How can a man “lose his soul”?

[Pastor_Bob]

Matthew 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?

I read this in my Bible reading this morning. I’m not wanting to create an argument, just sharing thoughts this morning.

If my salvation is pre-determined, without anything to do with God’s foreknowledge of my choices, how is it that it can be said that a man can lose his own soul?

In my mind, this clearly implies man has a free will.

 

[Reynolds]

Matthew 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?

I read this in my Bible reading this morning. I’m not wanting to create an argument, just sharing thoughts this morning.

If my salvation is pre-determined, without anything to do with God’s foreknowledge of my choices, how is it that it can be said that a man can lose his own soul?

In my mind, this clearly implies man has a free will.

Add that to the list of verses that will require contortions of text by Calvinists.

I would not go so far as to say man has free will. I would stop at limited free will.

 

[InTheLight]

Add that to the list of verses that will require contortions of text by Calvinists.

Yup.

Prediction: The word "soul" as used here does not literally mean a person's eternal soul that can be lost to hellfire. The meaning of the word "soul" is more nuanced, and means something akin to "life direction" or an attitude or mental state of mind.

Despite dozens of verses quoted by Pelagians that allege a choice is possible, we Calvinists know from that one verse in Ephesians 1 that people are predestined to Heaven by God or else predestined to Hell by the person's sin nature. And acquiring that sin nature was a choice Adam made for all of us, and was, in fact, the only free will choice in history. Man, did he blow it!


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[Reformed]

I read this in my Bible reading this morning. I’m not wanting to create an argument, just sharing thoughts this morning.

Bob, I respect you but do you really expect me to buy this? You are making a post in the C&A thread that your fellow Synergists will lap up and Monergists will disagree with. If you are looking for a Taster's Choice moment among brethren you could have fooled me.




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[Pastor_Bob]

Bob, I respect you but do you really expect me to buy this?

I'm not selling anything, my friend. It has been my practice to read the chapter of each of the gospels that corresponds with the calendar day. This morning, I read Matthew 16, Luke 16, Mark 16 (which finished the book), and John 16. In the evenings, I read Acts - Revelation at a pace that will enable me to read through these books in 30 days, reading through the New Testament each month. That is my Bible reading program. Yours may be different, as most are. This does not make me any more spiritual or dedicated - it is simply what the Lord impressed upon me to do.

That being said, I did read this passage in Matthew 16 this morning and the thought I posted did occur to me. Having been in numerous discussions in this area, such passages naturally stand out to me.

You are making a post in the C&A thread that your fellow Synergists will lap up and Monergists will disagree with.

Who agrees and disagrees has never been my motivation for posting. I am interested only in expressing my thoughts regarding a certain passage. I was hoping to get some additional perspective. I have a genuine question regarding this apparent inconsistency. If this is not what this forum is designed for, I apologize.

If you are looking for a Taster's Choice moment among brethren you could have fooled me.

I have no idea what this means...

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Matthew 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?

I read this in my Bible reading this morning. I’m not wanting to create an argument, just sharing thoughts this morning.

If my salvation is pre-determined, without anything to do with God’s foreknowledge of my choices, how is it that it can be said that a man can lose his own soul?

In my mind, this clearly implies man has a free will.

He can backslide... but I don’t see loosing ones soul.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Bob, I respect you but do you really expect me to buy this? You are making a post in the C&A thread that your fellow Synergists will lap up and Monergists will disagree with. If you are looking for a Taster's Choice moment among brethren you could have fooled me.




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Well now

 

[InTheLight]

That being said, I did read this passage in Matthew 16 this morning and the thought I posted did occur to me. Having been in numerous discussions in this area, such passages naturally stand out to me.

I've had similar experiences reading the Bible. After having been exposed to the Cal vs. Non-Cal arguments on here, there are times that certain verses really stand out as being applicable to the arguments. I've found while there are verses that support Calvinism there are a preponderance of verses that contradict the points of TULIP. Over the years I've brought up these verses and, well, I've found the responses to refute these verses lacking. The pattern of the same responses being given over and over again has led to my canned numbered responses, as in my signature.

 

[Jerome]

We read in James 5:20 that "whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death"

 

[rlvaughn]

How can a man “lose his soul”?

Though I've heard it preached that way all my life, I don't take this as an eternal salvation passage. (You're in good company if you do.)

The context is about the disciple taking up his "cross" and following Jesus (v. 24 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.) The one giving giving his life over to following Christ to "lose it" will actually "find it" (v. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.) Verse 26 then seems to be a commentary on what has just preceded about the life, rather than the eternal spirit's salvation -- 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? Verse 27 seems to reinforce this view, mentioning "reward" and "works" which seem to also lead away from the subject of eternal salvation -- 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.

 

[Rob_BW]

It's a hypothetical question, right? We're not told that a particular person did what was entailed.

It looks to me like a comparison, showing that the entirety of this transient world is not equal in worth to that which is eternal, ie. your soul.

 

[Revmitchell]

Matthew 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?

I read this in my Bible reading this morning. I’m not wanting to create an argument, just sharing thoughts this morning.

If my salvation is pre-determined, without anything to do with God’s foreknowledge of my choices, how is it that it can be said that a man can lose his own soul?

In my mind, this clearly implies man has a free will.

In your mind and in the mind of anyone who reads that text in context and guided by the HG.

 

[loDebar]

the word is psyche spirit, not the pnuema, soul

So a man can gain the world and lose himself or the opportunity to be saved. One is already condemned and going to hell

 

[kyredneck]

Prediction: The word "soul" as used here does not literally mean a person's eternal soul that can be lost to hellfire. The meaning of the word "soul" is more nuanced, and means something akin to "life direction" or an attitude or mental state of mind.

Corresponding passage from Luke:

24 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self? Lu 0

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

We read in James 5:20 that "whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death"

So we get a reward? A cookie perhaps Like a dog or a commission like a salesman?

 

[Reynolds]

So we get a reward? A cookie perhaps Like a dog or a commission like a salesman?

When you stand before Christ, tell Him that the rewards He gives are dog treats.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

When you stand before Christ, tell Him that the rewards He gives are dog treats.

That’s my point... he doesn’t give rewards he gives life.

 

[Reynolds]

That’s my point... he doesn’t give rewards he gives life.

You sure about that? Judgment seat of Christ is a works judgment.

 

[MB]

Matthew 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?

I read this in my Bible reading this morning. I’m not wanting to create an argument, just sharing thoughts this morning.

If my salvation is pre-determined, without anything to do with God’s foreknowledge of my choices, how is it that it can be said that a man can lose his own soul?

In my mind, this clearly implies man has a free will.

Certainly it does imply freewill..
MB.

 

[rlvaughn]

the word is psyche spirit, not the pnuema, soul

According to Strong's Concordance psyche/psuche is translated "soul" 58 times and "life" 40 times in the King James Version (I didn't check other versions). It is the word that is translated "life" in verse 25. Pneuma is usually translated "spirit."