Matthew 16:26 KJV: “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?”
Jesus here giving an comparison of the extent of eternity and the value of the human soul and spirit.
We as humans are born in the likeness of Adam. dead: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22. But Adam was created in the likeness of God: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27 Before the separation of woman from man, woman was in man. As for the image of God, I believe it is pertaining to the eternal existence of man, not all the attributes associated with/to God. Man isn’t omnipresent. omniscience nor omnipotent; just for starts but God is. I am born, and in so being born am born after: “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:” Genesis 5:3.
Until one believes God, what God has said about mankind and believes God, man remains dead. “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name.” John 20:31. John as will as Peter (Matt 16:16); Martha
(John 11:27); the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:37 missing from NIV) and Saul (Acts 20:9) had only that Jesus was the Son of God, the looked for Messiah, and to continue to keep the law. Later Saul, now Paul (Acts 13:9) receives further revelation (Gal 1:11-12) after his conversion: too believe Jesus is the Son of God, who would die for, in place of, all mans sins; be buried and arise again the third day: “but now” that is the gospel of Paul and the gospel that saves today. “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
One believes God (Hebrews 11:6) God then by grace, apart from works, any works, no works; by grace through faith (Eph 2:5-10) saves that believing individual. Immediately upon hearing (“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17) and believing that gospel as given unto Paul is heard God by the Holy Spirit baptizes the believing individual into the body of Christ: “ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13 That man also is: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14. We have been purchased of God by and too: “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20. Why, why did God do this? “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21. We aren’t saved from something but we are saved too someone, the LORD Jesus Christ.
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