Not Condemned!

Not Condemned!

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17 KJV

Let's place today's extract in the right context. From Biblical history, there appears to have been several dispensations on record: there was an age of complete good, the dispensation of sin, with the knowledge of good and evil; the dispensation of the law, the silent years and of course, the dispensation of grace. In all of these dispensations, we see God's hands moving through the times, working in the lives of the people in these dispensations, proving His power and wisdom even in the face of their limitations. 

In all the dispensations, one thing remains clear: the standard of God remained the same. The wages of sin has always been and still remains death. That principle applied to Adam and Cain, as well as to Achan at Jericho, to Daniel and the 3 Hebrew boys as well as Israel and Judah in exile, to Judas Iscariot and to our own generation also. It really doesn't matter what popular opinion is or what people have generally come to accept as the norm. If God didn't excuse a thing then, nothing now would change His mind.

However, this is where the greatest gift given makes a difference. The standard is holiness, but no one could achieve it by self-discipline or labour, so the Son was sent. It was God showing his mercy, but also his judgment at the same time. He was sending out the only channel of salvation for the whole world, but He was also reminding the whole world that this same channel would be the basis for judgement. Think of it this way: the gift is given to remind man that he had lost his way and needed to return to his maker. The gift is the way back to the maker. All who accept the gift are reconciled to God. Of course, the opposite would also be true. If I reject the gift, I simply tell the giver that I do not need his gift and can take care of myself. 

God's purpose in sending the Son was to draw the world back to Himself. Sin had done extensive damage; in fact, sin had done eternal damage. But through the Son, we have all been given a way back to God. The law of Moses and other dispensations could not address the issue of sin, because they could not address the foundation of sin. But the blood of Jesus goes to the heart of the matter, touching the core of our nature and dealing with the roots of sin. That is why the two words: salvation and condemnation are mentioned in the same verse above. It all depends on what your response to the gift is. God would not force Himself on you; your response to Him must come from your heart. He is waiting on you; in fact, eternity is waiting on your decision. His time of favour is here.