Title: Standards of Faith
Contents
Subject: Standards of Faith
Bible text:
Numbers 21: 4-9 Bronze Copper (Bronze) Function of the Serpent
John 3:14-21 The God Who Loved the World
Numbers 21: 4-9 Bronze Copper (Bronze) Function of the Serpent
The text is about the murmuring of Israel. Twice about water (Numbers 15: 22-27, 17:1-7), once about food (Ex 16), and in Numbers, Israel, who accepted God's revelation at Mount Sinai, complained seven times through the wilderness journey in Numbers. (Numbers 11: 1-3 fire, 11: 4 greed-other races, 14: 4 let’s go back to Egypt (regret), 16: 19 Korah’s rebellion, 17: 12-13 go to the tabernacle of the Lord All perish and die, 20: 1-3 water-Meribah, 21: 4-9 road-brass serpent)
This text is the story of the faith journey toward the welfare of Canaan, which began without overcoming the lack of food and water in the early days of the wilderness. Israel began to complain about the promises and circumstances of Moses, the mediator who responded to the holy word of God. This pattern created a strong confrontation between Israel and God after the revelation of Mount Sinai. The text represents the culmination of this pattern. Even a repeating pattern didn't last long until the crisis could be discerned. Simplify the attitude of restless and impatient people, their complaints (v. 4). Verse 5 expresses their eating. Furthermore, verse 5 emphasizes Israel's complaints against Moses, including God, that provoke God's judgment in the midst of the fiery serpent. The Holy Judgment urged Israel to confess their sins, so that when the people of Israel gazed upon the structure of the brass serpent with healing power, God responded and had Moses mediate their atonement.
The text emphasizes two functions. First, the brass serpent is a response to Israel's sin of complaining. Therefore, the brass serpent with mythical character represents divine judgment. A poisonous venomous snake is literally a winged snake, translated as a fiery serpent or a six-winged mythical creature. Second, it is emphasized that the brass serpent is a six-winged creature or can catch and twist a snake with noxious venom to death. Therefore, the brass serpent exhibits the function of both divine healing and divine judgment. The nail snake with healing properties is a Nehushtan (The Nehushtan or Nehustan, Hebrew: ?????? or ?????????) with a long history, and has its roots in Jerusalem culture. This brass serpent was brought by Hezekiah (2 Kings).
The text should be viewed as a ransom for the function of slaves (servants) in Egypt. This ransom (restitution or recompense) was the first response to Israel's grumbling sin, and developed and marked as a holy judgment. The fundamental essence of the healing or healing expectation and reward psychology that can only be expected in this situation is obtained in a mixed situation. The function of the brass snake is only a symbol of the role of redemption.
John 3:14-21 God loved the world
In the text, Jesus is explaining the love of God together with Nicodemus. This explanation helps us understand worship.
The pattern in the text explains the three archetypes that change between Jesus and Nicodemus. First, Jesus proclaims the kingdom of God. Second, he creates and proclaims Nicodemus’ question about the biological concept of regeneration and other questions that confirm whether Jesus is spiritually born again. Third, Jesus proclaims the necessity of being born again as a condition for entering the kingdom of God. begins to make a final declaration on
Jesus' account of Nicodemus is concerned with Jesus' role in salvation. After Jesus' marvelous proclamation, Nicodemus does not respond. Jesus was the first to speak of the necessity of a holy spiritual birth. And he taught new believers about entering the kingdom of God. He taught that because of the love of God, God sent His own Son into the world. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the standard for salvation in the present work and person of Jesus. In the sending of Christ lies the crisis of God. The structure of this crisis divides a man from darkness to light, b from evil to truth, a' from unbelief to faith, and b' from protest against God and come to God's side. There is no middle ground. There is only the work and person of Jesus that is the standard for judgment and distinction among men.
We must learn that Jesus' death on the cross is the basis for salvation and brings us to God through faith in Jesus Christ. The primacy of faith is a necessary condition for certain regeneration in order to experience the saving grace. We must learn to live a life whose goal is to live in the truth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This life is inseparable from the cohesive power of a modified life (according to the revealed will of God in the teachings of Jesus Christ) and a modified faith (in Jesus Christ, the Son of God as the agent of salvation). In other words, orthodox doctrine is not the key to Christian existence. Rather, it is because the center of the real Christian is inseparable from the union of orthodox applications (habits) with orthodox doctrines.
If we see faith in different ways and forms, eternal life is a quality of existence, and it is a matter of a modified life and a life beginning in a modified faith with full anticipation of another life. Eternal life is manifested in the Christian life in the faith of Jesus Christ, which concretely guides all beings through God at work in Jesus Christ. Our reason for living has been renewed through faith in Jesus Christ. So we approach God's will and work. God's will is suffering to affect the transformation of our being, both in God's future and now. Our lives are bestowed in Jesus Christ through faith that holds us securely in God's own way as a sign of God's power and embraces us into Christ.
A declaration that uniquely treats the subject of eternal life is life after death in God's presence, but this life is God's own life and God's great gift to humanity. Eternal life through the cross of Christ is not limited to the future, but it equalizes the relationship of the flow of life. Eternal life is a thorough relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, bringing God's life into people's lives, now and forever.
This meaning must make clear what it means to the subject of systematic theology and by the Atonement of Jesus.