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 I
have been asked to present some “simple study — like Jn.
3:16.” That is a reasonable request.
Beginning
with verse 14: Jesus compares his crucifixion to the lifting up
of the brass serpent by Moses. We learn from Num. 21 :4-9, that
when the Israelites failed to trust God they were bitten by
serpents, and died. When they confessed their sins and asked for
relief, God had Moses make a serpent of brass and place it upon
pole.. When a man was bitten, if he would look to the serpent he
would live. Jesus said he must be lifted up, “that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” The
reference is NOT to “lifting Him up” in our estimation. He
was first “lifted up” (on the cross) then we might
look to Him as our sacrifice.
‘Whosoever”
erases any idea of a limited atonement. Salvation is available
to all (1 Tim. 2:4-6 Titus 2:11-14), but only those who believe
in (i.e., put their trust in) Him will receive the offered
blessing. Jesus wants to be your Savior, but you must turn to
Him. (1 Tim. 4:10; Mk. 16:16).
“Believeth”
is not a momentary thing, done at some point in time and it is
accomplished. Faith (trust) is the base from which springs our
life in Christ. “In Him” is life, for He is its source and
maintainer. Another way to put it — we are lost in our sin
(the disease), and our only hope is to have our’ sins removed,
forgiven. Jesus died on the cross to pay the debt — so that
God could be both just and the justifier of those who will put
their trust in Him (the remedy).
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Bible
“faith” is not some experience, some “feeling” that
comes from God. It “cometh by hearing... the word of God”
(Rom. 10:17). First there must be the fact, then the witness,
then the witness records the fact, and finally — we hear and
believe the record. The record concerning Christ is such that to
truly believe it is to change our life accordingly. God’s word
is the sword of the Spirit. By it He enters, motivates, and
fills our life. And for those who thus receive Him, Christ
becomes our life.
To
one who understands the Bible use of “faith” it is almost a
redundancy (more words than are needed) to say one must obey the
Lord. James says “faith without works is dead” (Jas.
2:24-26). Faith which saves is a “faith which worketh by love”
(Gal. 5:6). But God says “obey” (Heb. 5:9; Rom. 2:6-11; Acts
2:38), often enough, and clear enough, that there is little
excuse for a Bible reader to think he will be saved by an
inactive faith.
“For
God so Loved...” Careful exegetes think Jesus’ statement
ends with vs. 15, and vs. l6-17 are John’s comments on what He
had said. If so, we are thankful to the Holy Spirit for such a
wonderful comment. He puts the salvation of man on the basis of
love, the love that flows from God toward creatures who had
rejected Him, a love so great that it manifested itself in
self-sacrifice, a love that came not to condemn but to save.
We
“should not perish...“ but love would be incomplete that did
not warn of the awful end awaiting those who stubbornly reject
God’s love.
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