By: Robert Serreyn
Question? Would it be ok to use Mark 8:36 for salvation?
Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Answer: No, MOST definitely not!
Sadly, MANY churches, Gospel Tracts, and Preachers use this verse to present the gospel, What is failed to be considered is the context and to whom it is written to.
ANYTIME a verse is taken out of its proper setting, you end up with a false interpretation, a false teaching, and a false doctrine.
The whom Mark 8:36 is written to is christians, The context is our dedication and faithfulness to the Lord.
Take Note of V34, & 35… And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (35) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
In V34 take note what Jesus said… Whosoever will come after me, this refers to serving the Lord. A person CANNOT serve the Lord (come after) UNTIL AFTER they have “Come To” or in other words put their trust in Christ as saviour.
V35 continues that same emphasis and states that For whosoever will save his life (live for them selfs and this world) shall lose it, in other words they will have lost all the REAL Blessings, Joy, Peace and the good things that God has to offer in this life but also all the Rewards that they would have had in heaven and as V35 continues on by saying but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake (live for Christ) and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. Save it in the sense of gaining all the blessings and rewards that comes with being a faithful servant of Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
NOW notice the words Profit and Gain in V36. This speaks of Works, and Human Merit. NO WHERE in scripture is a person ever told to do anything to obtain eternal life.
The Gospel is simply this… Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
In Conclusion:
The one thing to ALWAYS REMEMBER when you are presenting the Gospel, and that is to KEEP IT SIMPLE.
1 Corinthians 14:9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
NEVER USE verses that would make the Gospel confusing to the person you are witnessing to, or use tracts that place doubt in the mind of the reader as to what they must believe in order to be saved.
A wrong message is a False Message. If the Gospel message that we are presenting is NOT CLEAR or right that could make the difference of that person going to hell rather than going heaven.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH