The Value of a Soul - Peter Hockley

Mark 8:34-37: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny (ownership of) himself (his soul), and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life (his independent soul-life) will lose it, but whoever loses his life (his independent soul-life) for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (A) The DIGNITY of HAVING a SOUL. (1) The soul is created by God (Genesis 2:7). (2) The soul is created in God’s image (Gen 1:27, Psalm 8:4-5). (3) The soul is created to be eternal. (4) The soul is created for fellowship with God (Jeremiah9:23-24). (B) The DANGER of WASTING your SOUL (Luke 12:15, 2Chron 1:15, 2Chron 9:20,22-23, Mark10:21-22, Ecclesiastes 9:3). (1) You can never gain the whole world anyway. (2) What we do gain, we can’t keep. (3) Even if you could gain the world and keep hold of it, it would never satisfy. (C) The DISASTER of LOSING your SOUL (Ezekiel 18:4, Mark 8:36-37) (1) When the soul is lost, its true value becomes clear. (2) Once the soul is lost, it is irreversible (Hebrews 9:27). (3) Once the soul is lost, it is lost forever (Mark9:48). (4) What we accumulate on earth has no value towards eternity. (D) The DELIGHT of SURRENDERING your SOUL (John10:10, Romans 5:8, Isaiah 53:6, 2Corinthians 5:17, Romans10:9-10). Matthew 11:28-29: "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."