THE KING’ S BUSINESS
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those who gain the future really gel the best out o f this life, too. I. What is the World that is Gained and the Soul that is Lost? 1. The World (1 John 2 :15-17). Every* thing in the world that appeals to the sense: “ the lust o f the flesh, the lust o f the eye, and the pride o f life.” To gain the world means to get all that it has to give along these lines. 2. The Soul (Luke 9 :25—the man “ him self"). The inner, real manhood and womanhood. To lose the soul means to lose one’s self. II. Every Person Has a Soul of Infinite Value. 1. The existence o f the soul (Gen. 2 :7 ). 2. The value o f the soul: (a ) Because o f its divine origin. (b ) Because o f the^price paid for its redemption. < (c ) Because o f the great contention f©r its possession. (d ) Because o f the eternal destiny awaiting it. III. There Is Great Danger of Losing the Soul. Redemption 1. ¿God is its Author. “Who o f God is made unto us-redemption” (I Corinthians 1:30). 2. The blood o f Christ is its purchase price. . “ In whom we have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7). 3. Christ Himself is its Personification. “But o f him are ye in Christ Jesus . . . redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). 4. The Lord Jesus is its depository. “ The redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24; Colossians 1:14). 5. Deliverance is its meaning. The word “ deliverance” in Hebrews 11:35, is the same as rendered “ redemption” in other Scriptures. 6. Christ’s coming is its completion. “Waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption o f our b o d /’ (Romans 8:23).
1. Therp is a sense in which it is already lost. 2. But there is a final loss that takes place in 'the future. 3. How the soul may be lost. By trying to gain the world. This gain may be characterized as (a) A supposed gain: “ if.” (b ) An uncertain gain (cf. Luke 12 : 20 ). (c ) A difficult gain (cf. I Timothy 6 :10), (d ) An unsatisfactory gain (cf. Ecclesiastes 1, 2). 4. The loss o f the soul is permanent, irretrievable; no exchange can save it when once its doom has been pro nounced. Conclusion.' Picture yourself, as this text invites you to, at the judgment bar o f God, hearing the sentence o f doom pronounced upon you, and ask yourself the question o f this text: “What shall it have profited me, gaining ' as I did the whole world, seeing that I have now lost my soul, for which loss there is no exchange, no redemption ?” It might be well to close with a striking illustration. 7. The indwelling Spirit o f God is its security. “ The Spirit o f God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day o f redemption” (Ephesians 4:30; 1:14). —F. E. lyL The Sevenfold Result of Abiding in Christ 1. Walking as He walked (1 John 2:6 ). 2. Loving the brethren (1 John 2:10). 3. Victory over sin (1 John 3:6). 4. The witness o f the Spirit (1 John 3:24). 5. Answered prayer (John 15:7). 6. Fruit bearing (John 15:5). 7. Gladness at Christ’s coming (1 John 2:28). A Bible Study on “ Standing” I. , Standing of man before God apart from Christ. 1. Past : Genesis 1 :26, 27. ■Created in imagé of God.
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