The Son Of Man Must Be Lifted Up

John 3:14-16,36 - Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life…Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

John 12:32 – And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Genesis 15:6 – Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Numbers 14:11 – The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?

John 1:7,12-13 – He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe…Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 5:24 – “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Acts 13:39 – Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

Acts 16:31 – They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Romans 10:9-10 – If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

1 John 5:1 – Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

John 20:31 – But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Application:

• ·         Christ will draw people to Himself, without regard for nationality, ethnic affiliation or status.
• ·         Although believers are also called “sons” of God, Jesus is God’s Son in a unique sense.
• ·         Eternal life is a present possession, not something the believer will only obtain later.
• ·         God graciously responds to faith by crediting righteousness to one who believes.
• ·         By refusing to believe in the Lord’s power, especially in view of all the wonders they had experienced, the people of Israel were holding Him in contempt.
• ·         People were not to believe “in” John the Baptist but “through” him. Similarly, John’s purpose was to draw them to believe in Christ.
• ·         Membership in God’s family is by grace alone—the gift of God. It is never a human achievement; yet the imparting of the gift is dependent on human reception of it, as the words “did receive” and “believed” make clear.
• ·         “Has crossed” means the decisive action has taken place, and the believer belongs no longer to the realm where death reigns supreme but to the realm of life.
• ·         “Justification” combines two aspects: (1) the forgiveness of sins; (2) the gift of righteousness.
• ·         “Believe in the Lord Jesus” is a concise statement of the way of salvation.
• ·         Christians believe not only that Jesus lived but also that He still lives.
• ·         Salvation involves inward belief as well as outward confession.
• ·         Faith in Jesus as the Messiah is a sign of being born again, just as love is.
• ·         His Name represents all that He is and stands for.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV