Your Undying Soul

Our brother has asked for me to read verse 19 through the end of the chapter. It's the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Luke chapter 16 and verse 19.

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores, and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table.

Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.

In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue because I am in agony in this fire.

But Abraham replied, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here and you are in agony.

And besides all this, between us and you, a great chasm has been fixed so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.

He answered, Then I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them so that they will not also come to this place of torment.

Abraham replied, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them. No, Father Abraham, he said.

But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. He said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.

All right, what a treat to be with you here in Grace Fellowship Church in Bremen, Indiana. Take your Bibles with me, please, and go to the Gospel of Mark and Chapter 8.

Those of you in Sunday school, I was sharing about how I was considering various places in which Kathy and I might retire and live. And I'd been around, as a coordinator, I'd been to all the different churches in Arpka and then some.

And I thought, Well, that was the first consideration. I don't want to move somewhere where I don't have a church to plug into and worship God and serve him. And I was looking for a reason to move to Bremen, Indiana.

I say that with all sincerity. I love this church and I love your pastor. Although he's not a very nice guy. We invite him down to Taylor's to preach for us.

And it just happened we were having a ping pong tournament. And one of our families put it on every year and invite people from several churches. And there's usually about 50 or 60 people in this tournament.

He won the whole thing. Championship. Took it away. We haven't invited him back. He said, No. All right.

I've been asked to preach the gospel. Especially in view of any that may be here that have not been saved. You've not been delivered from the guilt and power of your sins and made ready for heaven.

And made fit and able to walk with the Lord Jesus Christ in this life. So I'd like to present a message from Mark in chapter 8.

Look at verse 36 with me please. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and to lose or to forfeit his soul?

For what can a man give in exchange or in return for his soul? There was an occasion when John Bunyan, famous for writing Pilgrim's Progress, was preaching on this very text.

He was preaching to a packed congregation. And you want to hear this man. He spent more of his life in prison than out of prison.

You want to hear what he has to preach. What would he say? And he says, Quote, I've chosen at this time to handle these words among you for several reasons.

One. The soul and its salvation is a wonderfully great thing. Nothing is more important for each one of you than this. Houses and lands.

Works and honors. What are these compared to salvation? Two. This fact is amazingly neglected in our day.

Who is there in our town who is concerned about the salvation of his soul? Three. I have pitched upon this text at this time that God would help me by this message to awaken you.

To stir you from your bed of ease. To bring you to your knees before the Lord. And to beg him for his grace that you might be concerned for the salvation of your soul.

And fourth. I am preaching on this theme to deliver myself from any responsibility for your damnation.

To be clear of your blood. So that you yourselves will answer to God for your refusal to be saved.

Give you five points for this sermon. I have borrowed this outline from our brother Jeff Thomas.

When I saw his outline, these thoughts are just profound. Number one. Every one of us has.

Now maybe rephrase. Every one of us is. An undying soul. Right within your very body.

The scripture refers to your body as a tent. A temporary dwelling place. You don't live in a tent. You pull it out on occasions temporarily. Your body is referred to as a tent in which you are living temporarily.

You live in your body this tent. Now you are different than the animals. You can contemplate.

And plan for the future. You're not just working off your natural instincts. You can be overwhelmed. By the beauty of the creation.

You go to Yosemite. Or to Wyoming. Or to Colorado. Or even to Arizona. And look at the Grand Canyon.

And there's this wow factor. You appreciate music. And literature.

The sun. The moon. And the stars. You study the microcosms. You're not a worm that when somebody goes fishing they put you on the hook.

And you're not a chicken. That when you go home today. They're going to put you in the pot. Kids don't worry.

Not going to put you on a hook. And not going to put you in the pot. It is because. You're a living soul. You're created.

And you are an eternal soul. You can know God the creator. God made Adam. And he breathed into Adam. As a unique part of the creation.

He breathed into him. And he became a living soul. You're not just an animal. Just before Jesus breathed his last.

He said. Father. Into your hands. I commit. I entrust. My spirit. My soul. We can go everywhere in the world.

And we can find that men. Make religions. Because they know. In their heart of hearts. That there's something more than them. That they will one day.

Give an account to. You. There's something more than them. That controls the events of life. They know there's something more than.

