Look to Jesus: The Simplicity of Salvation

Devotional

Day 1: The Source of Salvation Is God Alone

Salvation is not the result of human effort, wisdom, or religious systems, but is a gift that comes solely from God’s initiative and grace. No matter how much we try to earn our way to God—through good deeds, rituals, or traditions—our best efforts fall short. The story of the bronze serpent in the wilderness shows that the remedy for sin and death was not something anyone could have imagined or achieved; it was God’s idea, given freely to a helpless people. In the same way, Jesus came down from heaven to be our salvation, not because we could ascend to Him, but because He lovingly descended to us. Our hope and confidence rest in what God has done, not in what we can do. [22:17]

Numbers 21:8-9 (ESV)
And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Reflection: In what ways have you tried to earn God’s favor or salvation through your own efforts, and how can you surrender those attempts to trust in God’s grace alone today?

Day 2: The Simplicity of Salvation—Look and Live

God’s plan for salvation is astonishingly simple: look to Jesus in faith and live. Just as the Israelites only needed to look at the bronze serpent to be healed from the deadly venom, so we are called to look upon Christ crucified and believe in Him for eternal life. There is nothing to add, no extra work to perform, no ritual to complete—Jesus has finished the work on the cross. To try to add to what He has done is to misunderstand the depth of His sacrifice. The invitation is open to all, regardless of background or past, to simply look to Him and receive life. [29:47]

John 3:14-16 (ESV)
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Reflection: Is there something you feel you must do or add to what Jesus has done for you? What would it look like to rest in the finished work of Christ today?

Day 3: The Substance of Salvation—A Changed Life

True salvation is not just a change in status before God, but a transformation of life. When the Israelites looked at the bronze serpent, they were not only spared from death but completely healed—there was tangible evidence of their new life. In the same way, when we look to Jesus, He makes us new: our hearts, desires, and actions begin to change. The evidence of salvation is seen in a life that is different—one that seeks to follow Jesus, to love as He loves, and to walk in freedom from the old ways. If you have truly looked to Christ, your life will bear the marks of His grace. [42:04]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Reflection: What is one specific way your life has changed since you trusted in Jesus, and how can you share that testimony with someone this week?

Day 4: Faith Alone, Not Religion

God’s gift of salvation cannot be mixed with religious systems of do’s and don’ts; it is received by faith alone. The Israelites eventually turned the bronze serpent into an idol, missing the point of God’s grace and turning it into empty religion. We are warned not to fall into the trap of thinking that following rules or religious traditions can save us or make us right with God. Instead, we are called to break down every idol and trust in Christ alone, boasting only in what He has done. [45:22]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Reflection: Are there any religious habits or traditions you rely on for your sense of acceptance before God? How can you shift your trust fully to Christ’s finished work today?

Day 5: Looking to Jesus in Every Circumstance

Even after we have received salvation, life brings trials, discouragement, and moments when we feel helpless. In those times, the call remains the same: look to Jesus. Whether you are facing overwhelming challenges, heartbreak, or uncertainty, lift your eyes to the One who is your help and hope. Just one look to Him can change everything—He is present, He is able, and He promises to come again for you. Let your first response in trouble be to look up and remember who He is. [47:10]

Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV)
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel overwhelmed or helpless right now, and how can you intentionally “look up” to Jesus and invite His help today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we reflected on the story of Israel in the wilderness, when the people, discouraged and resentful, spoke against God and Moses. In response, God sent fiery serpents among them, and many died. Yet, in their desperation, the people pleaded for mercy, and God provided a surprising remedy: a bronze serpent lifted on a pole. Anyone bitten who looked at it would live. This act was not just a moment of healing for Israel, but a prophetic picture pointing forward to Jesus Christ, who would be lifted up on the cross so that all who look to Him in faith might be saved.

This story reveals the true source of salvation. It is not found in human wisdom, effort, or religious systems, but in God’s initiative and grace. Just as no Israelite could have imagined that looking at a bronze serpent would bring healing, so no one could have conceived that salvation would come through the crucifixion of the Son of God. The gospel is not about us ascending to God through our works, but about God descending to us in Christ, making a way where there was none.

The simplicity of salvation is striking. The Israelites were not told to perform rituals or pay penance; they were simply to look and live. In the same way, Jesus calls us to believe in Him—to look upon Him lifted up on the cross. The work is finished; nothing can be added to what Christ has done. To try to add to it is to misunderstand the cross and to insult the sufficiency of His sacrifice. Salvation is not about turning over a new leaf or making promises to do better; it is about looking to Jesus and trusting in His completed work.

Yet, this simplicity does not mean there is no substance. When the Israelites looked, they were truly healed—the fire of the venom was gone. Likewise, when we look to Christ, there is real transformation. The evidence of salvation is a changed life, a new heart, and a desire to follow Jesus. Grace and religion cannot be mixed; salvation is by faith alone, not by our works or religious observances. Even when we face trials, discouragement, or feel helpless, the call remains: look to Jesus. One look can change everything.

