Jesus met with Nicodemus and told him that, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved.” Jesus is showing Nicodemus and us God’s love that makes it possible for believers to not perish but have everlasting life. The love of God is the predominate theme of John 3:16-18. In that text, we noticed how “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” In the process of revealing the Father’s great love, Jesus gave encouragement for those who are condemned.
John 3:18 NKJV He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Condemnation is a two-sided thing.
First, it is the strong disapproval and declaration that a person is guilty and worthy of punishment or judgment. It is the legislative action of passing judgment on a person who has been found guilty of breaking the law. Sometimes condemnation comes from peers or associates when they feel a person does not meet their standards or expectations.
Second, condemnation is the feeling or sense of personal disapproval, failure, or unworthiness. This feeling is as a result of personal weakness, failure or sin. When we examine ourselves, we find we are lacking and fail to meet our own expectations. It may also be a personal sense of disappointment, criticism or rebuke.
Have you struggled with the feeling of condemnation or guilt?
That feeling gripped Adam and Eve in the garden after they had sinned. Genesis 3 shows that condemnation hit as soon as they ate the forbidden fruit that was in the midst of the garden. Their eyes were opened, they knew they were naked, and they tried to hide from God. Before God removed them from Eden, condemnation and a sense of unworthiness gripped their souls. They had walked in confidence in the presence of God. All of a sudden the holy presence of God made them ashamed and afraid, so they attempted to hide and cover-up. I see them walking away from the Garden of Eden with heads bowed low under the weight of their condemnation.
Have you felt like you had missed the mark and had not measured up? I have heard people say, “Don’t tell my spouse.” They knew they did something that their spouse did not approve, so they try to hide.
Jesus said: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already.” His statement goes beyond personal feelings. It has more to do with the condition we find ourselves in.
Without Christ and true faith in Him, we are condemned. The truth of the matter is whether we feel unworthy and condemned or not, without Christ we are condemned. No amount of self-justification or hiding can remove the fact that we are condemned.
Jesus is not just drawing our attention to the fact that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. He is revealing the way to escape condemnation. Jesus is offering a life and a lifestyle that is free from the burden and guilt of condemnation.
God’s purpose in sending His Son into this world was for salvation, not condemnation. God does not delight in the judgment and death of the wicked. The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is hope and salvation. That is why God gives warning to people.
Psalm 37:27-28 NKJV Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
Listen to God’s word that was given to Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 18:23 NIV Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
Ezekiel 18:32 NIV For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!
In John 3:15-16, we witnessed the love of God and the extensive measures He was willing to take to save us from condemnation. God’s heart’s desire is for everyone to be saved.
2 Peter 3:9-10 NIV84 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
In love, God made His great salvation available to all who put their faith and trust in the work of Jesus Christ. The only real solution for our condemnation is the finished work of Jesus Christ. Our faith looks to Christ’s cross and blood that cleanses us from all sin. That faith holds us steadfastly to the victory that Christ achieved when He led captivity captive.
The message of the Good News is that Christ’s victory addresses personal and legal condemnation. We do not have to live under the burden and shame of our guilt and sin. We have been set free. In Christ, the sinner is no longer facing the reprobation of the judgment that comes from our actions.
Without faith in Christ, we remain condemned in the darkness of our sins. This condemnation indicates that we are already judged because we are guilty. Condemnation is not something we choose. We are condemned already. Without Christ, we are condemned without remedy. God has given us the remedy for the judgment and condemnation.
Romans 8:1 NKJV There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
It is imperative for us to notice that Jesus Christ deals with the condemnation and the Holy Spirit enables us to walk (live) right. This is the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a new life.
John 3:18 NKJV He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Who is condemned? We need to know. The text says the believer is not condemned. The unbeliever stands condemned.
The importance of belief cannot be overstressed. Belief or faith in the Lord Jesus stays, prevents, arrests, and stops judgment or condemnation. The person who believes on Christ is acquitted as though he never sinned.
The believer is released. The person who believes on Christ is not to be captivated again by guilt, fear, bondage, or shame. The person who believes on Christ is not to be condemned. Everyone who believes on Christ will not be dealt with in judgment.
