INTRODUCTION [CONTINUED]

As we stated last time, one cannot study John 3;13-14 without studying the Brazen Serpent of Numbers 21..

The Brass Serpent typified Judgment. The Serpent and Brass together portray Sin Judged.
The fiery serpents, that swarmed Israel, were publicly exhibited by one, made of brass, which was sting-less and dead.

Now, When I look upon The Lord Jesus Christ, I see Him enduring sin, in all its fierceness and burning pangs.

But, I also see the ugly reptile of Sin, publicly exhibited, as helpless and dead.
Its power over me, is completely broken.

The Sting is removed from Death. The sting of Death is Sin-I Corinthians 15;54-57-[Turn].

Next, We see that, The Serpent of Brass was the only remedy provided. God's Plan was not that some should be saved one way, and some another.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and Men-I Timothy 2;5; Acts 4;12-
[Turn].

Next, We see The Serpent was made of Brass, an inferior metal. The Lord Jesus was a root out of dry ground-
Isaiah 53;2-''For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.''
Now, the phrase, ''A Root out of a dry ground,'' considered in connection with Isaiah 11;1, shows that, it sprung up out of the stump of Jesse-
Isaiah 11;1-'' And there shall come forth a root out of the stump of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots;''

Men are represented as turning away in disappointment, from this tender plant, springing out of such compromising surroundings.
This is why, some said, ''can there any good thing come out of Nazareth/'' [John 1;48].

Now, Get this truth; BOTH THE SERPENT AND THE CROSS, WERE PRESCRIBED BY GOD;
THEREFORE, THE CROSS IS THE DIVINELY APPOINTED MEANS OF OUR SALVATION.

The Israelites were bitten by a serpent, and by a serpent, they were to be healed.
Thus ''By man [Adam] came sin, and by man'' [Christ] salvation comes to God's people.''

Now, GET THIS TRUTH; THE LORD JESUS IS THE NEAREST RELATIVE ANY CHRISTIAN CAN HAVE.

He suffered ''SYMPATHETICALLY WITH'' men, in His Public Ministry, ''VICARIOUSLY FOR''
Men, in His Death, and ''SUBSTITUTIONALLY FOR'' Men, when He bore the wrath for God's
Elect.

The Lord Jesus must be lifted up;
Sin must be punished;
God's Righteousness must be upheld;
and all its demands met.
Jesus Christ Alone, could meet, and did meet, all these demands.

A Look at The Serpent, brought physical healing, soon to be interrupted by death.
From a look at Christ, exercised by faith, wrought in the heart at Regeneration, flows soul healing unto Salvation.

Now, The Serpent represented The Curse, which Sin entailed;
The Brass portrayed God's Judgment falling on The One, made a sin offering.

Now, if the Lord Jesus Christ had been a mere creature, He would have been consumed;
But, He was more than, a mere creature.
He is The Eternal Son of God;
and therefore, The Infinite Son was not consumed.

As The Redeemed Israelites were to look upon The Serpent of Brass for deliverance, so
Regenerated Sinners, by the power of The Holy Spirit, look upon and embrace Jesus Christ for
deliverance.

Through faith, the power to live, is realized;
through faith The Regenerated Person becomes conscious of Justification.
This faith is God's gift-Ephesians 2;8.

Notice, those who were converted, didn't look unto Moses, their wounds, or, the Tabernacle.
And, they didn't manufacture some cure of their own.
Neither did they minister unto others, in order to get relief.

They didn't even fight the serpents.
Thus, those converted to Christ, do not look at some preacher, their wounds, or to a denomination.
They don't even believe they can destroy sin;
but through faith, the gift of God, They embrace Christ, Who has won the victory for them.
Those converted to Christ, say, ''Greater is He that is in US, then he that is in the world.''

Now, the incidents recorded in Numbers 21 are great spiritual landmarks.
[1] Their Conversion resulted from looking at The Serpent of Brass-They had already been delivered by blood, and by power-Exodus 12;12-14-[Turn].

[2] They turned toward The Sunrising; in this we see Israel's Pilgrimage.

[3] The Conflicts, which were The Wars of Jehovah, Verse 14, reveal their warfare.

[4] The Song, which came from inward satisfaction [Verse 17], manifests the subjective experience of The Holy Spirit expressing Himself in testimony.

Believers must defend themselves, but not be the aggressors, when attacked-Numbers 21;33-35

Israel went forward, but, they were not yet in the land; Wells are found in the bleak wilderness.

They were healed, walked, and sang the Song of Praises with joy.
They met people with whom, they didn't wish to have war;
but their enemies didn't allow them, to pass peaceably.

Now, get this truth; OUR WARFARE IS WITH THOSE WHO OPPOSE OUR INHERITANCE BEYOND JORDAN.

[5] They experienced victory-[Verses 21-35].
It's a wonderful thing for God's people to possess all their possessions.
God intended us, to live in constant victory-over the world, the flesh, and the devil.
-End-