Just these 70 to 80 years. That we live in this world. More than survival. More than pleasure seeking. There's something more. A burglar comes into your house.

With a gun. He wants everything you have. And you say. I'll give you anything. Just don't take my life. Nothing's as important as your life.

You say. Don't take the lives of my wife. Or my children. Take anything else. Firefighters come to a burning building. They don't ask the question.

Should we save the baby or the cat? There's no question. Is there? At 9-11. At the twin towers.

What was it they were looking for? For days. Even weeks. It wasn't the souvenirs people had. Gathered from visiting other countries.

They hung on the wall. Or put on their desk. They were looking for living souls. Human beings. To rescue. You are a living soul.

And you will live consciously. Forever. The Bible says. This very clearly. And you have that innate sense within you.

And people everywhere share that innate sense. Of the value of a human being. More than anything else. Your soul is the most important part of you.

You have it. You are it. But secondly. Anyone may lose. His soul. We see that from the text.

You may. Lose it. Forfeit it. There is such a thing. It sounds old fashioned doesn't it?

But if we believe the Bible. And everything in the Bible. And it's the only thing that can teach us about. What happened before. And what happens afterwards. Then we have to say it.

You will lose your soul. By going to hell. That's what our text says. That is what Luke 16 says.

That's what Jesus Christ. The son of God. Came to tell us about. To warn us about. There's a real hell. Men try to eliminate it. They try to soften it. They try to offer alternatives to it.

Let's see. Let's create in our imagination. A purgatory. Or. Or. The idea of reincarnation. Or.

The idea of. Annihilation. But the Bible says. There's a real hell. And you may say.

Pastor. Don't talk to me. About this. That's not the kind of thing. We came to hear about. But I ask you. If you saw a child. That was beginning to drink some poison.

Would you not warn them? Stop them? If you saw a blind man. Teetering on the edge. Of a cliff. Would you not do.

Something to reach out to him. To spare his life. Jesus said. There is a way. There's a way to live life.

And you're going to make a choice. You either will enter into. A very narrow gate. A compressed. Straight gate. And walk a narrow way.

That leads to heaven. Or you go through a wide gate. And you'll walk down a broad way. But it's going to take your soul. To destruction. One or the other.

He was referring to hell. Hell. In the Bible. The word hell. Is used 162 times. In the gospels. It's used 24 times.

And it was Jesus Christ. That used that word. 22 of the 24 times. Life in hell. Does not end.

Hell is for punishment. Not for correction. There is no escaping from hell. It is eternal. In Luke 16.

We saw that. In hell. Men have eyes to see. Ears to hear. A head to lift up. A throat. And a tongue to be parched.

A memory to be plagued. The suffering that goes on in hell. Is great. We heard the word torment. Four times.

In your translation. That was read. Two torments. And two agonies. Same Greek word. Those in hell. Are suffering. In torment.

The agony. And torment. Of that place. Right now. As we speak. Suffering in hell.

Is so great. That Jesus said. Whatever you must do. To avoid going there. Do it. If it's your eye. You'd be better to pluck it out. And go there.

Maimed. With one eye. Than to. Or go to heaven. And to escape hell. Rather than having both your eyes. If it's your hand that offends you.

You'd be better to cut it off. Than to go to hell. With both your hands. It's that bad. It's a place of weeping. And wailing. And gnashing of teeth.

The Bible says. That those that go to hell. Will suffer the vengeance. Of God. Eternally. In real fire.

The flood. Was real water. The fire and brimstone. That fell on Sodom and Gomorrah. They were real. The plagues that hit Egypt. They were real. Consider the worms.

That live in hell. Where Jesus says. Where the worm dies not. And the fire is not quake. In the midst. Hell is a place of darkness. In the judgment.

Many will be cast into outer darkness. And that outer darkness. Is utter darkness. Jude spoke of the blackness.

Of the darkness. Forever. Your desires in hell. Go unsatisfied. You had them in this life.

Anything you wanted. You had. You had them as much as you wanted. But in hell. You'll crave a drop of water. But there'll be none.

You'll go completely unsatisfied. In hell. There's no 44 ounce thirst buster. In hell. There's not even a teaspoon.

