If I must be “born again,” I may be born again, for God never commands an impossible thing. We have considered the manner and the means of the communication of the New Birth, it now remains to show how it may be secured. In the night interview of Nicodemus and Jesus, Jesus used three illustrations. (1) That of a BIRTH. (2) That of the “BRAZEN SERPENT.” (3) That of the WIND. We have explained the first, let us now consider the second.
“AS Moses lifted up the ‘Serpent’ in the Wilderness, even SO must the ‘Son of Man’ be lifted up.” Nicodemus being a “Master” in Israel knew well the incident of the “Brazen Serpent.” Numbers 21:4-9. He knew how that when the Children of Israel essayed to compass the land of Edom and became discouraged, that they murmured against Moses, and the Lord sent “Fiery Serpents,” and they bit the people and many died, and Moses was commanded to make a “Brazen Serpent” and put it on a pole, that whosoever looked upon it should be healed of the poisonous bite. The “Fiery Serpents” were a type of the Devil, and the “Brazen Serpent” was a type of Jesus lifted up upon the Cross to counteract and destroy the work of the Devil. From this we see that it is not Jesus as an example, but Jesus “lifted up” and CRUCIFIED that saves. The “Brazen Serpent” was “lifted up” that all Israel might see it, and Jesus was “lifted up” that all men might see HIM. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This He said, signifying what death he should die.” John 12:32-33. How forcibly that night interview must have been recalled to Nicodemus’ memory as he and Joseph of Arimathea bent over the body of Jesus preparing it for burial. I think I can hear Nicodemus say to Joseph, “Joseph, He told me it would be this way that night I visited Him at John’s house in Jerusalem and He explained to me how I might be born again. He said as Moses lifted up the ‘Brazen Serpent’ in the Wilderness so He must be lifted up, and now He has been ‘lifted up.’ Handle Him tenderly Joseph, for He is our Lord and Saviour.”
Let us study that Wilderness scene, for if we can grasp its lessons we will know the steps we must take to be saved.
1. The first thing necessary for an Israelite to know was that he was BITTEN.
Not until he felt the sting of the serpent’s bite would an Israelite feel concerned about his health. So the sinner has no concern about his spiritual health until he realizes that the “poison of sin” will desttroy his soul.
2. The second thing for an Israelite to know was that there was a GOD-PROVIDED REMEDY.
Now an Israelite might have been bitten and not have known about the “Brazen Serpent” and have perished for want of knowledge. So there are many who know that sin is destroying their lives but do not know of the way of deliverance. It is necessary that they learn in some way of God’s “provided remedy” for sin – JESUS.
3. The third thing for an Israelite to know was that the God-provided remedy was of no account UNTIL APPLIED.
If a bitten Israelite, knowing of the “Brazen Serpent,” refused to look at it he died. So the sinner, who, conscious of his sinful state, refuses to accept Christ as his Saviour will die in his sins.
We can imagine a bitten Israelite when asked to look at the “Brazen Serpent,” saying – “Oh! I have got no faith in that piece of brass. I will just try a poultice or drink this medicine that I have in the house.” So men and women today instead of looking to Christ, resort to man-made remedies to soothe the pangs of conscience, such as good works, penances, music, worldly entertainments, and religious fads.
We can imagine another bitten Israelite saying – “I will not have anything to do with the ‘Brazen Serpent’ until I know how it cures. I want to know the philosophy of the thing. If God had told us to rub the bitten place with a piece of brass in the form of a serpent, or to take a piece of brass and boil it with some herbs and make a medicine that we were to take, then I could understand the philosophy of the thing, but to simply look at a ‘Brazen Serpent’ on a pole that is all foolishness and I will perish before I do it.” So men and women argue today. They say, “I cannot understand the philosophy of the Atonement, and I will not accept the work of the Cross until you make it plain to my reason.”
Again we can imagine a bitten Israelite saying – “I will wait until tomorrow to see if I am not better, and if I am no better then I will go and have a look at the ‘Brazen Serpent’ to see whether there is anything in it.” So men and women today live in the hope that tomorrow there will be an improvement in their spiritual condition, and if not, they say they will have a “try” at religion.
Another bitten Israelite comparing his wound with that of his neighbor may have said, “My wound is not half as bad as my neighbor’s, so I will not do anything as long as he lives.” So men and women compare their spiritual condition with that of their neighbors and say, I am not as bad as they are and if they are saved I will be.” But comparing ourselves with others, or looking at the wound will not do, we must look to the REMEDY. It was not the “Brazen Serpent” that healed, it was the “LOOK OF FAITH.” It was because the bitten Israelites believed the “Promise of God” that a “LOOK” would save them, that they were saved. So it is not necessary for us to understand the philosophy of the “Plan of Salvation,” but simply believe what God has said that if we accept the “Crucified Christ” as our Saviour we shall be saved. Let us then take our eyes off of our neighbor, off of ourself, off of the Church, off of the ordinances, off of the Priest, and fix them on the “Cross of Calvary,” and accept the finished work of Christ.
The Israelites were shut up to the “Brazen Serpent,” so we are shut up to Christ. He is God’s only remedy for sin. There is no salvation in any other. Acts 4:12. As every bitten Israelite who refused to look at the “Brazen Serpent” died, so all who refuse to look to Christ for salvation—“shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the Presence of the Lord, and from the Glory of His Power.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.
