R sbc
June 19th 2004
Sunday Morning
Series: Christ the Sum and the Substance of the Bible
Sermon # 6
Subject: “ Christ Lifted Up”
Text: John 3: 14-16 : Numbers 21:6-9
Intro: The foc us today is litte different than the other five sermons. The reason being this is a limited comparison of Christ. The Lord had just encounter Nicodemus and preached to him about his need of the new birth. This was puzzingly to the Pharisee, as seen in his responses to Christ. When Christ told him he needed to be born again he said: John 3:4 “ How can a man be born when he is old? This was a legitimate question, it was not coming from an ignorant man.
Christ begans to unravil the mystery of being born again to him, he said a man needed to be born from above, and that it would be a spiritual birth not a phyisical one. He spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit doing a sovereign work in some sinners hearts: John 3: 8.
Once again this man had trouble looking him in the face, he could not understand what the LORD was preaching. This is true with any sinner: 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
Then our Lord gives him an event that he did understand about his nation. The serpent in the wilderness. This is a limited comparison of Christ, and yet it is a comparison. In this message today I want look at this from several thoughts.
I... WHAT IT IS THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THIS EVENT IS THE SAME THING THAT BROUGHT ABOUT CHRIST COMIING AND BEING LIFTED UP:
1ST. Sin brought the serpents among the people:
Numbers 21:5 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. Numbers 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Sin as you know enter into this world through a serpent. Genesis 3:4-6 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
What we have here is the common approach of Satan, he is always leading people into this trap of sin. It looks good, it feels good, I want it, nothing will happen to me, I can resist it.
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Sin deceives, sin blinds, sin takes one into bondage, sin leaves one empty, sin destroy’s, sin brings one lower into it’s grip, sin dishonors us, sin is against the Lord, Thomas Boston said that it was the plague of all plauges.
Sin is very grevios: Genesis 18:20
Sin is against God: Genesis 39:9
Sin is committed with the tongue: Psa 39:1
Sin is out of the heart: Matt 15:19
So as sin brought the serpents among the children of Israel and many died, sin came into this world and men died spiritually. Christ came to save sinners, Christ came to call sinners, Christ came to do his Fathers will.
II... THE PEOPLE NEEDED A REALIZATION OF THEIR NEED AND ACKNOWLEGE IT:
Numbers 21:7 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.
The great illustration that Christ used was the two men that went to the temple. I have used this many times and want to use it again today.
Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
This conviction must be inward, it must come from the seat of the problem, the Spirit must quicken you. Note the contrast between these two:
a.The Phraisee prayed to himself – the publican felt his unworthiness to even lift up his eyes
b.The Pharisee thought highly of himself– the publican smote his breast indicating sin was felt
c. The Pharisee needed to mercy– the Publican cried out for mercy..
III.. “ JUST AS CHRIST PROVIDED A REMEDY FOR THE ISRALITES HE HAS PROVIDED ONE TODAY FOR SINNERS”
Numbers 21:8-9 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.
9 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.
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This is the story that Christ used in preaching to Nicodemus. Note what he said in our text.
1st. The necessity of the serpent being lifted up and the necessity of Christ being lifted up.
a. It was necessary because God ordered it: “And the Lord ordered it”
It was not a suggestion to Moses, it was not one of many choices that Moese could make, it was not choice of the people, it was order by the LORD. Christ was sent by his Father. He is not a choice, sinners are commanded to repent and trust him wether they can or cannot is not the issue.
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Note that John that beloved disciple of Christ said that he was the only son, indicating that their was no other way: 1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
b. It was necessary because there was no other way:..
There was no cure among the bitten people of Israel, their was no medicine, there was no doctor, that could come up with a remedy. It was looking at the brazen serpent, or it was death. This was so foreign to the people, just look.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. He is the way, the truth and the life to excliusion of all other means.
John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. He is the life to the exclusion of all other means
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. He is the entrance to eternal salvatio to the exclusion of all other ways. John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2nd. The inclusion of anyone who looked in Israel that day lived, anyone who looks to Christ and believes shall be saved:
In Arminian theology so many of them make a lot of the word “whosoever” but let me show you once again that this word never stands alone. It does not stand alone in this text nor any place in the Bible that it is used.
John 4:13 “ Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him”
John 11:26 “ Whosoever liveth and believet in me shall never die”
Acts 2:21 “ Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord”
Acts 10:43 “ Whosoever Beleiveth in him shall receive remission of sins”
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Acts 13:26 “ Whosoever that feareth God among you is this word of salvation sent”
I John 4:15 “ Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God”
I only gave you a few of the verses that this word is found in. So when they say we don’t believe in whosoever they don’t know what they are talking about. What we don’t believe in is whosoever want.
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. Can you look this morning that is the question that must be answer, not will you look but can you look this morning.
Paul said: Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Isaac Ambrose: wrote a book called looking unto Jesus and in this book there is a chapter that is dedicated to what you must look away from in order to look at Christ. You must look away from religion, you must look away from the world, you must look away from your sins, you must look away from your own preconceived idea’s... you must look with faith in the remedy God has provided.
IV... THE REALITY THAT AS MOSES LIFTE UP THE SERPENT SO WAS CHRIST LIFTED UP ON THE CROSS:
1ST. Christ spoke of being lifted up:
John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.
2nd. The reality of Christ being lifted up on the cross:
Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
V.. “ THE GREAT BENEFIT OF THE SERPENT BEING LIFTED UP FOR ISRAEL AND THE BENEFIT OF CHRIST BEING LIFTED UP FOR US:
We know that all who looked at the serpent on the poll was healed of their disease, and I am saying to you this morning all of you who are lost who look to Christ will be healed of you sin sickness. Isaiah that great prophet of the LORD said:
Isaiah 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1st. Christ being lifeted up our Sins forgiven...
I know that you have heard this all your life, but do you tire of it, I would think not. What a blessing.
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David said: Psalm 32:2 Blessed [is] the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit [there is] no guile.
Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; John that beloved disciple of Christ said to his people: 1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
In the book of Revelation it said that he loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and made kings and priest unto God. What a blessing and a privilege to have our sins washed away. There is even benefits in that...
Romans 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth.
2nd. Christ being lifete up we have no fear of perishing because of Christ being lifted up: John 3:15 There was a benefit to the Israelites they didn’t die, they didn’t perish tat day, like so many of their families. Christ being lifted up on the cross for us we have the assurance that we will never perish.
3rd. Christ being lifted up for us we have the great and eternal blessing of knowing him as Lord and Saviour:
2 Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Those of us who are saved this morning we look to him, and look for him. This is the hope of ever born again blood bought child of God today.