All New Testament Churches Must Exalt Jesus Christ Above All Else! Pt. 2

In our last post we looked at the primary mission of any New Testament church, which is to exalt the lord Jesus Christ high for all people to see. 

We now turn to the historical native of Israel wandering in the wilderness because Jesus connected His death on the cross to this narrative.

Complaining against God is a grievous sin. 

Numbers 21:4,5  And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5)  And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 

We know that the Hebrews murmured and complained often during the forty years that God led them in the wilderness. 

Think about this, because for forty years, their shoes did not wear out, and God lit their camp with a column of fire by night and smoke by day to guide them. He also gave them the bread of heaven (manna) and abundant water in the desert when needed. 

Jehovah provided for their many needs and protected them from their enemies for forty years! Therefore, it is astounding that the people would spend so much time complaining to Moses about God, even though He had proven Himself faithful and capable.

This account concerns their sin of having a complaining, discouraging spirit. If God be fore them, why would they become discouraged? Yet, believers today can also become discouraged and have a complaining spirit. 

They complained about a lack of water even though God gave them water on multiple occasions. They complained about the manna God gave them to eat each morning. They doubted that God could keep them alive in the wilderness.

Complaining against God is a sin that we must avoid. Our Father in heaven has given us all that we need, and more, in Christ. We should always have a rejoicing heart and a grateful spirit, because we would be destined for Hell, except that Jesus interposed Himself on the cross for us.

God will judge our sins and the wages of sin is death. 

Numbers 21:6,7  And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7)  Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 

Jehovah swiftly judged the Hebrews by sending fiery serpents who bit the people. Many people died. Divine judgment is always meant to cause people to know their sins, and understand that they have offended a holy God. 

The people ran to Moses and confessed that they had sinned by complaining against Jehovah, and they asked Moses to intercede for them, that they might be relieved from the deadly snake bites. 

Jehovah will make a provision for sinners to live by faith. 

Numbers 21:8,9  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9)  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. 

Jehovah could have instructed Moses to make a medicine containing the antidote to the deadly venom, but He did something  far different. He had Moses make a fiery serpent out of brass, and attach it to a high pole. 

The pole was placed in the center of the camp and the people were told it they wanted to live after being bitten, they must look at the brass serpent on the pole. 

Moses recorded what happened to all who were bitten by poisonous snakes. They looked at the brass serpent and they lived!

Jesus connects His cross death with this event!

John 3:14,15  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15)  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

We glory in the cross of Jesus Christ and Jesus said "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." He connected His cross with the brass serpent made by Moses. 

When the people were bitten by a poisonous serpent, they would die unless they looked at the brass serpent on a pole, lifted high for all to see. This is a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ and the cross. 

Jesus explained saving faith. All people are afflicted by the deadly bite of sin. All people who turn to Christ with repentance and believe in Jesus Christ, shall not perish. Instead of dying from the wages of sin, believers in Christ receive a new life and eternal life. 

All people have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. (See Romans 3). 

The gift of God is eternal life to all who turn to Jesus Christ with repentance for sins and faith in His saving work on the cross.

Only God can atone for sins. God was in Christ on the cross!

2 Corinthians 5:19-21  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20)  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

God was in Christ because Jesus and His Father are One (See John 10:30; 17:22). God was in Christ because God was manifest in the flesh, in order to be a man, yet fully God. 

This is the only way for Adam's sin and our personal sins to be purged (See 1 Timothy 3:14-16). 

God was in Christ through the virgin birth of Jesus, because God was His Father (See Luke 1:26-38).

Jesus and His Father are One!

John 10:28-30  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29)  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30)  I and my Father are one. 

Jesus is one with the Father in heaven. Thus, He told Philip that if you see Christ, you have seen the Father (See John 14:9). John's gospel begins by telling the Word (Jesus Christ) was God and is God, and that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (See John 1:1-18). 

Therefore, glory in the cross of Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthian 1:17,18  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Galatians 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Thoughts to Ponder...

Too many churches have compromised the gospel of Christ. 

Jesus said that pastors, teachers, lay leaders and parents must lift up the cross of Christ. 

Christ's cross is where God dealt a death blow to the Devil.

Christ's cross is where our sins were nailed.

Christ's cross is where Jesus died in our place, as God's perfect Lamb.

Christ's cross is the fulfillment of all the animal sacrifices found in the Old Testament.

Christ's cross must be central to all teaching and preaching. Believers should rejoice in the cross of Christ and all that comes with it, His death, burial, resurrection and ascension.

Do we lift up the cross of Christ and witness for Him?

Do we share the gospel by showing how the cross of Christ is the way to salvation?

Do we live our lives in submission to the Lord of glory who died to save us?

Let us have a renewed resolve to glory in the cross of Jesus Christ. If Jesus and His cross work is lifted up high for all to see, He will draw sinners to repentant faith in Himself.

Let us do what our Lord commanded us to do. Lift High the Cross!

Bob

Below is a link to Lift High The Cross hymn. It is a stirring hymn of our faith.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nGaT8QnYRE