# 52 The Great Exchange

Joh 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

Have you ever walked by the site of a “condemned building?” A condemned building is one that has been deemed unfit to occupy. The electricity has been turned off, there is no light.

So it is with the condemned soul. It has been deemed unfit to be occupied by a holy God. It will spend eternity separated, unoccupied by God! Yes, there is a hell and people will be sent there for eternity! Something has to be done with our sin problem. Our sinfulness must be exchanged with the righteousness of Christ.

The core of our problem is unbelief! It’s hearts that resist the convincing work of the Holy Spirit! Jesus called this resistance “the blasphemy  of the Holy Spirit “and it is the only unforgiveable sin!

Lu 12:10 "but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.”

Stephen summed it up this way shortly before he was stoned to death as he preached against those who refused to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God! e Ac 7:51 "You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. (Acts 7:51)

The idea of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit includes the removal of any desire to be reconciled to God through Jesus. (And by the way, if you are concerned that you have committed this sin, your very concern is proof that you haven’t. It is proof that you, like the thief on the cross, have a desire to be reconciled. One thief came to the light and Jesus assured him that he would be with Him in Paradise that very day! The other cursed Jesus all the way to his grave and was eternally condemned.)

Let’s talk about the “evil deeds” that men love. 1Co 6:9 spells a few of them out for us:

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Continuing to practice these things are just symptoms of unbelief, but look at the next verse: 1Co 6:11 “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

When you come to the Light (Jesus lifted high on the cross) These deeds are exposed for the sins that they are, and the cure is Jesus. To “do the truth” is to “come to the light” and when you do, your deeds are clearly seen as sin.

Now, remember, Jesus is talking about His crucifixion here, and when you look upon the pole, (Jesus on the cross) you will see your sins AND the price Jesus paid for them!

In looking on Jesus the Holy Spirit will not only convict you of your sins, but He will also convince you of the righteousness of Christ. The phrase “done in God” is very interesting. It speaks of an exchange. On the cross, your lawless deeds have been exchanged for the righteous deeds of Christ! And when you look upon Jesus in faith you will realize the truth that , “there is no condemnation  for those who are in Christ Jesus!” (Rom 8:1) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR0zUh3-Kt0

# 51 From Sinner To Saint

Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

We love John 3:16 don’t we? And rightly so! It’s all about the depth of love God has for you and me. It’s all about everlasting life through simple faith in Jesus. Then in verse 17, the good news keeps rolling in! Jesus didn’t come into this world to condemn, but to save from condemnation!

The word “condemn” here is interesting. The Greek word is “krino” and it means, “to divide, separate, make a distinction.”  Jesus didn’t come into this world to “classify” sinners! He doesn’t have to! All it takes is one sin and you deserve judgment. One sin and you are a sinner in need of a Savior!

Then in verse 18 we see that simple faith in Jesus removes the classification of sinner, and it moves you to the category of saint.

But then the part we don’t like to hear,  “he who does not believe is condemned already.” Refusal to have faith in Jesus as the Son of God who takes away the sin of the world, puts you in the category of the condemned, the judged. And if you refuse to come to Jesus, you will remain in the “goat” status of Mt 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

What is it that hinders the unsaved from coming to Jesus? Simply put, they love darkness rather than light. They’d  rather not be confronted with their sins!(v19) They shun anything that would expose their sin, and as long as their sin isn’t exposed, they will continue to practice it.

And that’s why Jesus was lifted up on a cross on a hill outside Jerusalem. When we look to the cross through the eyes of faith, we see our sin. We see our evil deeds that put Him up there. Our sin and it’s effect is brought to light!

When Peter preached his first sermon on the Day of Pentecost, his last words were:  "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36)

He forced his audience to look upon the pole….the cross of Christ, and their evil deeds were exposed and look what happened next: They were cut to the heart and said, “men and brethren, we see our sin, what should we do?” and Peter replied, “repent and be baptized.”

Friend, come to the cross! It is the spotlight on your soul. It reveals all our evil deeds and at the same time provides the solution for them, and for this same reason, keep pointing others to the cross as well. It alone will deliver them from darkness.

