1.   I would like to speak this morning on the subject of “true religion.”   The word “religion” can mean many different things to many different people.

2.   There are many people who are “religious” but they are not saved.  I hope by the time I am finished this morning every one in this room will understand the difference.

3.   In Acts 26:5 the apostle Paul testifies that he was a strict religionist before he was saved.

4.   Noah Webster’s 1828 English dictionary gives four definitions for the word “religion,” and the first three all pertain to the Christian religion:

(1) Religion, in its most comprehensive sense, includes a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of his will to man, in man's obligation to obey his commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and in man's accountableness to God; and also true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties. It therefore comprehends theology, as a system of doctrines or principles, as well as practical piety; for the practice of moral duties without a belief in a divine lawgiver, and without reference to his will or commands, is not religion.

(2) Religion, as distinct from theology, is godliness or real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men, in obedience to divine command, or from love to God and his law (cf.  James 1:26, 27).

(3) Religion, as distinct from virtue, or morality, consists in the performance of the duties we owe directly to God, from a principle of obedience to his will. Hence we often speak of religion and virtue, as different branches of one system, or the duties of the first and second tables of the law.

Let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.

(4) Any system of faith and worship. In this sense, religion comprehends the belief and worship of pagans and Mohammedans, as well as of Christians; any religion consisting in the belief of a superior power or powers governing the world, and in the worship of such power or powers. Thus we speak of the religion of the Turks, of the Hindoos, of the Indians, &c. as well as of the Christian religion. We speak of false religion, as well as of true religion.

I. SALVATION IS MORE THAN RELIGION (NUM. 21:5-9).

1.    Notice that the people of Israel were complaining and griping.  They sinned in two ways: by speaking against God (21:5), and against Moses, God’s appointed leader (21:5).

2.    Sin always brings God’s judgment (Num. 21:6).

·        “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezek. 18:4).

·        “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

·        “And sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15).

3.    The fiery serpents that the Lord sent among the people symbolize the fact that the venom of sin in fallen humanity is Satanic in origin (vs. 6).

4.    The word “sin” begins with the hiss of the serpent – sssssin, sssserpent, sssssatan.

5.    The devil came to Eve in the form of a serpent (cf. Gen. 3:1, 14, 15; Rev. 12:9).

6.    Many worldly people like to play with snakes.  I have seen pictures in the papers of people with snakes wrapped around them – that is a vivid picture of the deluded sinner being slowly choked to death by sin!

7.    Sin is like a burning snake bite, and if not dealt with, will lead to death (vs. 6).  The physical death of the Israelites foreshadows spiritual death.  The Book of Revelation speaks of “the second death” (Rev. 20:6, 14), i.e. eternal separation from God, eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

8.    When sinners reject the will of God, then the judgment of God must follow.  But when sinners repent, God is gracious (vs. 7).

9.    Once the people said, “We have sinned…” (vs. 7), help was on the way.  Perhaps there is someone here today who needs to get right with God.  Admit this to God.  Tell Him, “I have sinned.”  He will save you if you mean business.

10. The serpent was the instrument of their judgment and now it was the instrument of their blessing (vs. 8).

11. A question immediately comes to mind: If the serpent is a picture of sin and suffering and even of the devil himself, how can it be a picture and type of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:14)?

12. The answer is this: Christ was “made a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13; cf. II Cor. 5:21).

13. The entire human race has felt the serpent’s deadly sting; but God in His grace and mercy has provided the perfect remedy – He has sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins (cf. John 3:14-18).

14. Notice that the serpent was to be made of brass.  In the Bible, brass always symbolizes judgment.  When the apostle John saw the Lord Jesus Christ on the Isle of Patmos, he wrote in Revelation 1:14 and 15:

15. “His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.”

16. Notice that the serpent had to be lifted up on a pole (vss. 8, 9).  It was not effective in Moses’ hand, or on some pedestal or platform – it had to be lifted up (cf. John 3:14; 8:28; 12:31-36).

17. Let me give you seven characteristics of the serpent of brass, and then seven characteristics of the people:

(1) As I have said, the serpent had to be lifted up (cf. John 12:32, 33).

(2) God’s grace was manifested.  God could have let them all die there in the wilderness.  They deserved to die.  All of us deserve to die and go to hell because of our wicked sins.

