“If I Be Lifted Up”

I. Introduction: John 12:27-33

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: Numbers 21:4-9

A. Jesus knew that he would not be imprisoned, beaten then released, or beheaded—he would be crucified.

B. In a symbolic sense, Jesus would be lifted up over all men so that they would have to see and make a judgment about Him.

C. Some see Jesus as a man who was a victim of circumstances. Some see a radical who was killed because He fought the status quo. Some see a misguided, confused, but brilliant man killed by ignorance. Some glance at His sacrifice then go about their business. We should see the Son of God who came to live as a man and willingly died to provide salvation to all who seek it through Him.

II. “I will draw all men to myself”

A. He stands apart from the great moral teachers because He sacrificed Himself to give eternal life to His followers

B. If He were just a great moral teacher we probably would not be so fascinated with Him If He were a great teacher who could perform great signs and wonders that His enemies could not deny, we would probably be more curious. We cannot ignore that He who embodied and spoke truth and was shown to be God’s Son by many signs and wonders died on a cross for the express purpose of saving us from eternal destruction.

C. He died for us

D. Abraham did not die for the Jews Mohammed did not die for the Muslims Buddha did not die for his followers

E. How can one not be drawn to someone who sacrifices His life to save them?

III. “Whoever believes should have eternal life”

A. John 3:14-17 – Jesus lifted up to bring salvation

B. Numbers 21:4-9 – Story of Moses and the bronze serpent

C. The people were frustrated and unthankful for the bread God provided. God sent poisonous serpents to kill many people of Israel. The people cried out for forgiveness and relief from God’s punishment. God told Moses to make a serpent out of bronze and put it on a pole. Whoever looked on the bronze serpent would be healed. There is nothing that links looking on a bronze serpent and cleaning the body of snake poison—it is obedience to God’s will that saved them.

D. Jesus used this story to illustrate salvation though His crucifixion

E. We are poisoned by sin and iniquity Jesus was raised up on a cross for salvation We look to Christ to have that poison removed

F. When we believe on Jesus, we will not perish but have everlasting life

G. What does it mean to believe?

H. John 3 describes several things that link to salvation

I. John 3:5 – Born of water and Spirit to enter the kingdom

J. New birth is through baptism in water and is given life in the Spirit Romans 6:3-4 – Die through baptism to gain new life Ephesians 5:25-27 – washing of the water by the word1 Peter 1:23-25 – born again through the word So one dies to sin and is baptized by the command of the word in order to gain a new life in Jesus. Just like the bronze serpent, there is no obvious link between baptism and the new birth—it is through obedience through faith.

K. John 3:18-21 – Believe and do the works of light

L. Acts 16:25-31 – “What must I do to be saved?”

M. Jailer was told to believe and be saved They had to teach the jailer the gospel The jailer showed repentance by washing their stripes The jailer and his family were baptized immediately The jailer and his family rejoiced having believed Belief included the response of repentance and baptism (notice that confessing Jesus was not mentioned in this passage) James 2:14-26 – Faith w/o works is dead Doug Focht wrote in a sermon on this subject: “Deeds, or Works, which are a result of or a response to faith are not distinguished from faith itself; they are rather a significant part of faith. Salvation is not less God’s grace just because he attached conditions to it. The acceptance and compliance with those conditions from the heart are never referred to as ‘works of law.’ They are not the kind of ‘works’to which Paul refers in his epistles.”

IV. Jesus has been lifted up, how will you respond?

A. Every person has the poison of sin that they cannot remove themselves

B. Jesus died on the cross to satisfy the penalty of death due for our sin

C. Look upon Jesus and be saved from your sins and gain eternal life