Jesus Christ is the best gift
God could ever give.
God so loved the sinful, lost,
depraved world that He gave His very best.
Can you imagine what it would
be like to reject what God considers to be His
greatest gift?
The purpose of God giving His
gift was to save men, not condemn them.
“God so loved the world that He
gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes on
Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John
3:16, NIV).
Who will be saved? Only those
who believe on Christ will be saved.
What about those who will not
believe? The Bible tells us Christ died for men.
But that does not automatically bring
salvation to anyone. No person is saved unless he or
she believes on Christ. To refuse God’s good gift is
to be judged already.
Who is already judged? “Whoever
does not believe stands condemned already because He
has not believed in the name of God’s one and only
Son” (v. 18, NIV). Those who do not believe on Jesus
Christ are already judged.
God’s purpose was not to judge
the world, even though it was worthy of judgment and
condemnation (Rom. 3:10-11; Isa. 53:6). Every one of
us stands condemned before God’s judgment because we
are guilty. We have broken His law. We have rejected
the light He has given us.
Man is already condemned
because of his sin. We are already under God’s
wrath. The emphasis in verse 18 is on the continuing
state of unbelief that results in a continuing state
of condemnation for the unbeliever.
The person who refuses to
believe is already under God’s wrath. Have you
believed in Jesus, or have you refused to believe
and are still in the category of one who stands
condemned by God?
In strong contrast John 3:18
says, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who
does not believe has been judged already, because he
has not believed in the name of the only begotten
Son of God” (NASB).
There are really only two
choices. Have you believed on Jesus Christ? Do you
believe that you are a sinner, condemned and under
the judgment of God? Do you believe that Jesus
Christ is God’s gift of salvation and that He died
for you? Have you asked Him to be your Savior?
The only other choice is to do
nothing. And if you choose to do nothing you remain
under judgment. “Whoever does not believe has been
judged already, because he has not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God.” “Whoever does
not believe stands condemned already because he has
not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Let's not fail to comprehend or
stress an important biblical truth that salvation is
for all who believe on Christ Jesus, but
condemnation and judgment is on all who do not
believe on Him. The consequences of that judgment
depends upon each individual's relationship with
Christ Jesus (John 3:16-21; 5:24).
Who will be the judge? God has
committed all judgment to Christ (5:22, 27). He goes
on to speak of Christ as judging (5:30; 8:16, 26) or
not judging (8:15, 16; 12:47), and of His word as
judging men (12:48). His judgment is just (5:30) and
it is true (8:16).
We are already under
condemnation because we are sinners. Sin has ruined
us. Moreover, John 3:19 tells us we are condemned
because we actually prefer sin to the light of God’s
righteousness in Jesus Christ. “Light” has come in
the person of Jesus Christ, but men and women have
turned from it. The bottom line is we really do not
want what God wants for us until the Holy Spirit
regenerates our heart.
What men and women do with
Christ Jesus now determines what will happen when
they stand before Him on judgment day.
Because sinful man would prefer
spiritual darkness, if you love the light, it is
only because God’s regenerating Spirit is working in
your heart. You can come out of darkness into the
light today if you will respond to the Holy Spirit’s
illuminating power and presence. To everyone who
believes on Christ, the Word of God says,
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation to those
who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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