The Exchange

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36–37, NIV 1984).

My Musings – “Simply stated, the human soul is the part of a person that is not physical. It is the part of every human being that lasts eternally after the body experiences death. The human soul is central to the personhood of a human being. As C. S. Lewis said, ‘You don’t have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.” In other words, personhood is not based on having a body. A soul is what is required.”- Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2002–2013).

Jesus often used rhetorical questions to make His point, the answers being obvious. It is of no good to “gain the whole world.” First off, it is impossible. Second, it would be insufficient to “give in exchange for [one] soul.”

It would take something greater than the whole world. Indeed, greater than the whole cosmos itself. Greater than all the souls ever given life. It would take the Creator of the Cosmos. The One who breathed into man the breath of life. Something, or rather someone, that we could not give in exchange. Someone who offered to give in our place. Jesus.

My Advice – Stop trying to “bargain” for your soul. You cannot pay the price. It can only be redeemed. Go to the Redeemer.

Author: thebrewisamusing

I was raised in a Christian family and my earliest childhood memories include regular Sunday school and Church attendance as a family. I was taught that our Judeo-Christian values were not just a part of our Sunday routine they should be part of our character and influence all aspects of our lives. I was also taught that as important as these values were they could not save us. We must also be “born again” by accepting Christ. View all posts by thebrewisamusing