Posted on 03/16/2012 12:28:22 PM PDT by pastorbillrandles
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. ( John 3:18-20)
In John chapter three, Jesus tells us that he didn’t come into the world to “condemn the world”. He didn’t have to, for the world, which rejects the Father and “His only begotten Son” was and is already condemned. All men are continuously condemned by God’s law, as well as by their consciences which tell them, that they are not right with God.
All men carry in themselves some sense of a share in the shame and guilt of the human race. This is the reason why religion is an inescapable aspect of life. Condemnation is the inner knowledge of a deep and personal sense of failure to live up to a standard. Much of what are currently considered to be “psychological problems” are outcomes of condemnation.
All men know in their hearts that they don’t measure up, that they are sinners and fall short of what they were created for. Condemnation lies behind the fear of death also, for there is a universally instinctive knowledge that men have about death. Men know that death isn’t really natural, and that it is a punishment that it has to do with judgment.
Men also share universally a sense that there is something exalted about man, not only do we all share in the shame of Adam, but that we share in the “Image of God” in which we were created. But this amplifies our condemnation, because we know we are not mere animals, following instinct, but reasoning and responsible moral agents, who must give account of our actions. We have shattered and distorted the “Image of God“.
Thus, “he that believes not is condemned already. Jesus didn’t have to condemn the world, although his coming does intensify the already present condemning effect.
This is because Jesus’ coming was and is as a light that reveals everything else in its true light, and causes all that is false to be seen for what it really is. For example, the “Pharisees” and “Sadducees” pretended to be ‘Holy men of God’, presenting themselves to the people of the land as truly pious, God-fearing worshippers.
But with the coming of Jesus, true Holiness and piety was revealed to everybody. In Him, we see what it means to be a “Father pleaser”, a “lover of God”, true devotion to God, and what it really means to believe and follow the law of God. What does it mean to truly ‘fear God? It means nothing less than to live as Jesus lived.
Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. (I John 2:8)
The effect of the life of Jesus, then and now, was to cause the fake holiness and piety of Pharisees and Sadducees to be seen for the shallow hypocrisy that it was and is. With the coming of Jesus, religious pretense was no longer possible. Self deceit, and hypocrisy; ie pretending not to be what you are, or to be what you are not, becomes impossible in the light of Jesus.
There can be no neutrality, for Jesus compels a choice. God cannot be known outside of Jesus. There can be no real ‘holiness’ apart from Him. People are compelled to either be for or against Jesus and his word. This is the meaning of the word,b> “Crisis”, which is the root of the word for “condemnation”.
An encounter with Jesus forces a crisis, a watershed moment, the ‘crisis of this world’ was the cross of Jesus. There the world was condemned by God. All of its works were judged as worthy of death and destruction, and the proud prince of this world was defeated and slated for his own perdition.
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.(John 12:31-32)
Now is the crisis of this world! The cross is the condemnation of the whole world, the greatest negative ever, because on it, Jesus took upon himself all of the sins, yea he represented all of the people of the world, and bore us to death and judgment.
The world is already under Divine condemnation, it was judged at the cross of Jesus. the world will not be healed or improved, it will not be made into a better place. God has pronounced the sentence, all that awaits is the perdition it deserves.
But in Jesus , for the time being, condemned men and women can “pass out of condemnation” and into “everlasting life”.
Thank You for your concise headline.
Is there a point to this post?
I think most here are belivers. Wouldn’t this be better presented to actual unbelivers?
Does the author mean to say that a six week old baby who died during the Periclean age of Athens is roasting and popping in Hell?
Burn in hell beotch? What a nice thing to say.
How convenient for you to post a Blog behind the screen of the Religion forum.
Rest assured that not all here ARE believers...AND if you don’t think we have lurkers reading this forum ...well, I have this bridge for sale..
I should think it emphasizes the urgency of reaching the lost with the gospel of Christ. Friends, coworkers--the fields are white already to harvest (John 4:35).
These are great verses from John which make it clear what God's responsibility is, and what ours is. He draws all men to himself. Simply mention the name of Jesus Christ and the room becomes silent. But many will resist his drawing. But faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God.
Here is the gospel presentation many I know use: (1) Romans 3:23, (2) Romans 6:23a, (3) Revelation 20:14,15, (4) Romans 5:8, John 3:16, :18, :36, Ephesians 2:8,9. (5) Romans 6:23b.
My answer to you is that God is righteous. We will not know what He does with the souls who died before they had a chance to decide (including millions of the unborn) but, whatever it is, it will be fitting with God’s holiness and righteousness.
I didn’t have Christianity truly presented to me until I was 18 (although I had been given a pocket New Testament in the fourth grade which meant nothing to me although I tried to read it and did not understand). Would I be condemned if I had died before then? I don’t know. All I know is that God is righteous and He has this all figured out according to His justice and mercy.
And what do you do about it? James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but not all "belief" is of equal value. Muslims are also believers, for example, and while I do n ot doubt that most are decent people, and many are quite sincere in their beliefs, I doubt that that will do them much good in the hereafter.
And what else is new in the world of the infidels???
“I tried to read it and did not understand”
Agreed!
It is like a different language, and many words have different meanings when the Greek and Jewish meanings are ferreted out with the help of:
Strong’s Concordance with
Hebrew and Greek Lexicon
http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html
I think most here are belivers. Wouldn’t this be better presented to actual unbelivers?
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I have come across a disturbing number of unbelievers here on FR and even here in the religion forum.
I’m not even counting the CINOs. I’m talking about those hostile to God or just openly (and proud of it) non-Christians.
This is a good article and a great place to post.
Actual unbelievers? They are here on FR by the pound. Many, many, many. Sad to say
The point to believe is that Jesus is the Son of God, He came to live as a man, died for our (mine, your) sins, that you might have eternal life through that payment, IF you believe on Him.
“They are here on FR by the pound.”
I did not realize that. Then reaching out is VERY important. We pray that such folks become filled with the Holy Spirit and accept Christ as their Savior.
“Not to put too fine a point on it...”
Too fine a point. I’d hope that you’d understand that I meant “believers” as believers in Christ as Savior, not anyone with a belief, but I will try to be more succinct in the future.
It’s another way of saying the unsaved are already dead in their sins. If you haven’t received Christ and acknowledged Him as your Savior for His payment for your sins, then you’re obviously the only one left to pay for your sins.
Well, I did understand that as belief in Christ, but even so, there are a lot of false beliefs out there about Christ, and again, one can believe correctlyand yet fail to enter into a relationship with Christ.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.
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