Bible Truth FAQs
SNAKEBITE, SIN, AND BAPTISM
When
the Israelites spoke against God and against Moses in the wilderness, as
recorded in Numbers 21, God sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit
the people, and many died (verse 6). The Israelites realized their sin and
entreated Moses to pray unto God that he might take away the serpents. The Lord
said unto Moses (verse 8), "Make thee a fiery serpent and set it upon a
pole: and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh
upon it, shall live." God’s cure worked when the people believed and did
what he said.
Jesus
said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Peter
said, “Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).
Where
is the logic in repenting and being baptized for the remission of sins? There is
none. Where is the logic for looking at a brass snake to cure snakebite? There
is none. When men rely upon their
human logic to save from sins, they will die just as those Israelites who
refused God's illogical cure. The divine antidote for sin will work when men
believe it and obey it!!
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