Or even a drop. Of water in hell. At the judgment. Jesus says. All of mankind.

Will be gathered. Before his great. Throne. Of judgment. Goats. Will be gathered on the left. Sheep. Will be gathered.

On the right. The sheep. Will be invited. Into the kingdom of God. Forever. And ever. That which is prepared. For them. From the foundation. Of the world.

But the goats. Or tares. Will be bound together. Cast into outer darkness. And they will die. Forever. Depart from me.

I never knew you. What will happen to you? What will be of you? What words will you hear.

Of you? Well how do men. Lose their souls? The answer is.

Neglect. Do nothing. And you'll go there. There's only one way. To rescue your soul.

From death. But if you don't do it. If you simply neglect your soul. You will. Perish. Forever. Don't listen.

Don't do anything. Don't seek God. Don't repent of sin. Just go on living your life. Chase the world.

Gather. Accumulate. Experience. Achieve. Do whatever you want to do. Find a wife. Marry her. Have children. Get a great job.

Enjoy your cars. Have a well manicured lawn and house. Go through life. Like everybody else. And give no thought to your soul.

That's the way. To lose your soul. Spend all your time on social media. Telling everybody what you're doing. Involve yourself in all the kids sports.

Fix up your house. Men and women are so into pampering their bodies. Special diets. Go to doctors at the drop of a hat.

Go to the gym. Work it out. Go on shopping sprees. To buy all the clothes you can. To adorn yourself. So you look really good. And do nothing to prepare for the way of death.

What insanity is this? To pamper our bodies. Which are dying. And neglect your eternal soul.

It is suicide of the worst form. Neglect. Because we are sinners.

We are separated from God. You're already under his condemnation. That's just being human. We see it in ourselves.

We see all kinds of signs and evidences. I am a sinner. We see thoughtlessness. Living for this world. Eternity is looming.

Our neighbor dies. Our cousin dies. Maybe another family member dies. Somebody at work dies. And we give it no thought. The fact that there's that grim reaper. He's come and taken that one.

I may be next. But I don't think about my soul and my death. And what will be of me in eternity. We see covetousness.

In ourselves. We're always clamoring for more. Get to one level of income. And want to get to the next. Make one dollar. Gotta have another.

We see deceitfulness. Not being honest with ourselves about our real condition. And in so many ways. Changing the truth to suit our case.

Independence. We resent being controlled. To be denied our desires. We don't like it.

We demand our own way. And we're angry when we don't get it. What should be said about sexual lust? Look at our temper.

What does it take to set us off? Some days just a word. From our wife. Or our husband. Or our kids. Or our mother. And many people are destroying themselves on their false religions.

Including atheism. Which is a growing religion. With its bastard child evolution. We don't stop to think.

Is it right? Is it true? Could it be? We just go on. And neglect our souls. And every one of these things are soul killers.

And you say. Well no one's perfect. But it takes nothing. To bring your soul to eternal ruin. Just continue being who you are.

Just yawn. And think about something else. Think about the person sitting next to you. Or the hour ahead of you. And those of you who have been raised in Christian homes.

You say to yourself. I've heard it a million times before. Well just dismiss it. Go on your way. Chase the world. And you will lose your soul.

The devil whispers to you. God has said. You will die. But you will not surely die. First.

We said you have an undying soul. Second. We said anyone may lose their soul. Third. Third. To lose your soul is the greatest loss anyone could suffer.

We do lose things. Kathy. Working out one day in the dirt. And there in Prescott. Our church. And planting some flowers.

And she had her hands all in the dirt. And she saw her wedding ring. And thought. I don't want to get that all messy and dirty. So she took it and put it in her pocket. And she kept working all day.

And at the end of the day. She went to get it out. And it wasn't there. She lost her wedding ring. Our wedding ring. And that was a great loss to her.

I had a Volkswagen convertible. 1966. Wonderful condition. Convertible. Her dad had it. Kept it beautiful.

As he's approaching his dying day. We were able to buy it from him. It was our family fun mobile. We tootled around. The five of us around Prescott.

Just enjoying on those summer evenings. Just having a blast. Came out one morning. And it wasn't there. Gone. Called the police.

