Gain or Loss?



By nature, we are all mixed up in our priorities. We esteem that which is natural, temporal and fleeting as much and that which is spiritual, eternal and lasting as little. The body and its pleasure and comforts are very important to people but their soul and its redemption and welfare are viewed as of little importance. The Psalmist rightly declared in Psalms 49:8, “For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever”. Precious? How precious? Only Christ can tell us and He did: “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)

If we gain the “whole world” and everything that is counted precious in it and lose our soul we have really lost all! John Gill said to lose your soul is to “be consigned to everlasting torment and misery, be banished from the divine presence, and continually feel the gnawings of the worm of conscience that never dies, and the fierceness of the fire of God's wrath, that shall never be quenched.” The soul that is lost can never be regained. The giving of the whole world for it could not redeem it! All the silver and gold or any corruptible thing will not provide a ransom. No, only the life and precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ can redeem the soul.

Yet, there is little interest in Him, in His salvation and in His redemptive work which is set forth in the gospel. What blindness and what a distorted value of things! Man’s body lay only as a mass of dust until God breathed into him and he became a living soul. The body was created but “the breath of life” came from God, making man a living soul. When sin entered in, the body did not immediately die but spiritual death occurred. Adam died spiritually and was cast out of God’s presence. Likewise, all his posterity was born in this state of spiritual death.

Who can redeem the soul? Only Christ! “The first Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam (Christ) is a quickening (life-giving) spirit.” Thus God says in Isaiah 55:3, “Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” Christ’s words are spirit and life! Listen and look to Him and live! Soul redemption is only through His blood and righteousness! All else is loss!


-Gospel report by preacher Gary Shepard




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