"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should no perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Nicodemus, blinded by his system of salvation by works, could not grasp the meaning of being born again. Jesus rebukes him for his lack of understanding, saying that he should have known from the Old Testament that it is only by faith that fallen man can be saved. He then illustrates His point by referring to a “type” in the Old Testament that prefigured Christ: the serpent in the wilderness. From this one account alone, Nicodemus—a teacher of the Scriptures—should have known that it is God alone who provides the way of salvation.
After God had freed the Israelites from the clutches of Egypt, the people began to grumble and complain because God had not provided the comforts they expected. To punish this stiff-necked people, God sent deadly serpents among them. As the Israelites lay dying around him, Moses interceded for the humbled Israelites. God provided a way of salvation, a way of healing from the deadly bites of the serpents. He told Moses to make a bronze serpent and to lift it up in public view. Those who looked upon the serpent and believed God would be healed and saved from physical death.
In the same way, Christ came to save not only the Jews but also people from every tribe and nation (this is what John meant when he wrote that God so loved the “world.” He loved not only the Jews but people in all nations). Like the serpent Christ would be lifted up, not only on the cross where He would die for our sins but also in His glory when He is exalted by the Father. Those who look upon Him, who have faith in Him, will be saved. Salvation, according to Jesus, is not a matter of keeping a set of rules, but it is trusting in the One whom God had sent to save His people.
There are a few things we need to notice in this proclamation of the Gospel. First, it is God who provides the way of salvation, and no other way is given except the Son. Second, death is inevitable unless one believes in Christ. Third, God is motivated to give up His only Son because of His enormous love for us. That love was great enough to justify killing His Son on our behalf. Lastly, not everyone is saved. Only those who have faith in Him, who believe in the One God has sent, will be saved.
Nicodemus believed that there was another way to salvation—through the performance of good works. How is this view of salvation reflected in our society today? Are you prepared to answer someone who asks how he or she can be saved? Make sure you can articulate this Gospel with confidence and clarity.