Key Takeaways

1. Salvation’s Source Is God Alone True salvation is never the product of human ingenuity, effort, or religious tradition. God’s way of rescue is always unexpected and beyond our own wisdom, as seen in the bronze serpent and ultimately in Christ’s cross. The gospel is not about us climbing up to God, but about God coming down to us in our helplessness, offering Himself as the only way. [21:32]
2. The Simplicity of Faith—Look and Live God’s remedy for the Israelites was astonishingly simple: look at the bronze serpent and live. In the same way, Jesus invites us to look to Him in faith for salvation. The work is finished; we are not called to add to it, but to trust in it. The simplicity of the gospel is a stumbling block to pride, but a doorway to life for the humble. [29:11]
3. The Substance of Salvation—A Changed Life When the Israelites looked at the bronze serpent, they were truly healed; the evidence was undeniable. Likewise, genuine faith in Christ brings real transformation—a new heart, new desires, and a new direction. If there is no change, we must ask if we have truly looked to Christ, for His salvation always brings newness of life. [36:32]
4. Grace and Religion Cannot Be Mixed God will not allow us to boast in our own efforts or mix grace with religious systems of do’s and don’ts. The story of the bronze serpent warns us against turning God’s gracious provision into empty ritual or idol. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone; to add anything is to lose everything. [44:20]
5. In Every Trial, Look to Jesus Whether facing the venom of sin or the fires of life’s trials, the call remains the same: look to Jesus. Even when we feel helpless or overwhelmed, one look to Christ brings hope, help, and the promise of His coming redemption. Our help comes from the Lord, and in every circumstance, He invites us to lift our eyes to Him. [47:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:59] - Israel’s Discouragement and Complaint
[02:52] - The Bronze Serpent: God’s Remedy
[03:56] - The People’s Repentance and Moses’ Intercession
[05:06] - God’s Picture of Salvation
[06:16] - Encounter with Jehovah’s Witnesses
[09:01] - The Centrality of Jesus in Salvation
[11:10] - Three Observations: Source, Simplicity, Substance
[12:21] - The Source of Salvation: God’s Initiative
[17:52] - The Futility of Human Effort
[20:32] - Religion vs. God’s Way
[21:32] - God Comes Down: The Gospel’s Distinction
[24:15] - Jesus: The Way, Not Just a Way
[27:38] - The Simplicity of Looking and Living
[29:11] - The Finished Work of Christ
[32:05] - The Cost of Salvation
[33:51] - The Meaning of the Serpent on the Pole
[36:32] - The Substance of a Changed Life
[42:04] - Testimony: Transformation by Saying Yes to Jesus
[44:20] - Grace Cannot Be Mixed with Religion
[45:22] - The Danger of Turning Grace into Religion
[47:10] - Looking to Jesus in Every Circumstance
[48:00] - Invitation to Look and Live

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Numbers 21:4-9 (ESV) — > 4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way.
> 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”
> 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
> 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
> 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”
> 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

John 3:13-15 (ESV) — > 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
> 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
> 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Observation Questions

What was the Israelites’ attitude toward God and Moses during their time in the wilderness, and how did they express it? ([01:59])
What specific instructions did God give Moses as a remedy for the snake bites, and what was required of the people to be healed? ([02:52])
According to Jesus in John 3, how does the story of the bronze serpent point forward to His own mission? ([14:00])
What was the immediate result for anyone who looked at the bronze serpent after being bitten? ([36:32])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chose such an unexpected and simple remedy (looking at a bronze serpent) instead of removing the snakes or asking for rituals? What does this reveal about God’s way of salvation? ([12:21])
In what ways does the story of the bronze serpent challenge the idea that salvation can be earned by human effort or religious activity? ([20:32])
The sermon says, “The gospel is that God came down to us.” How does this contrast with the way most religions or people think about getting right with God? ([21:32])
What does it mean that “the evidence of salvation is a changed life, a new heart, and a desire to follow Jesus”? How can someone know if they have truly “looked to Christ”? ([36:32])

Application Questions

The Israelites were told to simply “look and live.” Are there ways you try to add to what Jesus has done for you, either by your own efforts or religious routines? What would it look like to rest in the finished work of Christ this week? ([29:11])
The sermon warns against mixing grace with religion—turning God’s gift into a list of do’s and don’ts. Are there areas in your life where you’ve turned faith into a checklist or ritual? How can you return to simple trust in Jesus? ([44:20])
When you face discouragement, trials, or feel helpless, what is your first instinct? Do you “look to Jesus” or try to fix things on your own? Share a recent situation and how you responded. ([47:10])
The story of the bronze serpent was a public act—anyone could see who had looked and been healed. Is there evidence in your life that you have “looked to Christ”? What changes or fruit can others see? ([36:32])
The sermon shared a story about someone who thought being “good enough” would save them. Have you ever struggled with the idea that you need to be “good enough” for God? How does the message of “look and live” free you from that pressure? ([18:41])
Is there a specific area of your life where you feel stuck in old patterns or sin? What would it look like to bring that area to Jesus and trust Him for real change? ([36:32])
The call to “look to Jesus” is for every circumstance, not just for salvation but for daily living. What is one practical way you can remind yourself to look to Jesus this week when you face challenges? ([47:10])