# 50 Should Not Be Swatted

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

We have arrived at what is probably the most quoted passage in all of Scripture. We have seen it at virtually every major sporting event as people in the stands wave placards trying to get the camera’s attention, hoping that a viewer might see John 3:16, and look it up!

Of course, the stands are empty now, but when the sporting events kick in again, how about starting out by letting that one person in with the Jn 3:16 placard! Lord knows it’s what this country needs more than anything!

One of the things that makes this verse so special is it gives us glimpses of God’s character that many have missed. Many have this idea of a God who waits in heaven to swat people every time they make a mistake! That’s why Pharisees like Nicodemus had all these silly laws, trying to safeguard themselves from being swatted!

But this passage paints an entirely different picture. This passage says that God loves and gives to the utmost! So much love that He gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross, to pay the wages of sin that we all deserve! He desires for men not to be swatted, but have everlasting life and fellowship with Him!

He didn’t send Jesus into this world to swat sinners, but rather to save them from being swatted.

Oh, and don’t miss the “whosoever!” The door of salvation is open to all who put their faith in this love of God!  All who receive the gift of Jesus as their Lord and Savior!

# 49 Wear the Cross, But Live It Too!

Joh 3:14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

I remember the first time I read the story of the brazen serpent on the pole. I was a little uneasy and confused. Why would God tell Moses to make an image of something, (especially a serpent) and then tell people to look upon it in order to be healed?

This whole thing seems almost idolatrous! We know the problems the people have had with images in the past! There was the golden calf incident, and of course the continual exposure to the idolatrous images of the Canaanites. Yet, when we understand what God was doing here, we have a beautiful picture or foreshadowing of the Gospel!

The fiery serpents representing the fatal bite of sin, the brazen serpent foreshadowing Jesus who became sin for us. Now, for those who look at Jesus crucified for the sin of the world, through the eyes of faith, they too, will be healed from the fatal bite of sin!

This is about faith and faith alone for salvation. God’s promise to the people bitten by the fiery serpents, was that when they LOOKED upon the brazen serpent on the pole they would live.  The Hebrew word for “looked” here is to look with understanding. It’s not just a quick glance, it’s a fixed gaze. It’s a look of trust.

In like manner, a look at Jesus, lifted up on the cross, must also be a look of understanding, a look of faith. Believing in Him, trusting in Him alone to be delivered from the death bite of sin!

Of course, if you keep reading in the Old Testament, you know what the Israelites did right? They carried the brazen serpent with them from that day forward, and it wasn’t long before it really did become an idol! The people began to burn incense to it, they prayed to it, and 700 years later, a king by the name of Hezekiah came along and broke it into pieces.

2Ki 18:4 He (Hezekiah) removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan.

Does any of this sound familiar? The image of the cross has been with Christianity from the very beginning. It’s a wonderful reminder of the cost of our sin and the love of God! But there is a danger in that wall decoration, or that piece of jewelry, or that tattoo in becoming a meaningless glance as opposed to a look of understanding.

Remember this is it relates to any crosses you may have on display. They are great reminders of God’s love for you, but ultimately, it’s not your décor of jewelry that states your love for God…. It’s your actions! it is your actions in life that are your great reminders of your love for God!

"If you love Me, keep My commandments” .(John 14:15)

Yes, wear the cross…..but live it too!

# 48 O Death, Where Is Your Sting?

Joh 3:14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Forgive me if I’m a little repetitious here, but this serpent/Jesus analogy is one of the most power packed gospel truths in all of Scripture.

The story of Moses and the serpent can be found in Numbers 21. The people had spoken against God and Moses, expressing a desire to go back to their old ways. God sent fiery serpents among them and many of the people were bit and died.

The fiery serpents represent sin, and sin brings death. It always has and it always will. The people became acutely aware of the wages of their sin as the serpents made their way through the camp. So they turn to Moses, confessing their wrongdoing, and ask Moses to pray that God would remove the fiery serpents.

But God responds, not by removing the fiery serpents, but by providing a cure for the bite. He instructs Moses to make an image of a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole, “and it shall be that everyone who is bitten (by sin) when he looks at it, shall live!”

