Selected To Life Or Condemned Already? Series

So Church, in essence, what Jesus is saying to Nicodemus is that God, through His sovereign grace and mercy, and wisdom is going to bring salvation to people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. That God’s Messiah is a Messiah… a Savior for the world, not just for the nation of Israel. It’s saying that God is going to work, through the hearing of His Word, on the hearts of people from all kinds of backgrounds, and from different places. Men, women, boys, girls, rich, poor, young, old, Jew and Gentile.

And that’s why Jesus goes right into saying what He says in verse 17 – “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” That’s why Jesus came. To bring salvation to people all over the world. The purpose of Jesus’ coming wasn’t to bring judgment… He was coming to bring salvation. Now it’s true, the next time He comes… and I believe it’s very soon… but the next time He comes He will be coming as Judge. He will be coming to execute God’s righteous judgment and wrath upon the nations. But the first time He came, He came as a Savior. He came bringing a message of peace and good will toward man. He came to reconcile sinners back to God.

Now look at verse 18, “Whoever believes in Him IS NOT condemned, but whoever does not believe IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God.” So Jesus didn’t come to condemn anyone… because everyone was already under the just and righteous condemnation of God. Jesus came to rescue us from that. He came to save us from the condemnation, and wrath, and judgment of a righteous and holy God. That’s why the Bible says “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” But what verse 18 is saying to you and me… is that if you’re NOT in Christ, you’ve already been judged and found guilty. But… when you are saved by the Grace of God, through faith in Christ, Jesus changes the verdict. When you come to Christ… that means that the punishment for your sin has been paid for by Jesus… and His righteousness is credited to your account. And you stand before God, not only as a forgiven sinner… but as righteous and justified. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that somehow when it’s your time to stand before God that God’s going to weigh your good deeds against your bad deeds… You were condemned the instant you were born. You came into this world a guilty sinner – just like I did – and just like every other human being who has ever lived did. And when I say “guilty” I’m not talking about a feeling of guilt. I’m talking about a declaration of guilt. And the only way to get that declaration changed to “Not Guilty” is to be found in Christ, having put on His righteousness through faith.

Now let’s look at verses 19 & 20 because Jesus is still continuing on with His statement to Nicodemus. He says, “And this is the judgment: The Light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the Light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the Light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”