OceanSide church of Christ
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THE BRAZEN SERPENT, A TYPE OF CHRIST
Wayne Rodgers
TEXT: Num 21:4-9 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. (5) And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. (6) And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. (7) Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. (8) And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. (9) And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
THESIS: To show the type and anti-type of salvation from Jehovah.
INTRODUCTION:
A. Israel
complained at the physical food.
1. God had provided
“manna.”
2. “And
the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up
out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there
any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread” (Num.
21:5).
B. Many today
complain at the spiritual food.
1. In answering the
tempter in the wilderness, Jesus said, “…it is written, Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of
God” (Matt.
4:4).
2. Many complain
about the preaching of the word, about the worship, and about personal study of
God’s Word.
3. We need to make sure it is a priority in our lives (2 Tim. 2:15; Matt. 6:33).
A. These serpents
had a deadly poison.
1. “And
the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much
people of Israel died” (Num.
21:6).
2. The serpents
infected Israel; many of them died as a result.
B. Today, there are
dangers that come into our homes and even the church.
1. These, too, are
full of deadly poison.
2. Our homes and the church must guard against the “Father of lies” (John 8:44).
A. The brazen
serpent was put on a pole (Num.
21:8)
B. Christ was hung on a tree (John 3:14-15).
A. There was only
one serpent of brass (Num.
21:8).
1. Salvation was
only in one serpent (Num.
21:9).
2. There was not
another choice available for salvation.
B. Today, there is
only one Savior of the world (Heb. 2:9; John 3:16; Acts
4:12).
1. There is only
one body in which one can be saved (Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23; Acts
2:47).
2. There is not another choice of saviors or churches (Eph. 5:23).
A. News had to
spread throughout the camp of salvation from the deadly
poison.
B. Today, the gospel (good news) must be preached and spread throughout the world (Mk 16:15-16; Mt. 28:19-20).
A. The Israelites
responded in obedience.
1. They had to look
upon the brass serpent as it was on the pole.
2. They were not
healed just because they had faith that there was a pole with a serpent on
it.
3. They had to obey
by looking upon it, with the expectation of God’s healing
them.
B. Today, we must
respond in obedience.
1. One is not saved
simply because he believes that Christ was lifted up on a cross for our sins
Joh
12:42-43 Nevertheless among the chief rulers
also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess
him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: (43) For they loved the praise of men more
than the praise of God.
James
2:14-26 What doth it profit, my brethren,
though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister be naked, and
destitute of daily food,
(16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in
peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things
which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and
I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith
by my works. (19) Thou believest that there is one God;
thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that
faith without works is dead?
(21) Was not Abraham our father justified by
works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (22) Seest thou how faith wrought with his
works, and by works was faith made perfect? (23) And the scripture was fulfilled which
saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and
he was called the Friend of God.
(24) Ye see then how that by works a man is
justified, and not by faith only.
(25) Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot
justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out
another way? (26) For as the body without the spirit is
dead, so faith without works is dead also.
2. One must obey Christ in order to be saved (Heb. 5:8-9; Mark 16:16).
CONCLUSION:
1.
We have seen the
Brazen Serpent as a type of Christ.
2.
While there are
many lessons one may learn, we should focus on the fact that in order to be
saved one must obey the Christ.
3.
For He is truly
our Savior, lifted up on a tree, that we might have life
eternal.