What Profit?

[Rober H]

Some people who are unsaved live very interesting lives.

Many movie and rock stars give millions to charities, fly to Africa, adopt unwanted children, build homes for orphans etc.

I certainly won't put them down for that. In fact good for them!

The world loves these people. Their faces are on magazine covers and their good deeds and charitable contributions are shown on televsion, talked about on radio and printed in the newspapers.

Jesus gave us an interesting question to ponder.

Mark 8:36-37 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

So, individuals who do good are helping others and are gaining praise and recognition from the world but unless they believe the gospel of Christ all their good deeds will inevitably profit them nothing and they will lose their souls.

I have old friends and aquaintances that have quit smoking and drinking and turned their lives around and are happily married. Yet, they don't know Jesus Christ nor his gospel.

I have tried to share the salvation message with them and they will say things like"I am glad you are happy and that your belief system works for you but I am fine the way I am. If their is a God He isn't going to judge me because I am basically a good person."

I can see that compared to some other people they might be considered "good" but we have to measure ourselves by God's standards and according to scripture we all fall short.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

I believe the bible clearly teaches that we will not be saved by good works but we are saved for them(Eph.2:8-10). I find many who claim that our "good works" will somehow come into play where salvation is concerned.

What do you think?

[Guest tonia25]

Some people who are unsaved live very interesting lives.

Many movie and rock stars give millions to charities, fly to Africa, adopt unwanted children, build homes for orphans etc.

I certainly won't put them down for that. In fact good for them!

The world loves these people. Their faces are on magazine covers and their good deeds and charitable contributions are shown on televsion, talked about on radio and printed in the newspapers.

Jesus gave us an interesting question to ponder.

Mark 8:36-37 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

So, individuals who do good are helping others and are gaining praise and recognition from the world but unless they believe the gospel of Christ all their good deeds will inevitably profit them nothing and they will lose their souls.

I have old friends and aquaintances that have quit smoking and drinking and turned their lives around and are happily married. Yet, they don't know Jesus Christ nor his gospel.

I have tried to share the salvation message with them and they will say things like"I am glad you are happy and that your belief system works for you but I am fine the way I am. If their is a God He isn't going to judge me because I am basically a good person."

I can see that compared to some other people they might be considered "good" but we have to measure ourselves by God's standards and according to scripture we all fall short.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

I believe the bible clearly teaches that we will not be saved by good works but we are saved for them(Eph.2:8-10). I find many who claim that our "good works" will somehow come into play where salvation is concerned.

What do you think?

[tah]

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

good works have nothing to do with my initial salvation experience ...

in fact it is my whole life that has to be repented ...of all of it , good and bad of it...

and if I am not saved no matter what I do it is not really good ....

Jam 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

[thechild]

i think there is no compromise. you either give up your soul or you give up all the world.

matthew 19

16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

how many here would sell all that they have and give it away? what the rich in this world do is nothing because it does not effect their riches. the widows mite, however, was her entire living for the forseeable future. what do people do to keep their health insurance? their retirement? their life savings? their house? there is not a homeowner in the states that is not rich by the worlds standards. what have people worked all their lives for? security? that is not the way to eternal life. that is the way of this life. one must be indebted and a slave in order to own a car or have a place to live. that is what people work for these days, not eternal life.

[Guest tonia25]

I think that the reason most can not accept the cross and the price that Jesus paid is PRIDE

many feel that they are where they are because of themselves that they overcame the

addiction or the major accomplishments that they have acceived. So if they realize that it is

by Gods grace then they would feel as though everything is meaningless.

I work with a guy who is battling alcoholism and has been sober a year and yes he is very

ritualistic with his faith but I pray he would just surrender because on his own he has been

sober but I try to explain that it is in Gods strength that he will overcome.

But in talking with him I always see pride as his shortcoming.

Great thoughts, keep praying and remember all is possible in Christ.

[apothanein kerdos]

Some people who are unsaved live very interesting lives.

Many movie and rock stars give millions to charities, fly to Africa, adopt unwanted children, build homes for orphans etc.

I certainly won't put them down for that. In fact good for them!

The world loves these people. Their faces are on magazine covers and their good deeds and charitable contributions are shown on televsion, talked about on radio and printed in the newspapers.

Jesus gave us an interesting question to ponder.

Mark 8:36-37 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

So, individuals who do good are helping others and are gaining praise and recognition from the world but unless they believe the gospel of Christ all their good deeds will inevitably profit them nothing and they will lose their souls.

I have old friends and aquaintances that have quit smoking and drinking and turned their lives around and are happily married. Yet, they don't know Jesus Christ nor his gospel.

I have tried to share the salvation message with them and they will say things like"I am glad you are happy and that your belief system works for you but I am fine the way I am. If their is a God He isn't going to judge me because I am basically a good person."

I can see that compared to some other people they might be considered "good" but we have to measure ourselves by God's standards and according to scripture we all fall short.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

I believe the bible clearly teaches that we will not be saved by good works but we are saved for them(Eph.2:8-10). I find many who claim that our "good works" will somehow come into play where salvation is concerned.

What do you think?

Very good point. THough I commend the lost for helping others out, especially in areas where the Church has let people down, ultimately they are still going to be held accountable for rejecting Christ. It is sad to see so many people lead Christ-like lives whilst rejecting the Man they are inherently following. Does that make sense?

[Rober H]

i think there is no compromise. you either give up your soul or you give up all the world.

matthew 19

16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

how many here would sell all that they have and give it away? what the rich in this world do is nothing because it does not effect their riches. the widows mite, however, was her entire living for the forseeable future. what do people do to keep their health insurance? their retirement? their life savings? their house? there is not a homeowner in the states that is not rich by the worlds standards. what have people worked all their lives for? security? that is not the way to eternal life. that is the way of this life. one must be indebted and a slave in order to own a car or have a place to live. that is what people work for these days, not eternal life.

Are you saying that a person has to give up all they have to get eternal life?

[apothanein kerdos]

i think there is no compromise. you either give up your soul or you give up all the world.

matthew 19

16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

how many here would sell all that they have and give it away? what the rich in this world do is nothing because it does not effect their riches. the widows mite, however, was her entire living for the forseeable future. what do people do to keep their health insurance? their retirement? their life savings? their house? there is not a homeowner in the states that is not rich by the worlds standards. what have people worked all their lives for? security? that is not the way to eternal life. that is the way of this life. one must be indebted and a slave in order to own a car or have a place to live. that is what people work for these days, not eternal life.

Are you saying that a person has to give up all they have to get eternal life?

If you do'nt mind, I think I'm going to start another topic similar to this (unless you want to keep this type of discussion in here) only addressing this portion of scripture. I only say that because it's often misquoted....Jesus was actually showing the Rich Young Ruler to be a liar, and that he had infact violated the 10 Commandments. He wouldn't give up his riches, which meant he was coveting (all riches belong to God), and that he was unwilling to give up his riches to follow God (which meant he had put a god in front of God). Jesus wasn't saying, "You HAVE to give up everything to follow me" to believers, just that we should be willing to.

[Guest jckduboise]

Ephesians 2

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at wok in those who are disobedient.

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

5 made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, though faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-

9 not by works, so that no on can boast.

10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do..

Without God good works are nothing....will not get us anywhere except maybe a good samaritan award for saving the kitty in the tree.....

[Rober H]

apothanein kerdos

You are free to start any topic anywhere you want, so, no I don't mind.

I would like to hear The Child's answer to my question in this thread though.

Thanks,

Robert