Introduction
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him…” John 3:14-15
In the beginning, Adam and Eve sinned by turning from God and going their own way of disobedience. From that point on, all people were born dead in our sins and in need of a Savior.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people because all sinned…” Romans 5:12
But this was not a surprise to God. God had planned for our need before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:18-21). In love, God sent His beloved Son into the world with the name Jesus “…for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). And all who believe in Jesus will be saved and given eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus alone is Savior (Acts 4:12).
Before you can experience a real transformation of life, you must first look to Jesus as Savior and be transformed from spiritual death to eternal life (1 John 5:11-12).
“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” Romans 5:17
And what a Savior He is! He is “…able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25). No matter what you’ve done, Jesus is mighty to save you (Isaiah 63:1)!
Oh, friend, look to Jesus, achieving your salvation through His death on the cross. Jesus lived the perfect life you should have lived and then died the death that you deserved so that you might be saved!
On the cross, Jesus took on your sin and gave you His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Your sins earned death, but Jesus took on your death and overcame it. You sinned and deserved punishment, but Jesus has received all the wrath of God against sin. Jesus took on all your guilt and shame and paid your sin debt so that you are now free to live joyfully and abundantly in a loving relationship with God and others.
When you look to Jesus as Savior, you are seeing what God sees—the atoning blood of His beloved Son. When you put your faith in Jesus as Savior, you are clothed in the righteousness of Christ and acceptable to God (Philippians 3:9, Ephesians 1:5-7).
Illustration
As the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, they began complaining about their journey. They became angry and resentful toward God and Moses, who was God’s representative to them. To correct them, God sent venomous snakes into their camp. The snakes bit the Israelites, and many people died as a result. The rest of the people cried out to God to take the snakes away, and this was God’s response:
Numbers 21:8-9 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
The uplifted snake on a pole was God’s method of saving those dying of snakebite. Everyone who looked to the uplifted pole lived.
The serpent of sin has bitten you and me, and we are dying. This snakebite of sin expresses itself in our pride, greed, substance abuse, sexual impurity, uncontrollable rage, unforgiveness, desires for revenge, self-idolatry, etc.
The world and religion would focus you on the problem – the snake bite. The world would teach you to remove the venom through self-help practices; religion teaches you to remove the poison through law-keeping and good works.
But what did God do? He erected a cross-like pole and hung the Savior on it. Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the message of salvation. He hung on the cross so that you can stand unafraid in the judgment. He shed His blood and breathed His last so that you can have life and breath forever. Then Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, having rescued you from sin’s trap and death’s grip to give you a new and abundant life.
John 3:14-15 (NIV) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Application
Is there some sin that troubles you and causes you to doubt God’s love and acceptance of you? Some wrong from your past that haunts your thoughts and worries you? Look at Jesus on the cross and believe what God tells you about Him. Your sin—past, present, and future—was laid upon Jesus (Isaiah 53:6).
Put your faith in Jesus, and thank God that these sins are no longer on you! Be thankful to Jesus, who bore your sins. Allow Jesus’ love to remove your fear and worry (1 John 4:18). Keep looking at Christ on the cross, and Christ, risen from the dead, and walk in the light of God’s love and blessing. Jesus has purchased it for you with His precious blood.
Lifted up was He to die; “It is finished!” was His cry; Now in Heav’n exalted high. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Come, friend, be happy in looking to Jesus as your Savior! Enjoy Him. Believe in and focus on Jesus as your Savior and Lord and behold all things shall become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Question: How does looking to Jesus as Savior give you hope for salvation?
Kim writes, “Looking to Jesus gives me hope for salvation because He did for me what I could never do for myself – live a sinless life and then He took the penalty of my sin on Himself. His life and death satisfied the Father and I am secure in Christ, therefore my salvation is secure because I have Jesus’ record of righteousness! Hallelujah!!“
Mike L. writes, “Jesus is my everything, my only hope is in Him, if it were left up to me I would be spending eternity in hell. Thank God for the cross of Christ, now nothing depends on me but everything depends on Christ finished work which is complete according to God our Father.“
Joe writes, “Everything I have tried has failed. I was still in bondage, still broken, still poisoned and dying because of the snake bite of sin. God’s solution is the only one that works! Jesus’ death and resurrection gives me hope.“
Terry writes, “It gives me hope to know I am so loved that Jesus, who never messed up and did not deserve mocking, flogging, crucifixion, would do it anyway so that I could be free and united with Him. It gives me hope to know that the same power that brought Him back to life is available to help me now live a life that glorifies God, that overcomes the very sin that put Jesus on the cross!“
Reprinted by permission from the Looking to Jesus study at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. SCF exists to help men and women find freedom in Christ through the gospel.