A lot of people, even people who don’t believe in God, know the passage John 3:16. Most people can quote it exactly how it is in the Bible. It’s probably the most well known verse of the Bible, yet I would argue that John 3:17-19 are just as important as John 3:16.
V.17 shows us the intentions of God’s heart & it shows us His character.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 3:17 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/jhn.3.17.nkjv
A lot of people have a bad view of God. They think that He is all about judging us and proving that we are all sinners. Yet, John 3:17 was spoken directly by Jesus. He clearly laid out God’s heart for us to see. You see, to condemn means:
-to say in a strong and definite way that someone or something is bad or wrong
-to give (someone) a usually severe punishment
But that’s not what God sent Jesus to do. Jesus was sent to save us not tell us how bad we are or how wrong we are. He wasn’t sent to punish us. He was sent so that we MIGHT be saved. Key word: might. He gave us the option to be saved. Imagine dying for someone who might choose you. Imagine loving someone who might love you back. Jesus was given no guarantees. Can you imagine that conversation between Jesus and God? “So Father, what you’re telling me is, I will love them and I will willingly die for them, but they may not choose me?” “Yes Son, that is what I’m saying. There is no guarantee that they will believe in You.”
I don’t think we know how loved we really are by God. There is no one who can love us more. No one can give what God gave. He gave His life so that we may have it.
Fast forward to V. 19
“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
John 3:19 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/jhn.3.19.nkjv
We think condemnation is being sent to hell or being punished, but it’s not. Hell is simply place where the condemned go, and the condemned are simply people who saw God but still choose their sin (their own way) over Him. Hell is simply a place where those who do not want God go. Condemnation is us seeing God, the light, the right way, yet still choosing darkness (lust, flesh, material things, people, relationships, career, pornography, drugs, drunkenness, idols, and so much more) over Him.
We choose our way. In His love, He gave us a choice. That is why Jesus was not given any guarantee. He was only given a “might”. It’s a choice. He has all ready made His choice. He chose us. The only question He left to be answered is:
Will you choose Him?
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+Overtaken
Overtaken 