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● John 3:14-16 . . Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
The incident to which Christ referred is located at Num 21:5-9.
Long story short: Yhvh's people became sick and tired of living in the desert and eating manna all the time at every meal. But instead of courteously, and diplomatically, petitioning their divine benefactor for tastier food and better accommodations, they became hostile and confrontational.
In response to their insolence; Yhvh sent a swarm of deadly poisonous reptiles among them; which began striking people; and every strike was 100% fatal, no exceptions. In no time at all, much people of Israel died. Then those not yet dead got nervous and appealed to Moses for help. In reply; the Lord instructed Moses to construct a model of the beasts and hoist it up on a pole in plain view so that everyone dying from venom could look to it for immunity.
Now the key issue here is that the model was the only God-given remedy for the people's terminal condition-- not purity, not sacrifices and offerings, not tithing, not church attendance, not missionary work, not confession, not holy days of obligation, not the Sabbath, not charity, not good deeds, not good behavior, not piety, not Bible study and Sunday school, not catechism or yeshiva, not one's religion of choice, not self denial and/or self control, not the so-called golden rule, not vows of poverty and/or chastity, not the Ten Commandments, not the Eucharist; no, none of that: not even prayers. The model was it; viz: it was all or nothing at all-- there was no other option. Whoever failed to look to that model for immunity died: no exceptions.
In other words then: Christ's sacrifice of himself to satisfy justice for the sins of the world is the only God-given option for protection from the second death depicted at Rev 20:11-15. The default is terminal; no exceptions. People relying upon self denial and/or self control instead of putting all their trust in Christ's crucifixion, are dead men walking.
● John 3:18 . .Whoever believes in him will not be condemned; but whoever does not believe has already been condemned.
Supposing someone is interested in taking Christ at his word? What to do about it?
Well; all that they have to do is simply speak up; like this:
"God; I am a sinner. I would like to take advantage of your son's death."
That prayer need not be public. It can be spoken in the privacy of one's own bedroom or even in a restroom where they work.
There's only one catch to that prayer. The speaker has to be convinced in their own mind that Jesus' Father is really out there or they will be speaking into the air and get no results.
● Heb 11:6 . .Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
How is it that I am so confident that God will honor the prayer I recommended? Well; again, I'm taking Christ at his word and acting on faith.
● John 3:17 . . For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
● John 6:37 . . Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.
. . . And this is the will of the one who sent me: that I should not lose anything of what He gave me, but that I should raise it the last day. For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him the last day.
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● John 3:14-16 . . Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
The incident to which Christ referred is located at Num 21:5-9.
Long story short: Yhvh's people became sick and tired of living in the desert and eating manna all the time at every meal. But instead of courteously, and diplomatically, petitioning their divine benefactor for tastier food and better accommodations, they became hostile and confrontational.
In response to their insolence; Yhvh sent a swarm of deadly poisonous reptiles among them; which began striking people; and every strike was 100% fatal, no exceptions. In no time at all, much people of Israel died. Then those not yet dead got nervous and appealed to Moses for help. In reply; the Lord instructed Moses to construct a model of the beasts and hoist it up on a pole in plain view so that everyone dying from venom could look to it for immunity.
Now the key issue here is that the model was the only God-given remedy for the people's terminal condition-- not purity, not sacrifices and offerings, not tithing, not church attendance, not missionary work, not confession, not holy days of obligation, not the Sabbath, not charity, not good deeds, not good behavior, not piety, not Bible study and Sunday school, not catechism or yeshiva, not one's religion of choice, not self denial and/or self control, not the so-called golden rule, not vows of poverty and/or chastity, not the Ten Commandments, not the Eucharist; no, none of that: not even prayers. The model was it; viz: it was all or nothing at all-- there was no other option. Whoever failed to look to that model for immunity died: no exceptions.
In other words then: Christ's sacrifice of himself to satisfy justice for the sins of the world is the only God-given option for protection from the second death depicted at Rev 20:11-15. The default is terminal; no exceptions. People relying upon self denial and/or self control instead of putting all their trust in Christ's crucifixion, are dead men walking.
● John 3:18 . .Whoever believes in him will not be condemned; but whoever does not believe has already been condemned.
Supposing someone is interested in taking Christ at his word? What to do about it?
Well; all that they have to do is simply speak up; like this:
"God; I am a sinner. I would like to take advantage of your son's death."
That prayer need not be public. It can be spoken in the privacy of one's own bedroom or even in a restroom where they work.
There's only one catch to that prayer. The speaker has to be convinced in their own mind that Jesus' Father is really out there or they will be speaking into the air and get no results.
● Heb 11:6 . .Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
How is it that I am so confident that God will honor the prayer I recommended? Well; again, I'm taking Christ at his word and acting on faith.
● John 3:17 . . For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
● John 6:37 . . Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.
. . . And this is the will of the one who sent me: that I should not lose anything of what He gave me, but that I should raise it the last day. For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him the last day.
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