In this episode of the International Gospel Hour, host Jeff Archie leads listeners on an insightful journey through five pivotal biblical questions that shed light on humanity’s place in God’s creation, the nature of salvation, and our eternal destiny. Drawing upon the rich teachings from Hebrews and Matthew, Jeff contemplates the profound inquiries, “What is man?” and “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?” as well as many others. With a nod to historical broadcasts by notable figures like W.A. Bradfield, this episode provides timeless spiritual guidance and encouragement.
What is man? What shall it profit a man? These and other Bible questions and their answers just ahead from the International Gospel Hour. We’ll be right back.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour.
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…found for the promised land.
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Well, thank you always to our J-Web for his kind words. And greetings and hello, everyone. It’s great having you with us for our studies once again from the International Gospel Hour. We’ve been on the air or online since 1934. That’s right, folks. Well over 90 years we continue this good work. And we thank you, our listeners, for allowing us to do so with your encouragement and your support in listening to our broadcasts. and joining us in our studies. Our lesson text today, from Hebrews chapter 2, verses 1 through 9. The Hebrew writer, after lauding the glory of God and of Christ in chapter 1, says, Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him? God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” For he has not put the world to come of which we speak in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying, What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels. You have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that he, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. From our text, friends, we note two questions. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? And what is man that you are mindful of him? We will consider these and other great biblical questions and their answers on our broadcast today. We’ll begin and pick up with this, rather, in about 30 seconds or so, but first, a few words from our J-Web.
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Since 1934, the International Gospel Hour has been heard over the radio. We are one of the longest-running weekly religious programs in the history of American radio. We are very blessed to continue over the air through gracious giving of congregations of churches of Christ, faithful Christians, and devoted friends. That’s why you will never hear us asking for money from you, our listeners. Our study material is free, always has been, always will be. We appreciate you listening.
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I’d like for you and I to consider, as time permits us, to look at, well, let’s just look at five great questions. The first one we noted from Hebrews 2 and verse 6. What is man? You know, nature is beautiful and space is beautiful. How the late astronaut John Glenn acknowledged that God indeed is in space. But you know, man is small compared to God. but is in the image of God, Galatians chapter 1, or rather Genesis chapter 1, a living soul. And when we think about man and the creation of God bringing forth man, what is man that he is mindful of him, and the son of man that he takes care of him? God provides unto man, his creation, what man needs. Let’s consider a second question. What shall it profit a man? This is from Matthew 16, 26. What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet loses his own soul? Or, what would a man give in exchange for his soul? To gain everything we can on this earth, we will still die, and then where will we be? Someone says, he that dies with the most toys wins. Friends, let’s be accurate. He who dies with the most toys still dies. We’re noted, or we do note from Scripture in Matthew 10, 28, to fear Him which is able to destroy both soul or body and soul in hell. Many individuals would not sell it for the world. They would not give up their lives or sell it, but yet they refused to obey and to be saved because They would rather allow the world and gain everything they have therein. And many individuals are settling for indifference and neglect when it comes to the things of God. Man will not profit if he turns away from God who has given him all things richly to enjoy and has provided us with all things that pertain to life and godliness, 2 Peter 1, 3 and 4. How about a third question? From Matthew 19, 25, a third great question, who then can be saved? Well, Jesus lets us know that everyone can be saved. It is our choice. In Matthew 11, verse 28, Jesus says, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. What if a person refuses to come to Christ? then they will not receive rest. In 2 Peter 3, 9, the Bible tells us how that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God has made it possible for man to respond to His will and His way. In Mark 16, 16, Jesus said, He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. He that believes not shall be condemned. So one indeed has a choice. One chooses to follow God or to not follow after God. How about a fifth great question? From Acts 16 and verse 30. What must I do to be saved? Christ died for all, and what He did for all, He did for only one. We understand that from Acts 2, verse 8, or Acts chapter 2, chapter 8, and even here in chapter 16, that one must believe, repent, confess Christ, and be baptized. Someone will say, well, in Acts 16, verse 31, it says, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you’ll be saved and your house will It was the answer to the question of the jailer, what must I do to be saved? But then we find, beginning with verse 32, that they also taught him what he needed to believe, and we see what he did. Conversion involves a threefold change. The heart of man must be touched to realize man is outside of Christ. He must change his heart, change his life, and he will change the state of which he is in. Here is a fifth great question. This we noted earlier from our lesson text. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? The answer? You cannot escape. But you know, God has provided a fire escape, if you will, called the gospel of Christ. And the man who refuses to accept the gospel will commit a spiritual suicide. An individual once termed it this way, that’s too much punishment for short disobedience. How about too much reward for such little service? How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Well, the answer is, friends, we will not. When we also think about these, friends, let’s be reminded of Matthew 6 and verse 33 when Jesus says, But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. All the things that we read about going back up to verse 23 into verse 32 of Matthew 6. For us to put first things first and to have a proper priority. Five great questions and the answers therein. And friends, you know there are other questions that arise from a study of God’s Word. We’d like for you to think about some of these questions and and we want you to learn and know of a free online Bible study that we believe you will enjoy. Here is our J-Web with the details of how you can view Believe the Bible.
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Where did we come from? Looking for a purpose in life? Your answer to these fundamental questions is greatly affected by whether you believe in God, believe the Bible is true, and believe Jesus to be divine. Our friend and evangelist Rob Whitaker conducts a great study called Believe the Bible. Please allow us to send you the link and check it out. Just call toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, email, and just say Believe the Bible. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, email, and type Believe the Bible in the message blank. We will send the link right away.
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Friends, the lesson today, Five Great Questions, is part of our Turn Back the Clock broadcast. It was originally delivered by the late W.A. Bradfield. who served in various capacities at Freed Hardeman College, now University, in West Tennessee. Brother Bradfield also preached for Churches of Christ in Tennessee and Kentucky, primarily in gospel meeting and revival work. Although Brother Bradfield passed in 1972, as with all of our preachers of the past, we are reminded of the life and the words of Abel that are applicable now by it he being dead yet speaks. Hebrews 11.4 We are grateful to reach back for these outlines of the past. that still preach, that still teach, that are clear and concise and full of Scripture, and how grateful we are again for the lesson, Five Great Questions, to be presented once again. We hope that our study today has been profitable. We’d love for you to check out the online study, Believe the Bible, with our friend Rob Whitaker. We believe that study will be of help to you as well. We appreciate you joining us for our broadcast here from the International Gospel Hour. Continue to listen right here for our next broadcast. And for now, thank you for joining me today. I’m Jeff Archie, and keep listening.
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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. God be with you till we meet again.
