.
Continuing from post No.19
When someone is on their deathbed, in their last moments, sometimes they
begin to perceive that Hell is more than just academic; they instinctively
know it's coming and likely to become very concerned about ending up
there. In moments like that, people don't need religion, no, they need a
knight in shining armor, so to speak, and it so happens there's one available.
● Luke 2:8-12 . .And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to
them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
. . . But the angel said to them; "Don't be afraid. I bring you good news of
great joy that will be for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a savior
has been born to you; he is Messiah, the Lord."
The angel announced the birth of a savior; defined by Webster's as one who
rescues. We've all seen examples-- lifeguards, firemen, cops, emergency
medical teams, Coast Guard units, snow patrols, and mountain rescue
teams. Rescue workers typically save people in distress who are facing
imminent death and/or grave danger and utterly helpless to do anything
about it.
In other words: Jesus Christ is a lifeline, so to speak, that God is all set to
throw to anyone and everyone for whom destiny in Hell is a foregone
conclusion.
● John 3:14-17 . . As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in him have
eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
The incident to which Christ referred is located at Num 21:5-9. Long story
short: Moses' people became weary of eating manna all the time at every
meal. But instead of courteously, and diplomatically, petitioning their divine
benefactor for a different diet, they became hostile and confrontational;
angrily demanding tastier food.
In response to their insolence, and their ingratitude for His providence; God
sent a swarm of deadly poisonous vipers among them; which began striking
people; and every strike was 100% fatal, no exceptions.
After a number of people died, the rest came to their senses and begged
Moses to intercede. In reply; The Lord instructed Moses to cobble a replica of
the vipers and hoist it up on a pole in plain view so that everyone dying from
snakebite could look to the image for relief.
The key issue here is that the replica was the only God-given remedy for the
people's bites-- not sacrifices and offerings, not tithing, not church
attendance, not scapulars, not confession, not holy days of obligation, not
the Sabbath, not the golden rule, not charity, not Bible study and/or Sunday
school, not self denial, not vows of poverty, not the Ten Commandments,
not one's religion of choice, no; not even prayers. The replica was it; nothing
else would suffice to save their lives.
As an allegory, Moses' replica indicates that Christ's crucifixion for the sins of
the world is the only God-given rescue from the wrath of God; and when
people accept it, then according to John 3:14-17 and John 5:24, they qualify
for safety. Those who reject his crucifixion as the only God-given rescue
from a fate worse than death, are already on the docket to face it.
● John 3:18 . .Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does
not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the
name of God's one and only Son.
» His son's "name" in this case is relative to Moses' replica of the deadly
snakes.
_
Continuing from post No.19
When someone is on their deathbed, in their last moments, sometimes they
begin to perceive that Hell is more than just academic; they instinctively
know it's coming and likely to become very concerned about ending up
there. In moments like that, people don't need religion, no, they need a
knight in shining armor, so to speak, and it so happens there's one available.
● Luke 2:8-12 . .And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to
them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
. . . But the angel said to them; "Don't be afraid. I bring you good news of
great joy that will be for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a savior
has been born to you; he is Messiah, the Lord."
The angel announced the birth of a savior; defined by Webster's as one who
rescues. We've all seen examples-- lifeguards, firemen, cops, emergency
medical teams, Coast Guard units, snow patrols, and mountain rescue
teams. Rescue workers typically save people in distress who are facing
imminent death and/or grave danger and utterly helpless to do anything
about it.
In other words: Jesus Christ is a lifeline, so to speak, that God is all set to
throw to anyone and everyone for whom destiny in Hell is a foregone
conclusion.
● John 3:14-17 . . As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in him have
eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
The incident to which Christ referred is located at Num 21:5-9. Long story
short: Moses' people became weary of eating manna all the time at every
meal. But instead of courteously, and diplomatically, petitioning their divine
benefactor for a different diet, they became hostile and confrontational;
angrily demanding tastier food.
In response to their insolence, and their ingratitude for His providence; God
sent a swarm of deadly poisonous vipers among them; which began striking
people; and every strike was 100% fatal, no exceptions.
After a number of people died, the rest came to their senses and begged
Moses to intercede. In reply; The Lord instructed Moses to cobble a replica of
the vipers and hoist it up on a pole in plain view so that everyone dying from
snakebite could look to the image for relief.
The key issue here is that the replica was the only God-given remedy for the
people's bites-- not sacrifices and offerings, not tithing, not church
attendance, not scapulars, not confession, not holy days of obligation, not
the Sabbath, not the golden rule, not charity, not Bible study and/or Sunday
school, not self denial, not vows of poverty, not the Ten Commandments,
not one's religion of choice, no; not even prayers. The replica was it; nothing
else would suffice to save their lives.
As an allegory, Moses' replica indicates that Christ's crucifixion for the sins of
the world is the only God-given rescue from the wrath of God; and when
people accept it, then according to John 3:14-17 and John 5:24, they qualify
for safety. Those who reject his crucifixion as the only God-given rescue
from a fate worse than death, are already on the docket to face it.
● John 3:18 . .Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does
not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the
name of God's one and only Son.
» His son's "name" in this case is relative to Moses' replica of the deadly
snakes.
_