Look and Live
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 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.”
John 3:12–15
As the Israelites made their way toward the Promised Land, there were many days when they did not give thanks for their deliverance from slavery. Instead they often grumbled and complained. At one point, God sent poisonous snakes into the camp to judge the people for their unbelief. In desperation, the people cried out for forgiveness, and God instructed Moses to make a replica of the poisonous snakes from brass and lift it high in the center of the camp on a pole. Everyone who believed the promise of God for deliverance and looked at the brass serpent was healed. Those who tried another cure or who did not believe God’s promise and look to the brass snake perished.
Jesus used this Old Testament story to explain to Nicodemus how God’s plan of salvation worked. Jesus said that He would be lifted up, speaking of His death on the cross, to provide all that was needed for deliverance from sin. All over the world people are trying to find alternatives to accepting God’s offer of salvation. Many want to do something—join a church, be baptized, be confirmed, or do good works—in order to gain their redemption.
All of these plans are doomed to failure, for salvation is only offered by grace through faith. We do nothing to earn or deserve it. Our efforts to justify ourselves to God cannot satisfy His perfect righteousness. Only in faith can we accept and receive God’s salvation.
John 3:12–15
As the Israelites made their way toward the Promised Land, there were many days when they did not give thanks for their deliverance from slavery. Instead they often grumbled and complained. At one point, God sent poisonous snakes into the camp to judge the people for their unbelief. In desperation, the people cried out for forgiveness, and God instructed Moses to make a replica of the poisonous snakes from brass and lift it high in the center of the camp on a pole. Everyone who believed the promise of God for deliverance and looked at the brass serpent was healed. Those who tried another cure or who did not believe God’s promise and look to the brass snake perished.
Jesus used this Old Testament story to explain to Nicodemus how God’s plan of salvation worked. Jesus said that He would be lifted up, speaking of His death on the cross, to provide all that was needed for deliverance from sin. All over the world people are trying to find alternatives to accepting God’s offer of salvation. Many want to do something—join a church, be baptized, be confirmed, or do good works—in order to gain their redemption.
All of these plans are doomed to failure, for salvation is only offered by grace through faith. We do nothing to earn or deserve it. Our efforts to justify ourselves to God cannot satisfy His perfect righteousness. Only in faith can we accept and receive God’s salvation.
Today’s Growth Principle:
The only way of salvation is the one God provided through His Son Jesus Christ.
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