They said. Yeah. It's probably in Mexico in pieces by now. Lost. Lost. Those things hurt. We lost.

A wedding ring. We lost. A wonderful fun mobile. We lost them. But to lose your soul.

What could possibly be more valuable to you than your soul? Take out a pair of scales. And on one side of the scales. Place everything that your human desires.

Desires could possibly connect to. Money. Pleasure. Honor. Esteem. Put them all. Cities.

Mountains. The whole world. Put it all on that side of the scales. And then on the other side. Place one single soul.

One soul. The soul. The soul of a child. The soul of an unborn baby. A person with learning difficulties.

A peasant woman that lives in the mountains of Mexico. One soul. Would outweigh. All the rest.

In fact. It's like having a mouse on one side. And an elephant on the other. All the glittering prizes of this world.

Are absolutely nothing. Load this side. The entire world. In fact. Put ten billion worlds on this side. And put one soul here.

And watch the weight of that soul skyrocket. Skyrocket. That other side. It says to you. To us.

Living in this world. What would it profit you? If you gained this whole world. But lost. Your eternal soul. Number four.

How do I know if my soul is saved? And here's the most important question. You can ask yourself. Am I prepared to die? Am I right with God?

And the answer to that question is. Very simple. What have you done with Jesus Christ? Have you believed on him to the saving of your soul?

Let's go back to Mark in chapter 8. And beginning in verse 34. And calling a crowd to him with his disciples.

He said to them. If anyone would come after me. Let him deny himself. And take up his cross. And follow me. For whoever.

Would save his life. Will lose it. But whoever loses his life. For my sake. And the gospels. Will save it.

For what does it profit a man. To gain the whole world. And forfeit. Or lose. His soul. For what.

Can a man give. In return. Or in exchange. For his soul. For whoever. Is ashamed of me. And my words. In this adulterous. And sinful generation.

Of him. Will the son of man. Be ashamed. When he comes. In the glory. Of his father. With the holy angels. So the question is.

In terms of asking. How can I know. If I'm saved. The question is. Are you ashamed. Of Jesus. Do you confess him. Do you promote him.

Do you order. Your life. Around. His will. And his commands. Do you obey him. Do you try.

To be near to him. Is Jesus Christ. The center. Of your life. Is he. The most important thing. That your life. Has.

To live by. And. And to order around. Or are you trying. To save. Your earthly life. Are you trying.

To spare it. For as much. Ease. And fame. And comfort. And accomplishments. For yourself. Are you seeking. To protect. Your autonomy. And your own.

Self. Authority. Where you. Don't have to be. Told by him. Or anybody else. What to do. You will manage. Your own life. Thank you very much. Or have you.

Come to Jesus. With your life. Have you. Taken. Your soul. And given it. To him. Have you. Resigned.

Control. Have you. Denied. Yourself. Have you. Placed. All of your. Confidence. To the. Saving. Of your soul. In the hands. Of Jesus. Christ. Are you.

Taking up. Your cross. Daily. In this. Text. In. Luke. Chapter 9. Verse 23. Where Jesus said. To all.

If anyone. Would come. After me. If anyone. Would come. After me. Let him. Deny. Himself. And take up. His cross. And follow me. That is what it is.

To be a Christian. That is what it is. To have your soul. Saved. This dying. To yourself. On a cross. Even daily.

This execution. Is a painful thing. You have to make. Hard choices. That go against. The grain. Of your flesh. You want.

One thing. But your master. Wants another. And you say. I'll deny myself. And follow. My savior. The cross.

Is also. A shameful thing. You choose. To live a life. That runs. Against. The grain. And the current. Of this world. And you're willing.

To face. The scorn. Of. Of those at school. Or your neighbors. Or workmates. It doesn't matter. You're willing. Because you want. Jesus Christ. More than you want.

This world. Being saved. Is following. Jesus Christ. It is obeying. The Lord. Serving the Lord.

Walking with the Lord. Listening. Imitating. It is to say. With Paul. For me. To live. Is Christ. And then.

To die. Is gain. Number five. And last. Anyone. May have. Their soul saved.

You don't have. To perish. Though others. Around you. Are. There is. Good news. There is. Jesus Christ. The son. Of the living. God.

