Snakebite: The Judgment of Sin and the Cross of Christ

Could you imagine living in a country during an epidemic that killed at least one-third of the population? This didn't just happen to one nation, but an entire continent. In the 14th century, the Black (Bubonic) Plague swept across Europe killing an estimated 75 million people. Some historians believe this may have totaled up to two-thirds of the population. It is said that sailing ships would run aground with all the crew dead because the Plague wiped out everyone on board.

If that situation sounds bad, we are all actually in a worse one. We just may not be aware of it. We are all infected with a deadly disease that will ultimately take our lives. This disease is called sin. This pandemic will not only claim our physical lives, but will also doom us in eternity if we don't receive the cure. This passage provides a clear picture of the disease we're all struggling with, and the remedy to ultimately cure the disease.

I. God judges all sin with DEATH

Numbers 21:4–9 ESV

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 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 we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

PEOPLE HAD BEEN SLAVES - HOW SOON THEY FORGOT.

COMPLAIN TO AND ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP (MOSES)

NOT ONLY MOSES - BUT SPOKE AGAINST GOD

YOU GOT US OUT HERE - WE DONT LIKE IT!

WHAT GOD PROVIDED - WE HATE IT.

YOU HAVE US OUT HERE TO DIE.

COMPLAINING IS SIN - DID YOU KNOW THAT?

IT REVEALS THE INNER PARTS OF THE HEART.

Matthew 15:18 ESV

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

THEY COULDNT SEE THAT GOD HAD SOMETHING BETTER

GOD ALWAYS HAS SOMETHING BETTER FOR HIS PEOPLE

YOU MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE WILDERNESS

GOD WILL DELIVER YOU TO THE PROMISED LAND

BUT WHEN OUR HEARTS TURN TO SIN - IT WILL BE JUDGED.

THE JUDGMENT FOR SIN IS DEATH.

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

GOD GET THEIR ATTENTION - SIN!

Numbers 21:6 ESV

Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.

THERE IS ALWAYS A PRICE FOR SIN.

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

SOMETIMES THE PRICE IS PAID -RIGHT NOW-

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO ALLOW SIN INTO HEAVEN

YES, GOD IS LOVE -

BUT GOD IS ALSO - JUST.

James 2:13 ESV

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

MAN IS SINFUL - FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

WHAT ABOUT THE SIN IN YOUR LIFE?

DO YOU TRIVIALIZE IT? MINIMIZE IT? JUSTIFY IT? EXCUSE IT?

GOD PROVIDED A CURE

Numbers 21:7–9 ESV

And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

AFTER REPENTANCE - ASKING FORGIVENESS COMES THE CURE

GOD MAKE A WAY TO RECONCILE SIN.

THE BRONZE SERPENT - ALL WHO LOOK ON IT WILL LIVE.

II. God cures all sin with the gospel

John 3:14–15 ESV

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

NICODEMUS COME TO JESUS AT NIGHT - HE WAS A RELIGIOUS LEADER.

HE WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD (SALVATION)

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

JESUS SAID - YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

Galatians 3:13 ESV

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE TODAY THAT NEED TO BE BORN AGAIN

YOU NEED TO ACCEPT GODS GIFT OF SALVATION.

JUST AS MOSES LIFTED THE SERPENT IN THE WILDERNESS - SO MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP.

WAS A FORESHADOWING OF CHRIST.

Galatians 3:13 ESV

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

SIN IS A SERPENT - SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD

THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS THE CURE.

JESUS BECAME THE CURSE FOR US. FOR YOU & ME.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THE OLD RUGGED CROSS THAT

I HAVE LIFE

I HAVE FREEDOM

I HAVE SALVATION

JESUS TOOK THE PAIN AND AGONY FOR ME

THE CURSE AND JUDGMENT OF THE WORLDS SIN WAS PLACED ON HIM

BECAUSE HE GAVE HIS LIFE - I HAVE LIFE.

MAKE TODAY THE DAY OF YOUR SALVATION!

- PERSONAL STORY.

LAZARUS - SICK - DIED - THEY CALLED FOR JESUS - HE DIDT COME

IDK WHERE THIS MESSAGE FINDS YOU TODAY

ALL I KNOW IS - I WAS LOST AND NOW I AM FOUND

I KNOW GRACE TOUCHED MY LIFE - AND I NEVER BE THE SAME.

MARY & MARTHA - LEFT IN WONDER - WHY?

YOU MAY BE WONDERING - WHERE IS JESUS IN MY STRUGGLES.

YOU HOLD ON - YOU KEEP THE FAITH.

HE HAS SOMETHING BETTER IN STORE FOR YOU.

JESUS SHOWED UP AND RAISED LAZ FROM THE DEAD.

TODAY CAN BE THE DAY YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

LOOK TO THE CROSS - LOOK TO CHRIST - HE WAITS WITH OPEN ARMS

In the year 1666, the Great Fire of London wiped out the homes of 70,000 citizens. It is said that the fire's blaze was so hot that it incinerated everything - even on the outskirts of the city. Nothing remained that was recognizable. This fire is believed to have stopped the Black Plague, which lasted around 300 years, by killing off the diseased fleas, rats, and people that carried the plague. It took a greater death of fire to stop the death of the disease.