John 3:18, Don't Pass This One By!

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son.

John 3:18

We hear so many times of John 3:16, for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  I rememeber growing up and seeing John 3:16 signs in many places, sporting events on TV and just about anywhere you looked.  This is one of the standard Christian verses that people know, I think it is one of the few that I actually know without looking up.

This verse brings hope to the people that read it.  I will bet that even someone who is not a practicing Christian, by that a I mean a follower of Jesus Christ, would in some way think that this applies to them.  Even "good" people can place themselves into this catagory of having Gods love and therefore having eternal life.  Natural human reaction, nobody wants to die and go to hell or think that they will. 

If you look just past this "famous" verse you come to 3:18 which should be the one that is spoken more often to those that are not believers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is nice to know why God sent Christ, and what He will do for those that believe, but until true heartfelt acceptance and change occurs everyone falls under this catogory "being condemned already."  Yes the God who loves the world also sees us all as sinners until we believe in His Son Jesus.

What that means is that no matter what you are or what you are doing in your life, no matter how good a parent you are or how well you run your business, you are condemned in the eyes of God and therefore subject to His righteous judgement and condemnation.  In plain terms, you are destined for hell on judgement day. Harsh reality but a Biblical truth.  God must be righteous and stand by His truths or He is not then God. 

Now you may say that that is only the Christain perspective, what about my personal beliefs, what about the other religions of the world.  Are they wrong?  Are all of those people that are "good" people, Ghandi, Budha, Mohammad are they all going to hell also?"  John 14:6, I am the way the truth and the life.  No one comes to the father except through me.  By these words yes they are.

I have discussed this before that there may be only one truth and Jesus speaks of that truth when he was speaking to Thomas.  He either is or He isn't the Son of God.  He either did or din't do what the gospels state that He did.  He either was or wasn't what gave birth to this new religion.  He either dis or didn't rise from the dead as the wittnesses swore.  You have to choose if He is or isn't the Christ, the Son of God.  I testify that He is, by the change that happened in me the day I called His name, Lord and savior.  The millions of others who, from their hearts can also testify to this will tell you the same.  He is Lord, Son of God, and through Him we were made new creations, not condemned by sin and held in bondage by this world.

Ultimately you will have a choice to make, until your heart earnestly seeks Him , He will not respond.  If you walk in a half hearted attempt without true commitment you will never know His grace, you will never experience His forgivness, you will never become one with Jesus Christ and know Gods glory.  You will remain dead fools of this world.  Make no mistake that as I had, your follish pride will keep you from eternal life.  Thinking that you know best will cost you dearly.  Even believing in other false religions will not see you through to the promise of God.  You must believe in the one sent from God to have victory over sin and to be an example of Gods Word in flesh for us.

Raise your hands up and forsake your foolish pride.  Reach for Jesus Christ and live in the freedom freely offered by God through Faith in His Son Jesus Christ.  Get on your knees and realize that you are only so "good" and that you have no payment greater then the one that Jesus Christ has already made on the behalf of all those that come to Him.  Ask Jesus Christ to take your life, and be your Lord and Savior today and be set free from the Condemnation that you now stand in.  He will be faithful to draw near to you and the Holy Spirit will dwell forever in your heart.

Lord Jesus, I pray that just one may be saved and move past the judgemnt that awaits.  May they see your truth and see life through that truth.  In your precious and holy name I pray, Amen.