John 3:14-16, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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.”
I love this passage of inspired Scripture. Here is the Old Testament story, so that you will understand these Bible verses in John chapter three...
Numbers 21:4-9, “And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”
So, we learn that the Jews began to whine and complain. They moaned like big babies for lack of bread and water. After all that God had done for them, they still doubted Him. I mean, the LORD parted the Red Sea right before their very eyes, and they walked across the sea bed on dry ground, seeing the walls of water held back on each side. They saw the entire Egyptian army drowned in the Red Sea when they pursued the Jews. Yet, after beholding these mighty miracles of almighty God, they complained in doubt instead of trusting in faith that God would take care of them. Dear reader, how much do you complain? Do you trust God when things are looking bleak? Do we thank God in every thing?
Jesus Himself uses this illustration from Numbers 21:4-9 to picture getting saved. Due to their complaining, God sent deadly serpents with fiery bites to hurt the people. Although the Bible doesn't tell us the exact number of Hebrews that died, we read in verse 6 that “much people of Israel died.” It is estimated that there were about 600,000 Jews wandering in the Wilderness. I humbly believe the death toll was in the thousands. In response to his prayer, God told Moses to fabricate a serpent made from brass, and to elevate that serpent upon on a tall pole, and instruct the people to LOOK to the serpent and LIVE.
Jesus used this illustration as a beautiful picture of how to be saved. Just as the victims bitten by deadly snakes LOOKED to the brass serpent to LIVE, even so must we guilty sinners LOOK TO JESUS TO LIVE. Isaiah 45:22, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” The Jews were healed when they LOOKED. Dear reader, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of familiarizing yourself with these Bible passages, because in these truths we see the simplicity of God's plan of salvation. LOOK AND LIVE!!!
John 3:14-16, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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.”
God the Father promises to save any sinner who BELIEVES IN CHRIST.
In nearly every church, rescue mission, military chapel, ministry and Bible college today a counterfeit plan of salvation is being preached.
Here is some of the heretical nonsense that you'll hear in religious circles today:
- Give your life to Christ
- Repent of your sins
- Be willing to turn from sin
- Invite Jesus into your heart
- Become a Christ follower
- Live a lifestyle of repentance
- Run the race faithfully until the end
- Endure in holiness until the end
- Surrender to obey God's will for your life
- Accept Jesus as your “Lord”
- Get water baptized
- Confess the name of Jesus publicly
- Pray a sinner's prayer
- Live a changed life
- Exchange all that you are for all that Christ is, a trade of sorts
- Become a disciple of Jesus
- Do many wonderful works in Jesus' name
- Preach in Jesus' name
- Serve God diligently
- Live the Christian life
NONE of these aforementioned things are required to get to Heaven. You may do all of these things and yet never be born again at all, and still miss Heaven.
John 3:3b, 'YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN'!
The only way to be saved is to LOOK TO THE LAMB OF GOD. John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” LOOK AND LIVE dear reader!
