-
†. 1Pet 3:15 . . Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks
you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
If someone were to walk up and ask me how to become a Christian, I would
first of all tell them about an incident that occurred in Israel's history many,
many years ago.
Long story short; at Num 21:5-9, Yhvh's people became weary 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
vipers 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 came to their senses and asked Moses to intercede.
In reply; The Lord instructed Moses to fashion an image of the vipers and
hoist it up on a pole in plain view so that everyone dying from venom could
look to the image for relief.
Now the key issue here is that the image 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 charity, not Bible study and Sunday school, not tithing, not
one's religion of choice, not self denial, not the so-called golden rule, not
vows of poverty, nor the Ten Commandments, nor door-to-door missionary
work, no; not even prayers. The image was it; there was no other hope.
Christ related that incident to his crucifixion.
†. John 3:14-18 . . Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have
eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
. . . For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but
to save the world through him. 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.
Ergo: just as the default status of the bite victims was certain death, so the
default status of all on earth is certain condemnation unless they look to
Christ's crucifixion as the only God-given hope of escape.
Viz: if somebody is thinking of becoming Christ's believing follower; that's
where they have to start.
=======================================
†. 1Pet 3:15 . . Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks
you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
If someone were to walk up and ask me how to become a Christian, I would
first of all tell them about an incident that occurred in Israel's history many,
many years ago.
Long story short; at Num 21:5-9, Yhvh's people became weary 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
vipers 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 came to their senses and asked Moses to intercede.
In reply; The Lord instructed Moses to fashion an image of the vipers and
hoist it up on a pole in plain view so that everyone dying from venom could
look to the image for relief.
Now the key issue here is that the image 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 charity, not Bible study and Sunday school, not tithing, not
one's religion of choice, not self denial, not the so-called golden rule, not
vows of poverty, nor the Ten Commandments, nor door-to-door missionary
work, no; not even prayers. The image was it; there was no other hope.
Christ related that incident to his crucifixion.
†. John 3:14-18 . . Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the
Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have
eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
. . . For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but
to save the world through him. 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.
Ergo: just as the default status of the bite victims was certain death, so the
default status of all on earth is certain condemnation unless they look to
Christ's crucifixion as the only God-given hope of escape.
Viz: if somebody is thinking of becoming Christ's believing follower; that's
where they have to start.
=======================================