Who came. Into this world. To save. Sinners. Like you. And me. You don't. Have. To lose. Your soul. You may be. Saved. Three points.

About Jesus. Number one. Jesus Christ. Is the lamb. Of God. Who died. In the place. Of sinners. Jesus. Came out. Of heaven. And lived.

A perfect life. And as a lamb. He was tacked. On to that. Wooden scaffold. In the place. Of sinners. And he. Bore. The wrath. Of God.

And he. Drank that cup. To the dregs. He. Emptied. It all. And those. That find. Theirselves. In him. Find. That they. Have no more.

Wrath. To experience. Themselves. He perished. So that you. Don't have. To perish. For God.

So loved. This world. That he. Gave. His only. His only. Son. That whoever. Would believe. In him. Should not.

Perish. Perish. You don't. Have to. Perish. Neglect. Your soul. And you. Will. Perish. But the. Son. Of God.

Has gone. To that. Cross. In the place. Of sinners. They don't. Have to. Perish. And he's. The only. Savior. Of sinners. He's. Opened up.

That cleansing. Pool. Filled it. With his. Blood. And there. And there. Alone. Are stains. Washed away. Every sin. You've ever. Committed. You dive.

Into that pool. It's gone. You're made clean. Washed. Made whole. And that's our only hope. That the son of God.

Went to Calvary. And there. In my place. Condemned. He. Stood. He bore. My sin. In his own body.

On the tree. My sin. To him. His righteousness. To me. Secondly. Jesus Christ.

Who died. Now lives. He lives. He's no longer dead. But he lives. He rose from the dead. And right now. Jesus lives in heaven.

He's the resurrection. And the life. He gives life. He sustains life. He never leaves us. He never. Forsakes us. Always praying for us.

He's is for us. This living savior. Is our savior. He keeps us from falling.

He helps us through every temptation. He's alive and well. And he's smiling upon his people today. Just as sure.

As those are. Perishing. Eternally. In hell. Right now. Jesus Christ. Is at the right hand. Of the throne of God.

With his eyes. Fixed upon. You. And in this moment. He is looking. And asking the question. I say metaphorically.

What will you do. With him. Thirdly. Jesus invites you.

Right now. He invites you. Right now. He genuinely offers. To you salvation. He says unto you.

Right now. Come. Unto me. All you that are weary. And heavy laden. You've tried. Your own. Way. Enough. And you're weary.

And you're heavy laden. You've chased the world. And your mouth. Is full of gravel. And your belly. Is unsatisfied. And you're heaping.

Scar. Upon scar. Upon scar. To your life. And you're headed down. A road to oblivion. To lose your soul. Jesus Christ. Says come unto me. All you that are weary.

And heavy laden. I will give you rest. Come unto me. Call upon the name of the Lord. And you will be saved. He that comes to me.

I will not cast out. Drink of the water. That I have to give. And you'll never want. Any other water. In your life. This water.

Has fullness. And sweetness. And satisfaction. That nothing in this world. Can give your soul. The world. So what do you want?

Do you want your soul. To be saved. Or do you want. The world. That's the question. Keep asking yourself.

That question. What does it profit me. If I were to have it all. If I were the king of the mountain. If everybody bowed before me.

If I could have my way. No matter what. But I lose my soul. Keep asking yourself that question. Let me close by repeating Bunyan's reasons.

For preaching on this text. And they're mine. Number one. The soul and its salvation. Is a wonderfully great thing.

Nothing is more important. For each one of you. Than this. Houses and lands. Works and honors. What are these.

Compared to salvation. Secondly. This fact is amazingly. Amazingly neglected. In this day. Who is there in our town.

Who is concerned. About the salvation. Of his soul. Number three. I've pitched upon this text. At this time. That God would help me.

By this message. To awaken you. To stir you. From your bed of ease. To bring you. To your knees. Before the Lord.

And to beg him. For his grace. That you might be concerned. For the salvation. Of your soul. And fourthly. I am preaching.

On this theme. To deliver myself. From the responsibility. For your damnation. To be clear. Of your blood. So that you. Yourselves. Will answer to God.

For your refusal. To be saved. Come to Christ. The world is not worth it. Come to Christ.

You'll be glad you did. Thank you.