1. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26 Profit Gain Loss

3. Man in image of God - Genesis 1:27 “we are also his offspring” - Acts 17:28 “God is a Spirit” - John 4:24 Body and Soul are not the Same Acts 2:27 “For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul” Matt. 10:28

4. Matt. 16:26 “lose his own soul” Majority will be Lost - Matt. 7:13-14 Sin causes our soul to be lost John 8:21 “shall die in your sins” Acts 13:46 “judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life.”

5. Priceless - Matt. 16:26 - worth more than world Why ? Divine in Origin - God formed life Zechariah 12:1 “formed the spirit of man” Redeemed by blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1:18-19 “precious blood of Christ” Eternal - Matt. 25:46 “everlasting”

6. “In exchange for his soul” - Matt. 16:26 Exchange = trade, barter, sell, deal WEALTH Matt. 19:16-26 “he had great possessions” Luke 12:16-21 “not rich toward God” PLEASURE Demas - 2 Tim.4:10 “loved this present world” 2 Tim.3:4 “Lovers of pleasures” 1 Tim.5:6 “dead while she liveth” Heb.11:24-25 “refused” “suffer”

7. “In exchange for his soul” - Matt. 16:26 Exchange = trade, barter, sell, deal EVIL ASSOCIATIONS 1 Cor.15:33 ESV “bad company ruins good morals” 1 Cor.5:6 “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” POPULARITY Mark 15:15 “Pilate, willing to content the people” John 12:42-43 “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

8. WHY ?  World cannot satisfy  World does not last Matt.24:35 “shall pass away” 1 Jn. 2:17 “the world passeth away” 2 Pet. 3:10 “shall be burned up”  Can’t take it with us Job 1:21 “…naked shall I return thither” 1 Tim. 6:7 “…we can carry nothing out”

9. We can’t have everything  Gain one thing at the loss of something else  Cannot have a life of sin and have heaven later  Can’t sow to flesh and reap eternal life  Can Have sin now - sacrifice heaven hereafter  Can have heaven hereafter - must give up sin now Would be a Great loser Gain world and lose soul - be foolish Can’t gain the whole world

10. Lesser losses are bad enough Gain world and lose health Loss of soul means two losses Heaven Life here - peace, joy, Christ likeness An Entire loss Loss of soul is irreparable Loss is eternal - everlasting - Matt. 25:46

11. That which pleases is but for a moment That which troubles is but for a moment That alone is important which endures forever

13. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Morning March 4, 2012