“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.” John 3:14-17

The account of the brass serpent which Moses lifted up on a pole is recorded in Numbers 21:4-9. The people of Israel had become discouraged along the way in the wilderness. They spoke against both God and Moses, questioning why they had been brought into such a desolate land where there was neither food nor water. They had grown tired of the manna God provided them each day. Because of their lack of faith and complaining words, the LORD God sent fiery serpents among the people to bite them, and many of the people died.

Then the people acknowledged their sin and asked Moses to pray to the LORD that He would remove the serpents from them. Instead of removing all the serpents, God commanded Moses to make a fiery serpent and lift it up on a pole so that anyone bitten by one of the poisonous serpents could look up at the serpent on the pole and live. As God commanded, Moses made a serpent of brass, lifted it up and mounted it on a pole. And anyone who was bitten by one of the fiery serpents, if he in faith looked at the brass serpent, lived.

In the same way as the children of Israel, we, because of our sinful and unbelieving hearts, fail to trust in the LORD God and walk in His ways. We grumble and complain about His commandments and about the troubles and difficulties which He permits to arise in our lives. Like Adam and Eve, who failed to trust in the word of the LORD and ate of the tree of which God had commanded them not to eat, we fail to trust in the word of the LORD and so often think we know better than God what is good for us.

When God says, “Thou shall not,” we question His goodness and wisdom and do those things He says not to do. When He tells us what He would have us do, again we think we know better and do what pleases us instead.

As God did not immediately remove the fiery serpents from among His people, so He has not removed from us the consequences of our sin and disobedience. Like Adam and Eve, we must suffer sorrow and hardship in this life and finally die. But though our lives here in this world may be filled with pain and sorrow, God has provided a way for us to live and not suffer eternal death and damnation.

God promised to Adam and Eve the Seed of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head and save them (cf. Gen. 3:15). As Moses lifted up a brass serpent in the wilderness that all who looked to it could live, so God sent His only begotten Son into the world – the Seed of the woman, Jesus, Son of God and Son of man – and He was lifted up on the cross, crucified and condemned for the sins of the whole world, that we might look to Him in faith and live eternally.

Though we have all been bitten by the old evil serpent and have the poison of sin flowing through our hearts and veins, God in His great love for all mankind sent His only begotten Son into the world, not to condemn us for our sin, but to fulfill all righteousness and to bear our punishment and save us from eternal death and damnation.

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness and as those who looked toward it in faith lived, so also sinners today can look to Christ Jesus, who was lifted up and crucified for the sins of all and is risen again in victory; and those who look to Jesus in faith will not die eternally but live and have everlasting life!

Dear Jesus, I have sinned and turned aside from loving, trusting and honoring You with my life. Do not deal with me as I deserve on account of my sin but have mercy upon me. I look to You and Your cross for salvation. Forgive my sin, cleanse my heart and grant me life eternal with You in Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“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.” John 3:16

It is said that, when the Betty Crocker company first came out with cake mixes and all one had to do was add water, the mixes didn’t sell very well. Market research revealed that people wanted to be involved in producing the cake. So the company changed the recipe and required the customer to add an egg to the mix. Then the product sold like wildfire.

Satan’s most effective weapon is whispering into the sinner’s ear, “You need to do something for your salvation.” When the sinner hears that all is done – that Christ Jesus did it all by His holy life and innocent sufferings and death and God’s gift is complete – Satan says, “It’s too easy; you need to do your part.”

And sinners concur. They want to produce their cake of salvation from scratch, using the ingredients of their own works. Or, they desire at least to add an egg or two of their own efforts into the mix.

Salvation that requires no work whatsoever on their part just doesn’t appeal.

Of course, Satan forgets to mention that the cake of salvation the sinner tries to bake can only turn out to be a flop – one that will give stomachaches when sins trouble us and when death draws near, and one that will be burnt in the oven of God’s judgment on the Last Day!

When it comes to salvation, there is nothing sinners can add to what Christ has done!

“It is finished,” Jesus said, as He suffered and died upon the cross for the sins of the world (John 19:30). All was done! Atonement was made! Our redemption was accomplished! Salvation was purchased for all with Christ’s shed blood!

Because all is already done, the Bible tells us that whoever believes and trusts in the finished redemption of Christ Jesus has full pardon and forgiveness for all his sins and will not perish in God’s judgment, but has, as God’s Word says, “everlasting life.”

May God grant us faith to simply receive the finished salvation won for us by our Savior, Jesus Christ.

[21st Century King James Version (KJ21), Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.]

“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11 (Read Eph. 5:1-16)

Walking as children of the light includes calling sin what it is, sin, and exposing and reproving error for what it is, a lie and deception of the devil.

God, in His grace and mercy, has shined upon us with the light of His Word and has opened our eyes through the Holy Scriptures that we might see our utter sinfulness and see that, in Christ Jesus and for the sake of His holy life and innocent sufferings and death on the cross in our stead, God reaches out to us in mercy and with forgiveness and offers to us a place in His everlasting kingdom.

As children of light, acknowledging our sins and errors and trusting in Christ Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness (cf. 1 John 1:5-10), should we then walk in darkness and continue on in the sinful ways of this world?

St. Paul admonishes us: “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience” (Eph. 5:3-6).