(3) It is a beautiful picture of the Gospel.  Way back before God created this world, the Lord Jesus Christ was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8).

(4) Everyone who looked was saved.  There was no other way to be saved but by faith.  These were God’s instructions: if they looked, they would live.  Snakebite medicine could not help them.

(5) It was a free remedy.  It did not cost them anything to just look and live.  They might not have understood all there is to know about sin and judgment and salvation, but they knew how to look and live!

(6) “Everyone” had an opportunity to look and live.  The Bible says, “and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live” (Num. 21:8b).  And then we read, “that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived” (Num. 21:9b).  And our Lord said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14, 15).

(7) It was easy and simple – “look and live.”  Some people try and make salvation complicated.  Salvation is not complicated.  Salvation is not by works.  Salvation is not by baptism.  Salvation is not a process – you get saved the moment you look to Jesus as your only hope.  Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a religious young man but was not saved.  Then a simple lay preacher challenged him by saying, “Young man, look to Jesus Christ and be saved.”  And he did.  Unsaved friend, how about you?

17. I just gave seven characteristics of the serpent; please allow me to quickly give you seven characteristics of the people:

(1) They were undeserving.

(2) They were rebellious (Num. 21:5).

(3) They were stubborn.

(4) They were poisoned by the serpents.

(5) They were miserable and dying.

(6) They were helpless.

(7) They were hopeless.

18.  Do you recognize yourself? 

19.  Salvation is provided when one recognizes that he is undeserving, rebellious, stubborn, etc.

20.  Salvation is provided when you look to Jesus Christ, not a crucifix, not a statue, not a church, etc.

II. OFTENTIMES RELIGIOUS PEOPLE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE SIMPLICITY OF SALVATION (JOHN 3)

1.     Nicodemus was a “ruler of the Jews” (3:1) but he was not saved.  He needed to be born again (3:3).

2.     Nicodemus was thinking only in the physical realm, not the spiritual realm (3:4-10).

3.     There are millions of church members who have never been born again.

III. OFTENTIMES RELIGION LEADS TO RITUALISM AND EVEN IDOLATRY

1.     Some churches have substituted baptism for regeneration.  Baptism must follow conversion (John 3:16; Acts 8:26-38).

2.     Some have turned the Lord’s Supper into transubstantiation.

3.     Some have substituted sacraments for salvation.

4.     Some have replaced the simplicity of the Gospel with rituals, candles, incense, icons, fancy robes and costumes, elaborate liturgies and many other unscriptural inventions (cf. II Kings 18:4).

5.     The Israelites were burning incense to the brazen serpent that Moses had made (II Kings 18:4).  This tells us that the idolatrous RC practice of worshipping “relics” goes way back to OT times.

6.     There are RC churches all over Europe that claim to possess pieces of our Lord’s crown of thorns.  There are RC churches all over the world that claim to possess pieces of our Lord’s cross.

7.     If we were to collect all of these thorns we would have a thorn hedge several miles long.

8.     One preacher said that if you were to collect all of the pieces that were allegedly part of our Lord’s cross you would have enough wood to build a big battleship.

9.     Let us beware of idolatry and ritualism.  The Bible says we are to walk by faith, not by sight.

CONCLUSION:

1.    In the Bodleian Library at Oxford University in England, there is a fascinating picture of Moses and the brass serpent.

2.    In the picture you can see a man kneeling and looking at Moses.  He continues to writhe in pain.  Since he is looking at Moses instead of the serpent, he will die.

3.    There is another man lying on the ground with a serpent at his ear whispering words of comfort and consolation.  This poor dupe is slowly and surely dying of the snakebite.

4.    Another man can be seen busy binding up the wounds of a friend. They will not look at the brass serpent, they think they can heal themselves.  They don’t realize that in a few minutes they will both be dead.

5.    Another man is fighting a serpent with all his might, apparently he believes in salvation by will power, human strength and determination.

6.    Moses is prominent in the picture, and back of him there is a man with a calm, peaceful look on his face.  He is looking at the serpent of brass – not at himself, not at Moses, not at the others, not at the fiery serpents – but he is doing what he was told to do – he is looking at the brass serpent.  He believed God’s Word and He lived.

7.    This morning, are you looking up at the Lord Jesus Christ?  Are you trusting in Him and Him alone?  Do you see Him high and lifted up on the cross for your sins?  If so, look and live!