The Soul of Man
By
Shelby G. Floyd
The sole goal of most people today is how much profit
they can accumulate of this world’s goods and riches.
Jesus taught that we should value our soul over everything
else in this world: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “For what profit is
it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a
man give in exchange for his soul” (Matthew
What is the soul of man that Jesus is talking about?
The word “soul” is translated from [yuch--psuche].
This word literally refers to our “breath of life” without which we would be
dead. By extension it refers to “the (human) soul in so far as it is
constituted that by the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain
its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral
being designed for everlasting life” (Thayer, p. 677). An example of this
use is Hebrews 13:17 where the overseers watch out for the souls in the
congregation.
In many passages of scripture the soul refers to that
part of man distinguished from the body which is not dissolved by death. In
this sense Jesus warned, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul
and body in hell” (Matthew
The soul of man cost God the price of the life and
blood of his unique Son: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, NIV).
God has revealed his plan of salvation to redeem the
soul of man from the ravages of Satan and sin. Sinner friend, take the time to
learn the conditions of salvation and act thereupon in obedience. Trust and
obey! Copyright © 2009 Shelby Floyd, All Rights Reserved