How Can a Soul Be Lost?

Suggested by: RLC

In Matthew 16:26 Jesus states, "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? (KJV)" Some versions change the word "soul" to "life". I consider the KJV to be the more accurate. Matthew Henry's Commentary makes the following statements for Matt 16:21-28 as part of its commentary:

"the soul and its state of never-ending happiness or misery! Thousands lose their souls for the most trifling gain"
"The dying transgressor cannot purchase one hour's respite to seek mercy for his perishing soul."
"Whatever is the object for which men forsake Christ, that is the price at which Satan buys their souls."

Do you see a contradiction between "never-ending happiness or misery" and "perishing"? How can anything be "never-ending" if it is "perishing"? This commentary is written in support of the common belief of "infinite punishment for finite transgressions"--making GOD something HE isn't. The commentary does correctly point out that there are only two "owners" of our soul--Christ or Satan. Unfortunately Man has built up the belief that this ownership is like the ownership of a dog. In one case the master is loving, and the dog eagerly serves in loving happiness. In the other case the master is cruel, and the dog is trapped in a miserable but submissive situation. This belief is completely false! In both cases the soul is viewed as "physically and spiritually" separate from the individuality of Christ or Satan. Again this is totally false!

Our Soul is who we are--our "I am". It is the person we see ourselves to be even if we do not know who that person is. See the Word Picture. Your Soul is the person looking through your eyes right now. Your Soul is that part of you that is always in the present because all things are seen relative to it. Relative to your Soul other things happened in the past, are happening right now, may happen in the future, are close by or far away, are desirable or undesirable, and etc. Your Soul is self-aware and can be GOD aware (faith). The Soul is that part of us that never seems to age although its "possessions" change throughout this life. When we look in a mirror, we may see an old person; but that part of us looking at the reflection does not feel old. The Soul's true possessions are stored in the life side of the spiritual heart of the individual. We were given certain possessions to start as gifts and abilities, and then we began collecting other possessions through our life experiences. The collected spiritual possessions are what we truly love and have been able to obtain; and we become what we truly love and have obtained whether it seems that way or not. To obtain certain physical possessions it is necessary to experience the life qualities reflecting the way to obtain and keep those possessions. In the process we gain the spiritual gifts and abilites reflected by what we experienced in the physical reality. If we do not obtain the spiritual gifts and abilites reflected by the physical possession in the correct way, we will eventually lose the physical possession we gained. Therefore, our Soul matures in either good or bad ways depending on what and the way we seek physical possessions (note: any physical relationship is considered a possession also--i.e. job, marriage, children, and etc.). Divorce is a typical example of not having the spiritual gifts and abilites in the heart to properly maintain a physical possession (relationship) by the individuals involved in the relationship. Most likely the relationship was not developed in the correct way, therefore the spiritual qualities necessary to maintain the marriage were not obtained by the individuals involved. So it is with all things we strive to obtain in this physical world.

We should now recognize how important it is for us to seek the correct purposes because when Christ is the Omega (becomes complete) all things that are not in Him will become nothingness--as words in sand dissolve back into the sand over time. If the Soul is seeking possessions that are not eternal when the physical body dies, then all that Soul sees as "I am" will become nothingness. Consider Matt 25:14-46. Side Note - Verse 41 appears to support the concept of :infinite punishment for finite transgressions. Since this would lower GOD in my eyes, I will not accept it literally as I have treated other such Scripture and later found an unifying spiritual interpretation that maintained GOD's Glory in my eyes. The purpose of good punishment is to turn individuals from improper ways--not eternal revenge. Revenge serves no good purpose. GOD is only Good. Also Christ the Alpha and Omega means "the first and last". Therefore, any Soul not in His Body will not exist when the end of the physical creation comes. I consider this verse, like many other verses in the Bible, to be interpreted according to Man's literal understanding of what Jesus was saying rather than what he actually was saying spiritually. Jesus's teaching was not only misunderstood in his time. Literal contradictions mean a spiritual interpretation unifying the contradicting verses is necessary or the source of the error must be found. Man has also corrupted Scripture according to their beliefs--see "Will GOD allow Man to Corrupt Scripture?" Note that the good possession the slothful servant had was given to another.

As supported by foundational concepts explained in other documents on this web site, the truth is that we are either in the spiritual body of Christ or Satan depending on the purposes we are seeking. If we are seeking self-serving purposes (even in the name of Christ--Matt 7:21-23), we are in the spiritual body of Satan. If our body in this world dies while we are in this state, our soul will eventually become non-existant again because the good possessions given us will be given to another and what defined our Soul will be destroyed. GOD creates everyone with the gifts and abilitities (possessions, fruit) necessary to express a freewill Soul. We begin self-aware but not GOD aware. Thereafter our Soul is defined by the spiritual possessions resulting from our seeking Spirit. If our seeking Spirit produces possessions (fruit) that are eternal, so are we--increasing our awareness of GOD (faith). If our Spirit seeks possessions that are not eternal, the good we have will be given to another; and we lose our Soul by returning to the non-existance we were before GOD created us.

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