Ever tried to out-good your flaws and still felt the weight won’t lift? We take a hard but hopeful look at why works can’t heal what’s broken in us and how John 3 reframes belief as surrender, not sentiment. From Nicodemus’ questions to the shocking link between the bronze serpent in Numbers 21 and the cross, we trace the thread that runs through Scripture: He who knew no sin became sin for us so we could become new.

We dig into the difference between condemnation and conviction, and why Jesus came first to save, not to condemn. The light exposes, but it also heals. That’s why hiding never frees us, and why looking to the One lifted up changes everything. We unpack how trust moves from “I think this is true” to “I commit my life,” how the Spirit seals and empowers, and how new birth breaks the power of sin. Along the way, John the Baptist models a liberated heart: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Calling becomes gift, not grind. Joy replaces jealousy. Repentance turns from self-effort to the Savior who actually cures.

If theology has felt abstract, this conversation makes it tangible. You’ll hear how ancient signs point straight to Jesus, how faith reshapes identity and ambition, and how stepping into the light becomes the doorway to life. We close by lifting our eyes to Christ’s authority, the Father’s love, and the Spirit given without measure—real hope for real people who are done pretending and ready to live.

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Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com.