletworld literature What Hamlet is musing on is the comparison and choice between the pain of life, which he sees as inevitable (the sea of troubles - the slings and arrows - the heart-ache - the thousand natural shocks) and the fear of the uncertainty of death and of possible damnation of suicide. THERE ARE SERIOUS CHOICES BEFORE US – There are 2.

5. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, one sacrifices: Refusing to be a faithful Christian one makes a Choice (This Choice is made up of many consequential pieces and parts as we will see.) What is implied here is “One knows and realizes what it means to be a Christian, what is expected”. One makes a conscious choice to be a Faithful Christian or an Unfaithful Christian.

6. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, one sacrifices: HIGHEST JOY Acts 8:39 “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fullness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.”

7. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, one sacrifices: TRUE PEACE Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. “ Isaiah 57:21 “[There is] no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

8. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, one sacrifices: REAL SUCCESS Mark 8:36-37 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37. Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” 1 Timothy 6:6-9 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7. For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. 8.And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. ” Paul admonishes each of us in Philippians 3:13 -14

9. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, one sacrifices: Philippians 3:13 -14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Have you sacrificed the “Prize”?

10. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, one sacrifices: INFLUENCE FOR TRUTH Revelation 14:13 “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Hebrews 11:4 “ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ.”

11. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, one sacrifices: ANY HOPE OF HEAVEN – Consider these passages - John 14:6 “ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

12. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, one sacrifices: ANY HOPE OF HEAVEN is GONE. Matthew 25:30 “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, one sacrifices: HIS SOUL Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” 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.” Ezekiel 18:20 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. “

14. Refusing to be a faithful Christian, one sacrifices: Everything but Hell. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Mark 8:36 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? “

15. WHAT A FUTILE SACRIFICE TO SACRIFICE ONE’S ETERNAL SOUL!! If you need to repair the damage that has been done to Soul, it’s not too late. Acts 8:22 “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

16. What MUST You Do to Be Saved? Hear The Word Of God Romans 10:17 Believe His Word Mark 16:16, John 8:24 Repent of your sins Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38 Confess your belief Romans 10:10, Acts 8:37 Be Baptized Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38 For the Remission of Your Sins Acts 22:16 Galatians 3:26, 27 Live Faithfully Titus 2:11-14