1 / 15

The Bronze Thing

The Bronze Thing. One piece of metal Three different uses. An Instrument To Save Nu.21:4-9. Basic facts. 1. Rabbis: God, not the snake, saved True: He saves, not bronze, but… this is a false choice. “He who turned toward it was saved, not by

colby-james
Download Presentation

The Bronze Thing

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Bronze Thing One piece of metal Three different uses • An Instrument To Save • Nu.21:4-9

  2. Basic facts 1. Rabbis: God, not the snake, saved True: He saves, not bronze, but… this is a false choice “He who turned toward it was saved, not by what he saw, but by thee, the Savior of all”

  3. 1. God, not the snake, saved 2. “No first aid book would recommend it” a. Human cure would get credit b. First aid book never produced a miracle or a Savior c. Those who looked, lived 3. “Illogical and foolish” a. “Test of faith” b. 1 Co.1

  4. Parallel tests of faith Blood on doorEx.12 Bloodsacrifice Lv.1-7 Water:sins Ac.2 Water: leprosy2 K.5 Water: sightJn.9

  5. What would false prophets do? An Israelite is dying of snake bite: 1. “Just believe; you can look later” 2. “A look nullifies God’s grace” 3. “A chariot could run over you” 4. “Hypocrites around the pole” 5. “Snakes are still here; you could be bitten again. Why bother?”

  6. An Instrument To Save • Nu.21:4-9 II. An Idol To Shatter2 K.18:4

  7. Fallen men make idols of nearly anything • Lord’s cross, burial cloth = relics • Bronze snake on pole: Highantiquity Undoubtedauthenticity Miraculouspowers

  8. Break it into pieces • “Such was the venom of the Israelitish idolatry, that the brazen serpent stung worse than the fiery” • “Piece of brass” degrades the idol; it is worse than worthless • “So Hezekiah had it turned from an object of false worship into scrap-metal”

  9. “What about baptism?” • “Doesn’t this passage illustrate the misuse of baptism (it’s the Lord who saves, not water)” • It refutes R. Catholic doctrine of baptismal regeneration • Does it refute NT teaching?

  10. Wrong emphasis on good things • Church buildings: Jn.4:24; Hb.10:25 • Pride • Maintenance • Emphasis • Misuse • Amulet

  11. An Instrument To Save • Nu.21:4-9 II. An Idol To Shatter2 K.18:4 III. An Illustration To SymbolizeJn.3:14-16

  12. Jesus was “lifted up” • Crucifixion, Jn.12:32 • Ascension, Ac.2:33 • Bronze must go through fire • Jesus went through judgment for us • Lk.12:49-50 (51-53) “Fire” Persecution SufferingCross “Water” Agony Mk.10:38 Cross

  13. Nature of saving faith (15): action Blessings of saving faith (Jn.3:16): • Love of God • World (Jn.12:32) • Gave only Son (v.14) • Believe (Nu.21, Father; Jn.3, Son) • Eternal life

  14. Why compare Jesus to deadly snake? (Gn.3; Rv.12) • Snake venom killed rebellious Israelites; sin, a rebellious world • God provided remedy. 2 Co.11:2 • Cure resembled disease. Stung by snake; healed by likeness (Ro.5; 8:3) • Bronze snake had no venom; Jesus was w/o spot or blemish (1 Pt.1:18-19)

  15. 1. Snake venom; sin2. God provided remedy3. Cure resembled disease4. Bronze snake had no venom, Jesus, no sin 5. Remedy is conspicuous (pole, cross) 6. Israelites who looked, lived; sinners look by faith 7. Both are stumbling-blocks to human reason. 1 Co.1:18… 8. Both were effective: “all” who looked… 9. Both were only way to be saved

More Related