FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS:

The Soul (2), General Lessons

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   In our last lesson, we studied a lesson entitled:  “The Soul:  What Is It?”

1.    We answered that it is the spiritual component of man.

2.    We found that it is intertwined with the spirit, the heart, and the mind of man.  In fact, these are so closely bound together that they are all called “the inner man” (2 Cor. 4:16)

3.    However, all of these things are stand alone entities.  God has no problem separating them one from another (Mark 12:30; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 4:12).

 

B.   We want to continue our study of the soul.  The title of this lesson is:  “Foundational Truths:  The Soul, General Lessons.”

 

I.             GOD POSSESSES A SOUL

 

A.   There are two passages in the Bible that indicate that God has a soul.

1.    Matthew 12:28

 

Behold, my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased:  I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

 

a.    This is a Messianic prophecy from the pen of Isaiah (Matt. 12:27).

b.    God is speaking about His servant, whom He chose.

c.    Of Him God says:  “…in whom my soul is well pleased.”

2.    Hebrews 10:38

 

Now the just shall live by faith:  but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure I him.

 

a.    It is possible for a Christian to cease living a faithful life of service to God.

b.    When this happens, God’s soul has no pleasure in him.

 

B.   Is it surprising to say that God has a soul?

1.    The soul is the spiritual component of man.  The soul involves the heart, the mind, and the spirit (life).

2.    God is Spirit (John 4:24).  He, too, has a heart, a mind, and life. These things are all intertwined with the soul.

3.    God places within man the very things that He Himself possesses. 

4.    This gives great meaning to the words of James when he says that men “are made in the similitude of God” (Jam. 3:9).

 

II.           THERE IS A WAR GOING ON FOR OUR SOUL

 

A.   The Bible is clear that the warfare that we are fighting as God’s children is not physical in nature.

1.    2 Corinthians 10:3

 

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.

 

2.    Ephesians 6:12a

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood…

 

B.   The battle is a spiritual battle. 

1.    Our flesh will return unto the dust.

2.    Thus, Satan is seeking to stain and to destroy our souls.

3.    1 Peter 2:11

 

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

 

a.    God appeals to the hearts and minds of men through His holy Word (Ex, The Parable of the Sower, Luke 8:11-15).

b.    With the heart and mind, we choose to either obey or disobey God.

c.    The choice to disobey stains the soul because we transgress the law of God and sin.

d.    NOTE:  Because we are presently in a body, our inner man can use it as a tool in violation of God’s will (i.e., lying lips, drunkenness, adultery).  The stain, however, isn’t on the body.  The stain of sin is on the soul.

 

C.   We need to constantly ask ourselves a question:  “What shall I give in exchange for my soul?” (Matt. 16:26)

 

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?

 

1.    Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of lintels (Gen. 25:21-24; Heb. 12:16).

2.    What are we willing to give in exchange for our souls?

a.    A ball game?

b.    A job?

c.    An affair?

d.    Hatred of another?

e.    Hurt feelings?

f.     Money?

g.    A few more days of life on earth?

3.    If Satan thinks we will exchange our soul for something, he will bring that enticement into our lives (Jam. 1:14-15).

 

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

 

III.         THE SOUL CAN BE EITHER LOST OUR SAVED

 

A.   The soul can be lost.

1.    Romans 2:9

 

Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.

 

2.    Matthew 10:28

 

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:  but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

B.   The soul can be saved

1.    Hebrews 10:39

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

 

2.    James 5:19-20

 

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

 

C.   These are the only two alternatives.

1.    It is easy to be lost.

a.    Just deny there is a God, disregard His Word, and spurn your soul.

b.    Being deceived by false doctrines (“beguiling unstable souls, 2 Pet. 2:14)

c.    Negligence

d.    A simple exchange of something for one’s soul

2.    There are things that must be done to save the soul.

a.    Obey the gospel of Christ (Rom. 2:8-9; 2 Thess. 1:7-9).

 

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath.

 

b.    Give diligence in living the Christian life (2 Pet. 1:10-11).

 

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:  for it ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

IV.         WE HAVE AN ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL

 

A.   Our anchor is our hope.

1.    Hope is something that is not yet seen (Rom. 8:24-25).

2.    Hope is something that awaits us in the future:  the Second Coming, resurrection, a spiritual body, heaven, eternal life).

 

B.   When we became Christians, we fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us (Heb. 6:18).

 

C.   Hebrews 6:19-20

 

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

 

1.    An anchor is the for purpose of securing something, that is, to keep a ship (a soul) from drifting and being destroyed.

2.    We have an anchor for the soul.

3.    Our anchor is sure and stedfast.

4.    Our anchor is located with the vail, that is, in the holy of holies, heaven.

5.    Our hope resides in Jesus Christ.

6.    That hope involves the fact that He is our high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

 

V.           ONE DAY OUR SOULS WILL BE REQUIRED OF US

 

A.   The Lord’s words to the rich farmer (Luke 12:20)

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:  then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

 

B.   Some thoughts about this man.

1.    He had been successful.

2.    He was planning for his retirement.

3.    His expectations were to eat, drink, and be merry.

 

C.   Little did he know that his life would be cut short.

He would not enjoy the fruits of his labor.

He would not live a long life of retirement.

 

D.   At some point in time, our souls will be required of us.

1.    Our time on earth will come to an end.

2.    Our soul will leave our body, and we will enter into the unseen realm of the dead.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Man possesses a soul given to him by God.

 

B.   In this world, there is a war going on for our souls on the part of Satan.

 

C.   There are only two destinies for our souls:  heaven or hell.

 

D.   We need to anchor our souls in Jesus Christ.

 

E.   Remember, one day your soul will be required of you.