Speaking the Truth in Love
The Bronze Serpent and The Christ
Introduction: As Christians we know that Jesus is our ultimate example of perfection. There are also many individuals in the scriptures that we can look to as examples of righteousness, and thus did many things in ways similar to Jesus. We are in the midst of a series of programs that compares some of these individuals to Jesus. Some of these people were similar because their lives emulated His life; others were similar because events that happened in their lives corresponded with events in His life. In all of these cases we can see the consistency of the Scriptures and of God's expectations for His followers. For this study we are going to compare not a person, but an object from the Old Testament with Christ. The Bronze Serpent and The Christ!
Sequence of events with the Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:4-9)
Israel Complains (Numbers 21:5)
The Serpent Bites (Numbers 21:6)
Israel acknowledges their sin (Numbers 21:7)
The Bronze Serpent is lifted (Numbers 21:8)
The Israelites Believe & Behold (Numbers 21:9)
The Believers and Beholders lived (Numbers 21:9)
Sequence of events where man needs Jesus today (John 3:14-21)
Many are not content (2 Timothy 4:1-4)
Man has the problem of sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23)
Godly sorrow draws man near to God (2 Corinthians 7:10, James 4:8-9)
Christ was lifted up for everyone (John 12:31-32, Hebrews 2:9)
Man needs to Believe & Obey (John 3:16, Hebrews 5:9)
Salvation comes to those who Believe & Obey Jesus (Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:47)
Comparison between the OT Bronze Serpent and the NT Christ
• Only one serpent for all: Today there is only one Savior and church for all! (Acts 4:11-12, 1 John 2:1-2,Ephesians 1:22-23)
• No choice of cures for the serpent bites; Today there is no choice of the way of salvation! (John 14:6,Proverbs 16:25)
• The news of the serpent had to be spread: Today the gospel must be preached! (Romans 1:16, Luke 24:46-47, Acts 10:39-43)
• No one was forced to look upon the serpent: Today no one is forced to obey Jesus. (Acts 13:46,Revelation 3:20, 22:17, John 5:40)
• The Israelites were not healed by faith only: Today no one is saved by faith only. (John 12:42-43, James 2:20-26, Galatians 3:26-27)
• Looking did not do away with God’s grace: Today obedience does not do away with God’s grace. (Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 2:11-14, Romans 5:1-2)
• The healing that came by looking at the bronze serpent marked a beginning: Today baptism marks a beginning. (Romans 6:4, Acts 2:40-42, 8:39, Hebrews 12:1-2)
Closing: We invite all in our audience to our Bible studies on Wednesday at 7pm and Sunday morning at 9am. We would love to study God’s together with you!
Have you become a disciple of Jesus by being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20)? By believing the one who was lifted up on a cross for you, you can begin your walk on the path that leads to eternal life in Heaven!
Our next live program is planned for Monday, March 3, 2014 when we hope to study “The Temple Of God“. We hope to see you then on “Speaking The Truth In Love”.