The Scriptures admonish us, as children of the light who have come to a knowledge of the truth, to walk in the light of God’s Word and continue trusting in our crucified and risen Savior. We agree with God about our sinfulness and the punishment we justly deserve, but we trust in Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for pardon, forgiveness, and fellowship with the LORD God. And, rather than joining together in the unfruitful works of darkness, we are called upon to expose and reprove these works for what they are – lies of the old evil foe, the devil, and disobedience to God’s commandments leading to eternal death and damnation!

This has application in every aspect of our lives, and in our congregation and church, as well. Rather than joining together in any of the ways of the world, and rather than joining together and fellowshipping with churches that espouse and hold to false doctrine and sin – anything that is not of the truth revealed in God’s unerring Word – we are admonished to expose and reprove sin and error that those who are deceived might come to see the truth and repent, looking in faith to Christ Jesus for mercy.

We too, as believers, examine ourselves in the light of God’s Word, acknowledge and confess all that is of the darkness and turn to Jesus, the Light of the World, and receive forgiveness and cleansing through His blood, shed upon the cross for the sins of all (1 John 1:5 – 2:2).

Dearest Lord Jesus, we thank You for granting us Your Spirit and opening our eyes that we might see our sin and guilt before God but also see and know His mercy and forgiveness toward us for the sake of Your atoning sacrifice for us on the cross. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

The Bible answers that question for us when it says: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Gen. 1:26-27).

It further explains how the first man was created in Genesis 2:7: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Of the creation of woman, God’s Word says: “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:18-25).

The first man and woman were created in the image of God, with His likeness. This does not mean they looked like God, for God is a spirit. It means they were like God in that they knew God and His will and gladly and willingly lived for God in accord with His will and purpose in creating them (cf. Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24; Ephesians 2:10). They knew God, loved Him, trusted Him and were of one heart and mind with Him in their thoughts, desires, words and deeds.

We learn from the Scriptures that God formed the body of Adam (man) from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him, making Adam a living soul. He was given life, both physical and spiritual. He was made alive to God.

We learn that the first woman was created from the first man and for the man to be a helper and companion to him who was like him and fitting for him. She was indeed flesh of his flesh.

Though many in our time would deny it, this is also the reason for marriage between a man and a woman. God created the woman for the man, brought her to the man and the two became one flesh. Any sexual union outside of marriage between a man and a woman is contrary to God’s purpose and design in creation.

Though we may think we exist only as the natural result of the sexual union between a man and a woman, the Scriptures teach us that we are no accident. God created each of us in the womb of our mother and gave us life. Not only did He bless man and woman with the ability to have children (Genesis 1:28), He creates and forms each of us in our mother’s womb.

The Bible says: “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16).

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Psalm 130

Are you in the depths of woe and despair? Well, we all have good cause to be! Think about it; we are sinful human beings living in a sinful world and about to stand before the LORD God, a holy and righteous God who created all things good and who hates sin, wickedness and rebellion against Him and His Word. And, whether we live or die, we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.

The Bible tells us that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27), and later adds the warning that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).

So, whether we have died or are alive and remain on the day of Christ’s return, we will all stand before our holy and just God. How many of you are ready? Hence, Psalm 130, the Word of God for our consideration today.

“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” (v. 1-3)

If the LORD were to mark our every iniquity in His books and keep a record of our every failure, who could stand in His judgment? Who is innocent of all sin? Who can stand before God and proclaim his own righteousness under the law?

And yet, that is what many are planning to do – to seek acceptance with God on the basis of their own lives and works. But God demands more – He demands perfect obedience in our thoughts, desires, words and deeds. God’s law demands that we be holy as the LORD our God is holy (cf. Lev. 19:2; Matt. 5:48).

Even Christians cannot stand on their own merit. Our hearts are divided. We may have the desire to love the LORD with all our heart, mind and soul, but we don’t. We may desire to obey all God’s commandments, but we fail.

Knowing that God demands that we be holy as He is holy, we can easily be discouraged and even become angry with God for demanding of us what we are not able to do.

The Bible tells us in Romans 3:19-20: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Therefore, we are in the depths of woe – sinners and guilty before God, deserving of nothing but His eternal wrath and punishment! All of us “have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

Psalm 130, however, gives us comfort and lifts us up from the depths of woe when it says in verse 4: “But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.”

The LORD God is merciful and forgives sins! How? As the psalm promises, God sent His own Son to die for our sins and provide for us “plenteous redemption,” to “redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (v. 7, 8). And Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died not only for the sins of Israel; He made atonement for the sins of the whole world and rose again (cf. Matt. 1:21; John 1:29; 1 John 2:1-2).

We, therefore, wait for the Lord’s coming in confidence and readiness, placing our hope in His word of forgiveness and acceptance through faith in Jesus’ holy life and innocent sufferings and death in our stead (cf. Heb. 9:28).

In fact, we look for His coming in judgment, knowing that all our sins are forgiven in Christ Jesus. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). Our God “hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:6-7; cf. Rom. 3:21-26; 5:1-2).

And so, are you ready to stand before Your Maker? The answer for all who look to Christ in faith is: Yes, indeed, for in Christ Jesus, we have “plenteous redemption.” He has redeemed us from all our sins and blotted them out forever!

God tells us in His Word (Isaiah 44:22): “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud, thy sins; return unto Me, for I have redeemed thee.”

May God graciously move us to return unto Him with faith in Christ Jesus, our Savior!

Dear LORD God, we give You thanks that You have redeemed us in the Son and that You graciously forgive us all our sins when we look to Christ Jesus in faith. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]