Mercy steps in where judgment should have been.
The believer is saved and justified through the Lord Jesus Christ. They are just as guilty as the unbeliever, for their actions have fallen short of God’s expectation and requirement. Faith and trust in Christ takes away the judgment and condemnation and lays it on the Lord. As a result, the believer is released from condemnation because they believe on Christ. Christ died in our place for our sins and became our substitute. Our penalty was laid upon Him and we are free. Saving faith is not just knowledge of what the Bible says about Jesus. It does not just believe the fact that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. It does not just believe historical record that Jesus Christ lived upon earth as the Savior. It does not just believe the words and claims of Jesus.
What is saving faith?
- Saving faith believes in Jesus.
- Saving faith believes who and what He is.
- Saving faith believes that Jesus is the Savior and Lord of life.
- Saving faith causes one to give and turn their life to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
- Saving faith causes one to trust Jesus as Savior and Lord.
- Saving faith is commitment and trust.
Romans 12:1-2 NKJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Saving faith is this commitment of one’s total being and life to Jesus Christ.
- It is a commitment of all that we are and have to Jesus.
- It gives or surrenders all to Jesus.
- It involves all the affairs of our lives.
- It trusts Jesus to take care of the past (sins).
- It trusts Jesus with the present (welfare).
- It trusts Jesus with the future (destiny).
Saving faith causes one to entrust their whole life, being and possessions into Jesus’ hands. If you really believe in Jesus, you will lay your whole self upon Jesus for keeping. You will confide in Him about your daily necessities. You will acknowledge Him in all the ways of life.
Proverbs 3:6 NKJV In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Follow Jesus in every area and detail of life and seek His instructions. When we do this, we can leave our welfare in His hands. That means we can trust and have faith in the Lord.
There are three steps involved in faith.
First, there is the step of seeing or hearing. We must be willing to listen or see.
Romans 10:17 NKJV So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The message of the Good News must be heard and received.
Second, there is the step of mental assent. We must mentally and intellectually agree that the message is true and valid. Romans 10:16-21 tells us this is the problem with many. They have heard the truth because the gospel message has been declared to the ends of the world. Hearing and knowing is not enough. Agreement does not lead to action. Many people know something is wrong or right and not make the proper adjustments. Many people are still under condemnation because they have heard but have not believed. We may know we should do something and not do it.
Third, is the step of commitment to take action on what we believe. Personal commitment to the truth is when: we hear the truth, agree that it is true, and then take action. This belief in the Lord Jesus Christ takes action and responds to what has been said.
Jesus said if we do not accept God’s remedy, we are already condemned. This is not something that we have to do in order to be condemned. We are condemned because we have been born into sin and iniquity. We are condemned if we do not take action. If we refuse to trust in Jesus, we are condemned.
John 3:19-21 NLT And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
Why do people love darkness?
Jesus said, “They love darkness for their actions were evil.” They love darkness because they want to hide, because they are condemned. They want to continue in their undisturbed evil deeds.
The difference in the believer is that they have confessed their sin and responded to God. Natural light reveals what is otherwise unseen. In the same way, Christ exposes our deeds. Everyone who does evil hates the light and loves darkness. They fear that the light will expose their worthless deeds. Light reveals how empty their actions are. Light exposes sin for what it really is.
John 3:21 NLT But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants.
What impact does love have on our actions?
First, God loved us so much that He was willing to take the condemnation of our actions and put it on His Son Jesus Christ. We were guilty, but the condemnation of our actions has been put on Christ Jesus. The Good News is that Jesus Christ was willing and able to take and bear away our sins. That is the love of God.
Second, when we accept that love and sacrifice by faith, we can trust God enough to come into His light. This impacts everything in life. We don’t live in condemnation but in peace and joy. We don’t live like the world. Our former shameful ways have been covered and atoned by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. We live by faith in Jesus Christ and His Word. Instead of living in condemnation, we live in confidence and peace. The Spirit of Life is working in us. We have boldness to live and take action.
