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SELAH! Pause - reflect- just think of that!

Selah Alphabetical Index

Faith’s Results: Justification

The person who believes in Jesus Christ is not judged, however he who does not believe is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18).

This powerful statement on salvation by faith in Jesus Christ indicates the unbeliever is in a continuing state of condemnation because he has not put his faith in Christ. He has refused to enter into a state of belief in Christ.

The person who puts his trust in Christ is not being judged. His judgment for the penalty of sin has already taken place. However, the person who is not believing has been judged already and is under judgment. The reason for this judgment is he has not put his trust in the name of the uniquely-begotten Son of God. He is in a state of unbelief.

Putting your trust in Jesus Christ removes condemnation because He takes our place and pays the penalty for sin for all who put their sin problem in His hands (Romans 8:32f).

The apostle John states the saving truth very clearly. The person who puts his faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior does not come into judgment. Jesus said emphatically, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).

Judgment has already been passed on the person who refuses to trust in Christ as his Savior.

The unbeliever already stands condemned. The believer in Jesus Christ on the other hand, is under “no condemnation” (Romans 8:1). He “will not be condemned” (John 5:24).

What must you do to be condemned? Nothing. What must you do to be lost? Nothing. “He who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18b).

The opposite is also true. “He who believes in Him [Jesus Christ] is not judged” (v. 18a). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved” is the simple truth of the saving Gospel.

You cannot be lost by trusting in Christ Jesus, but you are lost if you do not put your trust in Him. When God saves you, it is not because of anything you do or any virtue you possess.

“He that believes is not condemned.” The moment you believe on Christ you are not condemned because you are justified. The judgment and condemnation are removed. That will be just as true a million years from now. The person who believes on Christ never shall be condemned again. It is removed once and for all. He has a new relationship and standing before God. “He who believes in Him is not judged.” Why? Because “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.”

The moment a person puts his faith in Christ he is freed from all condemnation—past, present and future. From that moment he stands in God’s sight as though he were without sin. All of his guilt has been taken from him and placed on Christ. The Lamb of God has lifted up and carried away all of our sins! Since that is true our sins cannot be on Him and on us at the same time. Since all the believer’s sins are on Christ the believer has been set free, acquitted, and justified. Because his sins are on Christ they are gone away forever “as far as the east is from the west.” They are blotted out; they are removed from us forever. He cast them into the depths of the sea. They are forever under the blood of Jesus.

If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ to save you, God no longer sees you as a sinner, but as a saint. He accepts you as though you were perfect. The righteousness of Jesus Christ is yours because of the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. God imputed your sins on Christ, and He imputed the righteousness of Jesus Christ to you when you believed on Christ as your Savior (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006