We live in a sinful world. We fall! We succumb to temptation and we sin. We get bit, and unless we take the antidote, we will die. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and drives us to the cross where we see Jesus “lifted up on a pole” for our sins. “For He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin (fiery serpent) for us.” (2 Cor 5:2)

The bronze serpent on the pole was the foreshadowing of God’s plan of salvation for the world! In the day of Moses, those who looked with faith at the bronze  serpent lived, just as those who by faith today look to Jesus and believe in Him, “will not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Friend, these Old Testament accounts all serve the purpose of pointing us to the New Testament arrival of Jesus! Treasure them! Let them speak to you, and you will see that the cross of Christ is your only hope! You have been bitten by sin, “All we like sheep have gone astray,” (Isa 53:6) We are all in need of a Savior, and God placed our Savior, (His Son) high upon a pole. He is not hidden. He died high on a hill outside Jerusalem for all the world to see. Look upon Him today and be made whole!

# 47 Why A Serpent?

Joh 3:13 "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

Jesus keeps shaking the cobwebs out of the mind of Nicodemus as He attempts to convince Him that He, Jesus, is the Messiah. He has reminded Nicodemus that as a teacher of the Law he should be familiar with these things that speak of Him in the Old Testament.

“You must be born again,” should bring Eze 11:19 to mind,  "Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,”

Then He blasts Nicodemus with even more proofs. “I am the One who ascends and descends from heaven! I am Jacob’s Ladder personified! I came down from heaven, and I am in heaven, I am both God and man!”

“I am the serpent on the pole that Moses lifted up in the wilderness! To save the people from their sins.

“I am the Son of Man and whoever looks upon Me, (looks toward Me, believes in Me) should not perish but have everlasting life!”

Nicodemus would be very familiar with these declarations and events in Scripture. In the latter incident, the Israelites had been wandering around in the wilderness. They had become very discouraged and impatient. They wanted the goodness of the promised land now!

Nu 21:5 tells us: “And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread."

You know, I bet you could’ve heard a pin drop in heaven when those words escaped from the people’s lips! “Loathe this worthless bread? This “worthless bread” is a foreshadow of My Son!”

Jesus described Himself as such in  Joh 6:49-51, “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  50 "This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever”

How did God react to their blasphemy? He sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people and many died. These fiery serpents represent all manner of sin and the lesson for Nicodemus and us as well is simply this. Sin kills.

The only ones who escaped the sting of sin, were the one who looked upon the brazen serpent on the pole. But why a serpent? Why not a lamb? The answer is simple. The brazen serpent represents sin and when Jesus was crucified, (lifted up on the pole) He became sin for us!

2Co 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Think about that the next time you get impatient with God. The next time you want to return to your old ways. Turn away from those old ways and turn your eyes toward Jesus. Turn your eyes toward life!

# 46 The Calling Card of Jesus

# 46 The Calling Card of Jesus!

Joh 3:13 "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

Jesus now moves back to address the original statement of Nicodemus in  verse 2. “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

For one thing, He clears up the misconception that He is ONLY a Rabbi. (A good teacher)

He uses the term “Son of Man,” to point Nicodemus toward Jesus’ true identity. The “Son of Man was actually the most common title that Jesus used for Himself in Scripture. He refers to Himself as the “Son of Man” a total of 81 times in the gospels!

Daniel referred to the title in  Da 7:13,14, "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

Nicodemus, a teacher of the Law, would certainly know of this passage in Daniel. He would know the implications of this claim of Jesus. Jesus was saying, “I am the Son of Man that Daniel talked about!”

Further in  Pr 30:4, we have another telling passage in the form of a rhetorical question that used the same phraseology that Jesus used with Nicodemus: “Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is  His name, and what is His Son's name, If you know?”

This conversation with Nicodemus is some of the most intense one on one witnessing recorded in all of Scripture! Jesus, knowing Nicodemus’ familiarity with these passages is really forcing Nicodemus’ hand.

“If you are willing to receive it Nicodemus, I am the One who has ascended to heaven and descended to earth. I am the Son, My name is Jesus. I am the One who has gathered the wind in My fists, the wind blows as I determine. The Holy Spirit is meted out by Me!” And we might add He has chosen to mete out the Spirit through His Word and Sacrament. It is as Peter stated in Ac 2:38, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”