John 3:17 NIV
[17] “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
This is possibly one of the most either misunderstood or ignored statements that Jesus ever made. Why do I say that? People so often misjudge the very heart of God.
Unbelievers hate and run from God because they think He is out to get them. They think up many kinds of ways to dodge accountability to God… agnosticism, atheism, false religions or philosophies, etc., because they fear punishment. This is true…that sin must and will be punished but…
John 3:16-17 NIV
[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. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
God is so passionate about saving the world from the consequences of sin that He went the whole way of true love. He sacrificed His own and only Son to save us.
Why, then, would He want to punish people for their sin by condemning them to hell forever?
The Bible is full of reassurances that God’s passion is to save people, not to sentence them.
Ezekiel 18:23 NIV
[23] “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” declares the Sovereign Lord. “Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?”
He repeatedly calls people to repentance so that they can live, not die.
To His people in the wilderness, He said,
Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV
[19] “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. “
Again, to the pagans in Athens, He said,
Acts 17:30 NIV
[30] “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
Peter explained…
2 Peter 3:9 NLT
[9] “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
God delays His judgment on people because He wants them to repent and receive His salvation but… judgment will fall on those who refuse to turn from sin and believe in Jesus.
John 3:18 NLT
[18] “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”
There are two factors that determine our destiny…
- Repentance, changing our minds about sin and turning from sin to God…
God’s mercy through Jesus is freely given to those who believe the gospel and receive Jesus, by faith, as Lord.
- Making the right choice…
God never forces His way of salvation from sin and death on anyone. He confronts us with the truth but leaves us to make the choice between life and death.
Now, since we determine our final destiny, we cannot blame God for where we end.
The next imperative we must consider is what Jesus did to deal with our sin. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus died for the sin of the whole world, for all sin, for all people, for all time. Since He dealt with the problem and punishment for sin, no one need to face punishment again, not even if we sin now.
Romans 8:1 NLT
[1] “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”
What do we do, then, if believers sin now?
1 John 2:1-2 NLT
[1] “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. [2] He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”
Can you see, then, that Jesus has taken care of the whole problem of sin, past, present, and future? So, why do His children still think that God is punishing them for their sin? Sin has consequences which God cannot stop but He cannot punish sin twice. Even in the human justice system, it is illegal to punish people twice for the same crime.
1 John 4:16-18 NLT
[16] “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. [17] And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. [18] Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for FEAR OF PUNISHMENT, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”
The issue, when stuff happens, is not that God is punishing us for our sin but that we do not trust His perfect love. You see, the hardships we endure are not punishment but discipline and God’s discipline means that He is treating us as His children.
Hebrews 12:7 NLT
[7] “As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?”
Divine discipline is not judgment or punishment but “tough love”. God wants us to share His holiness so that we are ready for life in His presence forever.
Hebrews 12:10 NLT
[10] “For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.”
Therefore, since holiness is imperative, so also is discipline.
Hebrews 12:14 NLT
[14]”Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”
The trials, tests, and hardships we face, far from being punishment for sin, are the reassurance that God loves us so much that He works at honing our trust in Him and setting us free from the ravages of our old, sinful nature.
Let’s not insult God’s goodness and mercy by misjudging His love. Let’s trust Him, in our troubles, to do His work of discipline so that we can become conformed to the likeness of Jesus.