God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
- John 3:17
Even those completely unfamiliar with the Bible are familiar with a few things found within.
Among these are: "Judge not…," (usually quoted out of context - but that's for another post), "The Golden Rule," and John 3:16. (Does anyone remember the multi-colored afro guy that used to hold the sign up at sporting events?)
Among these are: "Judge not…," (usually quoted out of context - but that's for another post), "The Golden Rule," and John 3:16. (Does anyone remember the multi-colored afro guy that used to hold the sign up at sporting events?)
There may be no better synopsis of the gospel than, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." In this one verse we find God's motivation: love; his action: the sacrificial gift of his Son; our response of faith: believe; and the result: life.
The gospel is good news. It is actually better than that. It is the best news! It is the news of a gracious God who cares intimately and intensely for us. It is the news of this God doing for us what we can not do for ourselves.
And yet, the verse following "For God so loved the world…," gets right to the heart of an issue that many of us deal with - usually quietly, secretly. What is it you ask? Condemnation. The word itself casts a bit of a dark shadow.
Many faith-people deal with a sense of condemnation from time to time. We feel guilty and unworthy. Worse, we feel that God's love is conditional; that it is based on what we do and don't do.
We know this is not true theologically, biblically; but we can't escape the sense. We sometimes go about our days with the feeling God will love us and be pleased with us only if we do more (or stop doing some things). We feel that we must win God's approval and blessing. This is a damaging lie, and a self-defeating place to live.
We know this is not true theologically, biblically; but we can't escape the sense. We sometimes go about our days with the feeling God will love us and be pleased with us only if we do more (or stop doing some things). We feel that we must win God's approval and blessing. This is a damaging lie, and a self-defeating place to live.
"God didn't send his Son into the world to condemn… but (to) save…" (John 3:17). Paul emphatically states, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ…" (Romans 8:1).
To tell someone to stop feeling condemned is like telling them to stop being depressed. It just doesn't work. The only way to work out of a sense of condemnation is to know the heart of Christ more intimately. We do this by spending time in his word and in prayer; by investing in relationships with believers, and by doing the things we know to do - small steps of daily obedience. Condemnation is a dark place. But remember Jesus - the light of the world - meets us in the dark places.
One last scripture from the Apostle Paul: "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death," (2 Corinthians 7:10, NASB). There is a massive difference between conviction and condemnation. The first turns our face toward God. The second causes us to hide our face from God.
God, I turn to you.
For now...
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For now...
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