So must the Son of Man be lifted up – John 3:14
The Bible says: “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents” (I Corinthians 10:9 KJV). There are individuals today that tempt Christ just like they did in the Old Testament (O.T.). They ignore the fact that a person cannot add to the perfect sacrifice for sin that has already been completed in Jesus Christ. Salvation is not faith plus works because that equals works. Do not tempt or test Christ by following rituals, sacraments, or traditions of men. Salvation is by grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone, documented in the scriptures alone, and God be the glory alone. People today are bitten by the serpent and have the venom of sin pumping through their veins, and they are dying (physically and spiritually). The Blood of Jesus Christ is the only anti-venom and cure for sin. The Blood of Jesus Christ is the only thing that gives life: eternal life!
In the O.T., individuals were physically bitten by the serpent and were dying. The Bible says: “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” (Numbers 21:5-9 KJV). If these individuals wanted to live, they had to look at the brazen serpent. It was an act of faith, and they were healed. Are you looking to Christ for salvation?
Today, people are also bitten by the serpent. The Bible says: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 KJV). Jesus also spoke on this specific subject when He was talking to Nicodemus in John 3: “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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:14-18 KJV). The Bible is all about Jesus Christ and the O.T. message about Moses lifting the brazen serpent in the wilderness is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ being lifted up for us. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (I Peter 2:24 KJV). “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21 KJV). “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14 KJV).
Jesus Christ became sin for us on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus died a substitutionary satisfying sacrifice for all sin, and the resurrection is proof Jesus Christ paid for all sin. Everyone has been bitten by the snake. Everyone has the venom of sin pumping through their veins. The only remedy for this venom is the Blood of Jesus Christ. Trust in Jesus Christ as the Savior (the One who died for your sins, buried for you, and resurrected for you) and, you will receive everlasting life. Everlasting life will start the moment you accept Christ as your personal Savior. Even though you may die physically, you will not die spiritually; your soul will live forever in Heaven. Jesus Christ said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47 KJV). The Bible says: “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (I John 5:11 KJV).
THE PLAN OF SALVATION - THE GOSPEL
The Gospel is Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins (past present future), He was buried, and He resurrected the third day to show us the payment for sin is paid in full.
I Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
There is only one way to Heaven, and it is the belief in the Finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ.
Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Lord Savior Jesus Christ was born for one reason, and that is to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ does not come to condemn individuals. Jesus Christ comes to save us because we are all Hell doomed sinners without the Blood of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16-18: 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The Bible is very clear. Jesus Christ does not come to condemn for we are already condemned.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The Bible is very clear the payment for sin is death; somebody has to die for your sin, and this is why Jesus Christ come to this earth.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let me ask you a very simple question. If you could be saved by being water baptized, doing good works, being a good person or following the Ten Commandments, why did the God from Eternity Past, the God from Eternity Future, the Ever Presence Jesus Christ reveal Himself in the flesh and die on the Cross and Resurrect the Third Day?
Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If you could earn salvation by doing those things, then Jesus Christ died in vain; but, we know Jesus Christ didn’t die in vain; Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice for sin because He is the Lamb of God and only the Lamb of God makes a perfect sacrifice for sin.
The resurrection is proof God the Father accepted Jesus Christ death payment for sin; death payment of past, present, and future sin.
The Bible is very clear Jesus Christ comes to saves us from a Hell we deserve to a Heaven we don’t.
People DO NOT go to Hell because they are “bad,” they go to Hell because they believe NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they trust NOT in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they believe NOT that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins, burial, and resurrection.
II Thessalonians 1:8-9: In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Know that God is gracious to you and He has already died for all your sins (past present future) and He was buried showing all the world He died for your sins, and He resurrected showing all the world that Jesus Christ fulfilled what the Father asked Him to do, IT IS FINISHED.
I pray you to believe in Jesus Christ right now for salvation; believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sin, burial, and resurrection.
If you have not believed, what is stopping you right now from believing? God loves you and has already died and resurrected to meet you. Believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, burial, and resurrection and receive the greatest gift ever, which is eternal life. Eternal life does not start when you die; eternal life starts the very second you believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Why not trust in Jesus Christ today for salvation. “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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 KJV)
If you know someone who is not saved, forward this message to them and share the greatest gift that one could ever receive.
Lance Edminster
The Good News Voice
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Once Saved, Always Saved -"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (John 10:28-30 KJV)