In Paul's letter to the Romans, he emphasizes the inevitability of divine judgment, highlighting that everyone will stand before God's judgment seat. > [!bible]+ [Romans 14:10-12 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/45/14/) > 10. Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11. for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. %% #Romans %% Paul references Isaiah 45:22, indicating that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, traditionally a declaration of God's sovereignty. > [!bible]+ [Isaiah 45:22 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/23/45/) > 22. “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. %% #Isaiah %% > 22 “Turn to me and be saved, > all the ends of the earth! > For I am God, and there is no other. > 23 By myself I have sworn; > from my mouth has gone out in righteousness > a word that shall not return: > ‘To me every knee shall bow, > every tongue shall swear allegiance.’<p style="text-align: right;"></p> However, in the New Testament context, this judgment role is attributed to Jesus Christ (John 5:22; Matthew 12:36; 16:27; 1 Peter 4:5; Acts 17:31). Paul aligns with this by stating in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that everyone must appear before Christ's judgment seat, indicating a direct correlation between Christ and divine judgment > [!bible]+ [2 Corinthians 5:10 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/47/5/) > 10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. %% #2Corinthians %% Furthermore, in Philippians 2:10, Paul adapts Isaiah's words, replacing "God" with "Jesus," signifying that Jesus holds the divine authority to judge and command universal submission. > [!bible]+ [Philippians 2:10 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/50/2/) > 10. so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, %% #Philippians %% In Romans 10:9-13, Paul clarifies that salvation requires acknowledging Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. He uses Old Testament references (Isaiah 28:16, 49:23; Joel 2:26-27), transforming them to apply to Jesus, thus equating calling on Jesus' name with calling on YHWH (the LORD) from the Old Testament. This equivalence is not just a matter of faith but also identifies Jesus with the God of Israel, implying that believing in Jesus is akin to acknowledging His divine status. > [!bible]+ [Romans 10:9-13 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/45/10/) > 9. because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” %% #Romans %% Not only did Paul transform the quotations from Isaiah in the verses 9-12, but defends that you must call on the name of Jesus using Joel 2:32; > [!bible]+ [Joel 2:32 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/29/2/) > 32. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls. %% #Joel %% Paul translates "???? - YHWH" to "?????? - Kyrios" or Lord in English, which is the same lord referred to in 9 and 12. Paul is clearly linking the belief in Jesus to calling on his name just as he did in Acts 16:31-34; > [!bible]+ [Acts 16:31-34 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/44/16/) > 31. And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. %% #Acts %% #### Jesus Was Tested By Israel In The Wilderness In the Book of Numbers, we read about the Israelites who, after speaking against God and Moses, were afflicted by venomous snakes. God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole; anyone bitten could look at it and live (Numbers 21:8-9). This event prefigures Christ's crucifixion, as highlighted by Jesus during His famous conversation to Nicodemus: > [!bible]+ [John 3:14-15 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/43/3/) > 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. %% #John %% The imagery and symbolism in John 3:14-15 encapsulates a profound triple meaning, intertwining judgment, salvation, and exaltation. - Firstly, the phrase "lifted up" directly refers to Jesus' physical elevation on the cross during His crucifixion. Just as the bronze serpent was raised on a pole, Jesus was raised on the cross. This act was not just a display of suffering but symbolized the lifting up of sin itself, embodying the weight and consequence of humanity's transgressions. - Secondly, the narrative carries a paradoxical message where the very element that brings death also brings life. In the wilderness, the snakes were the cause of death for the Israelites, yet looking upon the bronze serpent, the symbol of their affliction, brought healing and life. Similarly, sin, which brings spiritual death, finds its antidote in Christ. Though sin led to Jesus' death, His sacrifice becomes the source of life for believers. This dichotomy reflects a profound theological truth: through Jesus, what is deadly (sin) is transformed into the means of salvation. He took upon Himself the deadly consequence of sin, offering, in turn, life and redemption. - Lastly, the term "lifted up" signifies not only Jesus' physical elevation on the cross but also His subsequent resurrection and ascension into glory. Jesus was “lifted up” from the grave when God raised Him from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Jesus was “lifted up” from the earth and returned to heaven after His resurrection (Acts 1:9–14). And now Jesus is “lifted up” over every angel, authority, and power (1 Peter 3:22–23). He sits at the right hand of God the Father, above all creation (Ephesians 1:20–23). This ascent is not just a defeat but a triumph. In combining these three aspects—crucifixion, transformation of death into life, and exaltation—John 3:14-15 encapsulates the multifaceted dimension of Jesus' mission and identity. In this light, Jesus' statement to Nicodemus reveals the comprehensive scope of His mission: to offer salvation through His death, transform the very nature of human affliction into a source of divine healing, and to be exalted as the sovereign Lord over all. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-11, Paul draws lessons from the history of the Israelites during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. > [!bible]+ [1 Corinthians 10:1-11 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/46/10/) > 1. For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2. and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3. and all ate the same spiritual food, 4. and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8. We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10. nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. %% #1Corinthians %% He specifically mentions in verse 9 that the Israelites "tested Christ" and were destroyed by serpents. Although Paul does not directly mention the bronze serpent in this passage, his reference to the Israelites being punished by serpents links back to the Numbers 21 narrative. This statement retrospectively identifies Christ with YAHWEH, the God of the Old Testament, who was present with and guiding the Israelites. This identification is not trivial; it directly attributes the divine actions and authority of YAHWEH to Jesus Christ, thereby affirming His deity. Paul's understanding of Christ's deity, tied to this typology, is further elucidated in his letters. For instance, in 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul states: > [!bible]+ [2 Corinthians 5:21 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/47/5/) > 21. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. %% #2Corinthians %% Just as the bronze serpent became a symbol of sin and its cure, so Christ, who was sinless, became sin for us. Additionally, Paul makes more references in his letter to the Galatians 3:13: > [!bible]+ [Galatians 3:13 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/48/3/) > 13. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” — %% #Galatians %% The overarching message Paul delivers here is rich with Christological significance. The narrative from Numbers, reflected in Jesus' words in John 3:14-15 and echoed in Paul's teachings, presents a consistent, unfolding revelation of Christ's identity as God. Through these connected narratives, Paul asserts that Jesus, who was crucified and lifted up, was the same God who interacted with the Israelites. This reveals a profound truth about the nature of Christ, bridging the Old and New Testaments and affirming the deity of Jesus. Paul's teachings, especially when citing Old Testament scriptures and applying them to Jesus, emphasize the early Christian belief in the divinity of Jesus and His integral role in salvation and judgment.