Cure for our sins is by believing in Lord Jesus Christ

HELLO, and welcome to Thought for the Week. We’re approaching the time when we particularly think about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, so let’s think about a snake today. “Where’s the connection?” you may be wondering.

Well, in prediction the crucifixion, Jesus said: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

God had commanded Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole, then those Israelites with fatal snake bites were to look at the brass snake, and God would heal them. Similarly, we need to look to Jesus who was crucified, if we are to be saved, not from snake bites, but from our sins, and thus have eternal life.

Belief is implied in both cases. Israelites who didn’t believe God’s words via Moses wouldn’t bother looking at the brass snake, and the same thing applies to us and belief in Jesus.

On the cross, Jesus suffered the penalty due for the sins of all who believe in him. The bible says: “(Jesus) Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24).

‘The tree’ there refers to the cross. But if Jesus had remained dead, he’d be useless as a saviour. As the apostle Paul wrote to Christians in Corinth: “If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15:17&19).

Yes, both the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ are essential, indeed central, truths of Christianity. If you were suffering from a fatal snake bite, and you heard of a certain cure, would you ignore it? What about the cure for sin, the Lord Jesus Christ?

» David Lamb is a South Devon-based Baptist lay preacher.