Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

LIFE FOR A LOOK

1. Moses was directed to make a serpent of brass, and set it upon a pole:
2. That every one that was bitten, when he looked upon the brazen serpent, might live:
3. This fact shows that life and salvation are one and the same thing; life is salvation from death:

1. "Every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live":
   1. All have been bitten by that old serpent, the devil - Rom. 3:23; 5:12; 1 John 3:7-11
   2. God's offer of salvation includes the greatest possible number - 1 John 2:1-3; Rev. 22:17; 1 Tim. 2:5
   3. What a significant emblem of the cross of Calvary! John 6:44, 65; 12:32
   4. What a practical application of John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
2. Under the best possible guarantee:
   1. The serpent on the pole was no human devise. It was the divine method for recovery from the bite of the serpent -
      1. No one could reason out just how looking to the brazen serpent would save one from death.
      2. It shows again that God's way is not our way - Isa. 55:8, 9
   2. The plan of salvation is, for many, foolishness because the carnal mind does not receive the things of the Spirit - 1 Cor. 1:18-25
   3. God's guarantee is found in His word - Num. 23:19-21; Jas. 1:17
3. On the best or easiest possible terms:
   1. "Look unto me" - Isa. 45:22, 23
   2. "Behold the Lamb of God" - John 1:29
   3. "There is life in a look at the sacred cross."
   4. A look at the brass serpent was the easiest and yet the most difficult move to make by the bitten person.
      1. A look takes the least effort, as far as our physical action is concerned,
      2. But to believe that a look at the serpent would save the life of the suffering is very difficult, unless one sees in all this God directing sinners to exercise their faith in God's promise.

1. Our text shows that the mind, as well as the body, has eyes:
   1. We say, look at this fact; look at this or that historic person -
      1. Abraham saw the day of the Messiah and was glad; he did that with his spiritual eyes - John 8:56
      2. Moses saw the day when his people would triumph over their enemy - Heb. 11:24-28
   2. It is by beholding the incarnate Son of God that we are changed - 2 Cor. 3:17, 18
2. When we see Jesus:
   1. We see God manifested in the flesh - 1 Tim. 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:18-21
   2. We see God's love personified in His dear Son - 1 John 4:8; John 14:9
   3. We see our only hope for salvation - Acts 4:12
3. Note, please, these closing thoughts on our subject:
   1. God's love made full provision for all sinners - John 3:16
   2. If some sinners are lost, it is because they refused to look at the Lamb of God for their life - John 5:40