Sermon Clips

``But the salvation of Jesus Christ, the core and the center of our faith, for he alone saves us, does not work from the bottom up. Salvation is from top down. Jesus says in John 3 verse 13, no one has ascended to heaven, heaven. But he who came down from heaven, that is the Son of Man. In this verse, Jesus reveals to us the source of salvation. And it goes against every religion in the world and every human thought and idea. With one sentence, Jesus rules out every religious system that teaches a man what he must do and that he can make himself ascend into heaven. No one, Jesus says, has ascended into heaven. But I've come down to you. The gospel is that God came down to us. And when he did in the person of Christ, he dwelt among us. He suffered with us, and he died for us. He came not only to provide a way into heaven, but that he himself would be the way. Amen. [00:21:06] (79 seconds) #SalvationFromAbove

Is it really though, is it really that simple to look upon him and live? We're talking about sinners, enemies of God, helpless in themselves, rebels against righteousness, disobedient children of wrath. We're talking about this kind of person, going from death to life. We're not in trouble of fiery serpents. No, much worse. We're in trouble of the fiery judgment of hell. How does a person go from the sentence of death to the certainty of eternal life? There must be more. There must be more we must do. There's something, there's got to be something that we have to add to what Jesus did, right? No, the Bible says, at the cross, Jesus said, it is finished, finished. All the work that needed to be done to save you and me, he did it, and he did it alone, and it was finished at the cross. [00:28:47] (69 seconds) #FinishedAtTheCross

For anyone to say, I see what Jesus did, I read about it, I heard it in today's sermon, but there's gotta be something I gotta add to this. Imagine that. What an insult to Jesus, who went through the mocking and the betrayal, the scourge, the spitting, stripping him naked and beating him to an inch of his life, carrying a cross until he just couldn't anymore, taking him to the top of the hill, nailing him to it, and what was worse, the full weight of the wrath of God was upon him. For someone to look at that and say, I think there's something more I have to add to that. That's an insult, an insult to Jesus, and that person does not understand the cross of Christ. Jesus took all the must -dos upon himself. He did it all. Amen. [00:29:57] (59 seconds) #NoAdditionsToGrace

Creation took the word of God, but salvation took the precious blood of the eternal Son and only begotten Son of God. That was not easy. That was not simple, to endure the pain and the punishment and the wrath of God for us. But because Jesus endured it all, he left us with the simplicity of looking upon him and being saved. [00:32:45] (29 seconds) #BloodOfTheEternalSon

Just as the Israelites saw that serpent and they saw their sin and the punishment of it, when we see Jesus crucified today, He's carrying my sin and yours. He took upon the punishment that I deserved. He died the death that I deserved to die. He died and now I live. Amen. [00:35:18] (22 seconds) #JesusTookOurPunishment

God has a very simple solution. Everyone who looks at it, He says, shall live. Salvation today has nothing to do with you just simply coming to God and saying, you know, God, how about I just make a new commitment? How about starting today, I'm going to turn a new leaf. I'm going to turn a new page. Starting today, God, I'm going to be a good person and I'm going to try to be good to other people. I'll try to be as perfect as I can. No such thing with God. God, if you were to say that, number one, you're going to fail at that job in about two minutes. You'll fail. Not only that, who gets to start a new page like that? You've got a whole debt of sin following you. You've lived your whole life of sin. What about that sin? [00:35:40] (53 seconds) #SalvationNotByWorks

In the same way we have a debt a large debt that we on our own can't afford to pay he can he has all you must do is look to him and be free of it amen today we are saved not in our working but in our looking to Jesus amen and anyone I keep remembering those VBS kids 20 of them young kids like they we saw today little children so simple that even those children could raise their hand and say I want to receive Jesus today that's how simple God has made it look upon me he says and you will live [00:37:33] (46 seconds) #SimpleFaithOfChildren

There is substance to our salvation there are things that happen many things that can be seen evidence that you have truly looked upon christ have you looked upon christ have you looked upon christ are you the same person now than you were before you did are you talking the same way thinking the same way are you still walking in the same direction or has things changed in your life can you truly say before god and all of us today yes lord what you said is true you have made all things new i'm brand new i'm healed i'm delivered set free and i follow jesus that's the life that he comes to bring [00:39:55] (52 seconds) #TransformedByFaith

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