Whoever Does Not Believe in Jesus is Condemned? (Understanding John 3:18)

John 3:16-18 and the Meaning of Condemnation

John 3, 16 -18 says,. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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.

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. To condemn means to sentence as guilty, and that's not what Jesus came to do.

Christ Came to Seek and Save the Lost

He came to seek and save the lost, to destroy the work of the devil, to give his life as a ransom for many. When he comes again, it will be to judge the living and the dead. Whoever did not worship him as Lord will be consigned to hell, a sentence that is on them even now.

Self-Condemnation, Wrath, and No Condemnation in Christ

See, Jesus did not need to come and condemn the world, because we're already self-condemned. Whoever does not believe in the Son of God has condemned themselves. John 3, 36 says,. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.

Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. Not that God puts his wrath on him, it remains on him. We are all by our nature deserving of wrath, because we have wicked hearts dead set against God.

But God who is rich in mercy sent his Son Jesus, who took the wrath of God on the cross. Romans 8, 1 says,. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Whoever believes in him is not condemned by God or anyone, but is loved.

They are forgiven their sins and have eternal life, when we understand the text. Amen.