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Week after Pentecost Á-? Thursday
Matthew 16:24-28: Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 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? 27 For the Son
of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man
according to his works. 28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of
death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
ALWAYS *ANSWER* the questions posed in scripture. They are addressed to you!
How is it that it is so plainly stated that we will be rewarded according to our works, and yet so many
supposed Christians do not believe this?
Is it not because man is naturally inclined to follow his own appetites (to "gain the whole world") and
lose his soul)?
Is it not because we make excuse with excuses in sins regarding our bad behavior?
To believe that an emasculated faith, stripped of the action and purpose that faith has, and only
containing the intellectual assent of belief, is plainly, wishful thinking, borne out of the selfish desire to
appease ourselves.
What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
There are two answers: Everything, and Nothing.
We must give everything for our soul. That much is clear from no less a proof text than our Lord's
recitation of the "Greatest Commandment":
Á-°Master, which
is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This
is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.Á-?
(Mat 22:36-40 )
And yet, there is nothing that we can give to earn our salvation. This "exchange for his soul" is
referring to salvation. We cannot be saved by doing good, but we will not be saved unless we do good!
The Á-°exchangeÁ-? we must make is too accept God's grace and become good, and do good. The Apostle,.
And those he taught, we in the true church understand this:
Á-°For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: (9)
Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Á-°(Eph
2:8-10)