John 3:17-18 - Why God Sent His Son

John 3:17-18

17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Message: Why God Sent His Son

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: As mentioned today in my Tabletalk reading, "we should note that most commentators believe that verses 16–21 were not spoken by Jesus but are rather John’s expanded commentary on Jesus’ meeting with Nicodemus." It somewhat makes sense because it seems odd in a way for Jesus to say these words about Himself and God. Jesus always spoke of himself as the Son of Man and yet here the reference is to Son of God. And yet because they come from John does not make them any less significant. Verse 15 and 16 is a culmination of the words spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus on needing to be born again. 

Verse 17 is further clarification and the reason God sent Jesus to the world, for salvation to all people. God's desire is to save people. And the way we are saved is through Jesus. Jesus provides a way for sinners to escape condemnation. He is the way and I still can't see how this can be a partnership. To me, it is either Jesus does it all or man does it, but I do not see how it can be shared. 

But condemnation or judgment is the result of not believing. 

I think many thought of the day that the Messiah would come to condemn. Man deserved this. But in these words we see pardon instead. He will at some point judge the living and the dead but his first mission is to save. I see this often in the Old Testament, God's love for His people, their disobedience, His punishment but then also His pardoning of their sin, in order to restore and keep them as His people. God wants to be praised, I believe. 

Summary: Those who look to Christ escape condemnation, but those who refuse to trust Him are as good as condemned already.

Promise: As we share the gospel with others, we need to take care to warn them that rejecting Christ as Savior will mean their eternal condemnation.

Prayer: You are Savior and You are Lord. Thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for making me whole. Continue to draw people closer to You in every way and bring grace and mercy to the world. Help me direct people to the truth of being born again.