The Security Of The Believer
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Certainly, I can continue the passage for you. The verses you provided are from John 3:13-18, which includes a foundational statement by Jesus about the purpose of His coming and the means of salvation through belief in Him.
Continuing from where you left off:
John 3:18-21 (NKJV): "18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
These verses further emphasize the role of belief in Christ for salvation. Those who believe are not condemned, but those who do not believe are already in a state of condemnation. The passage also highlights the contrast between light and darkness, portraying Jesus as the light that has come into the world.
Continuing from where you left off:
John 3:18-21 (NKJV): "18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
These verses further emphasize the role of belief in Christ for salvation. Those who believe are not condemned, but those who do not believe are already in a state of condemnation. The passage also highlights the contrast between light and darkness, portraying Jesus as the light that has come into the world.
So lets look at the story Jesus mentioned.
Moses and the serpent.
The children of Israel were bitten. And because of those bites. they were condemned to death.
Jesus told Moses to make the serpent and lift it up.
Those who looked were saved, Those who did not. suffered the condemnation they already had (they died)
So where the people born again (condemnation removed) and then looked. Or were they born again (lived), because in faith. they trusted God and looked?
Moses and the serpent.
The children of Israel were bitten. And because of those bites. they were condemned to death.
Jesus told Moses to make the serpent and lift it up.
Those who looked were saved, Those who did not. suffered the condemnation they already had (they died)
So where the people born again (condemnation removed) and then looked. Or were they born again (lived), because in faith. they trusted God and looked?
In the story you're referring to, found in the Old Testament in the book of Numbers 21:4-9, the Israelites were indeed bitten by poisonous snakes as a consequence of their sin, and many were dying. God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Those who were bitten could look at the serpent, and if they did so in faith, they would be healed and spared from death.
From a Reformed theological perspective, this narrative is often used as an illustration, particularly by Jesus in the New Testament, to convey spiritual truths. In John 3:14-15 (ESV), Jesus makes a reference to this event:
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
In this analogy, Jesus likens Himself to the serpent lifted up on the pole. The focus is on faith—those who looked at the bronze serpent in the Old Testament were saved, not because of any inherent power in the serpent but because they acted in faith and obedience to God's instruction.
Applying this to the question of being born again, in Reformed theology, the emphasis is on faith as the means by which individuals receive the benefits of Christ's redemptive work. It's not that looking at the serpent (or believing in Christ in the New Testament context) causes one to be born again but rather that faith is the response that leads to salvation.
So, in the Reformed view, individuals were born again (spiritually healed and saved) when they looked at the serpent in faith, trusting in God's provision for their healing. Similarly, in the New Testament, people are born again when they place their faith in Jesus Christ, who was "lifted up" on the cross for their salvation. Faith is the instrument through which individuals receive the benefits of being born again.-ai
From a Reformed theological perspective, this narrative is often used as an illustration, particularly by Jesus in the New Testament, to convey spiritual truths. In John 3:14-15 (ESV), Jesus makes a reference to this event:
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
In this analogy, Jesus likens Himself to the serpent lifted up on the pole. The focus is on faith—those who looked at the bronze serpent in the Old Testament were saved, not because of any inherent power in the serpent but because they acted in faith and obedience to God's instruction.
Applying this to the question of being born again, in Reformed theology, the emphasis is on faith as the means by which individuals receive the benefits of Christ's redemptive work. It's not that looking at the serpent (or believing in Christ in the New Testament context) causes one to be born again but rather that faith is the response that leads to salvation.
So, in the Reformed view, individuals were born again (spiritually healed and saved) when they looked at the serpent in faith, trusting in God's provision for their healing. Similarly, in the New Testament, people are born again when they place their faith in Jesus Christ, who was "lifted up" on the cross for their salvation. Faith is the instrument through which individuals receive the benefits of being born again.-ai
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Just for the sake of conversation lets assume the following occurs:
- You are a Christian
- You have repented and confessed you are a sinner and have put your trust in Christ only for the forgiveness of your sins. You have been accepted by GOD as a born again Christian!
- You are driving down a two lane road are are in the process of passing the car just ahead of you.
- It's a beautiful Red Corvette and you think to yourself, “Gee that's a nice car. I wish it was mine”.
- In thee processing of doing this you cause a head-on collision with a car coming in the opposite direction and are instantly killed. You are killed while coveting what belongs to your neighbor.
- Do you therefore go to hell?