The Mirror of the Soul

The Mirror of the Soul
TEXT: James 1:22-23

INTRODUCTION:

A. DIFFERENT FIGURES USED TO DESCRIBE THE WORD

SWORD, LIGHT, MIRROR, etc.

B. MIRRORS USED TO EXAMINE SELF – BIBLE REVEALS SELF TO US.

C. WHAT IS MAN? WHAT AM I LIKE? PROPER USE OF MIRROR REVEALS.

I. THE WORD REVEALS OUR ORIGIN.

A. BOTH HUMBLE AND SUBLIME( Gen. 2:7; 1:26 ).

B. THIS TELLS US SOMETHING OF OUR NATURE ( Acts 17:28-29 ).

C. WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR CREATOR CARES( Acts 17:25; Jas. 1:17-18 ).

D. IT SAYS SOMETHING OF OUR OBLIGATIONS( Isa. 44:21; Rom. 1:20; 2:4 ).

II. THE WORD TELLS US OUR VALUE.

A. WHAT ELSE HAVE WE GOT BESIDES OURSELVES( Matt. 16:26 ).

B. ONLY ONE SOUL – ONCE CHANCE ( Luke 16:26 ).

C. OUR SOUL WILL NEVER DIE!

1. Not even in HELL ( Mark 9:1 ).

2. Man can’t kill it ( Matt. 10:28 ).

3. It doesn’t cease with the body ( Ecc. 12:7 ).

D. IT’S VALUE IS SEEN IN GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD IT.

1. Aware of each individual ( Matt. 10:29-31 ).

2. He wants all to be saved ( 1 Tim. 2:3-4 ).

3. His love provides for us ( John 3:16; Rom. 5:8 ).

4. Man must choose ( Rev. 22:17; Matt. 7:13-14 ).

III. THE WORD REVEALS OUR PURPOSE.

A. MAN IS SPECIAL( Psa. 8:4-6 ).

B. MAN IS FRAIL ( Psa. 144:3-4; 39:4-5 ).

C. MAN SHOULD SEEK HIS PURPOSE ( Psa. 90:10-12 ).

D. GOD REVEALS IT – NOTHING ELSE IS OF CONSEQUENCE( Ecc.12:13-14 ).

IV. THE WORD REVEALS OUR CONDITION.

A. AT FIRST, CLEAN, LIKE GOD ( Gen. 1:26 ).

1. Mankind not created sinful or to sin, neither does he inherit guilt( Ez. 18:20 ).

2. What about 1 Cor. 15:22; Rom. 5;12?

B. AT PRESENT, SINNERS DISFIGURED ( Rom. 3:9, 23; 5:12 ).

C. FUTURE: SAVED, RENEWED ( Col. 3:9-10; 2 Cor. 5:17 ).

LOST, HARDENED ( 2 Cor. 6:1; Phil. 3:18-19 ).

D. THE FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS( Rev. 22:17; Ez. 33:10-11 ).

E. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE FAR REACHING ( Matt. 25:46 ).

V. HOW SHOULD THE MIRROR BE USED?

A. CONSTANTLY( Psa. 1:1-2 ).

B. STUDIOUSLY( 1 Pet. 2:1-2; 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Tim. 2:15 ).

C. HONESTLY ( Rom. 12:3; 1 Cor. 10:12 ).

D. INTROSPECTIVELY ( 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 Cor. 11:28; 1 Tim. 4:16 ).

E. UNSELFISHLY ( 2 Tim. 4:2 ).

CONCLUSION:

A. ARE YOU CLEAN?

B. WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE MIRROR IF WE REACT IMPROPERLY TOWHAT WE SEE? ( James 1:22-25 ).