The Cross

Course: The Foundation of the Church

Lesson 3

Lesson Title: The Bronze Serpent

 

Text:  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 believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'

 

Introduction:  John 3:16; God gave His only begotten Son.

What is meant by 'only begotten Son'? 

Compare Abraham and Isaac, Hebrews 11:17. Isaac is called 'only begotten' - Abraham had another son, Ishmael.

Greek 'monogenes' - refers to only begotten in the sense of a unique relationship.

Isaac was the son in whom the promises of God were fulfilled.

Jesus is God the Son through whom the Word of God is fulfilled.

Salvation is by faith in Christ alone.

 

Introductory Story: John 3:16 is a well known scripture but the context relates to the Old Testament story of Moses lifting up the Bronze Serpent.

Numbers 21:4-9.

No antidote - they had a poison in the bloodstream.

Good works could not save them.

Religious ceremonies could not save them.

Made no difference how good or bad they were.

Only one way of salvation - faith in the provision of God.

Main Points:

1.       The problem of sin - it is incurable.

We are born dead in sin, Ephesians 2:1.

Sin is like a poison in the bloodstream.  Sinful is inherent in our nature.  There is no cure for the sinful nature.

Psychology cannot cure the sinful nature.  Psychology seeks to change behaviour - it cannot change the heart.

Good works cannot remove sin.  Our righteousness is like filthy rags, Isaiah 64:6.  Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they did everything to be seen of men.  On the outside they appeared to uphold high morals but on the inside they were 'unclean'.

Religion has no power to remove sin.  The sacraments have no power to save.  Communion and Baptism are outward actions that cannot change the heart.

All people are on the same level.  Sin is against the holiness of God.  The sinful thoughts of a caring mother or the evil intent of a murderer stand in rebellion against the righteousness of God.

2.       Faith alone saves not works. Ephesians 2:8-9.

Faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The thief on the cross could not do anything in regard to his salvation except call upon Jesus.  But this was enough to receive eternal life.  Luke 23:43  'And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, To day shall you be with me in paradise.'

 

The gospel is to the 'whosoever' because it has nothing to do with our abilities or resources.  The Bible says 'For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'  Romans 10:13

See also  Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21

 

The free gift of salvation.  John 3:16  'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'

a)       The love of God - so loved the world

b)       The gift of God - He gave His only begotten Son.

c)       The extent of His love - that whosoever believes.

d)       The extent of His gift -  should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

3.       The glory of the cross is the Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:14

The cross is not to be an object of worship.  The Israelites worshipped the bronze serpent that Moses made.  King Hezekiah destroyed it because it became an idol, 2 Kings 18:4.

Worshipping a cross is idolatry. Worship belongs only to God.  We worship the One who died upon the cross for us.

The cross is a place of execution. It is a place of death.  Anyone who dies that way is cursed by the Old Testament law.  Jesus Christ became a curse for us so that we can receive new life.

Galatians 3:13  'Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:'

Christ was crucified as my substitute.  The wrath of God towards my sin came upon Him on the cross.  By faith when I receive Christ as my Saviour I can say "I have been crucified in Christ and raised in newness of life." 

 

The words of the Hymn 'It is well' puts it like this:

'My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought,

My sin, not in part, but the whole,

Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.'

 

If any person receives Christ they become a new creation in Him.  It is not a cure for the old.  Salvation is death to the old man through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, and becoming a completely new creation in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17  'Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.'

 

Summary:

The story of the bronze serpent shows

1)       That sin is incurable there is no antidote.

2)       Only faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross can save.

3)       The cross must not become an object of worship.  It is the place of death to our sinful life and through the resurrection we become a new creation in Christ Jesus.