Condemnation Is a Choice
By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com
Many people today believe that one’s eternal salvation or condemnation is out of their hands, that a person’s eternal fate has little or nothing to do with what they do, that God will save or condemn those who He wills regardless of the choices they make. However, the Scriptures teach us something else entirely. People choose for themselves salvation or condemnation by the kind of deeds performed in life.
Condemnation Is Determined by a Person’s Faith in the Son of God.
He Who Believes in Him Is Not Condemned: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18, NKJV). The person who believes in the name of the only begotten Son of God is not under condemnation (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1). His belief prompted him to obey the gospel (Mark 16:16) and thus receive the forgiveness of sins as given only in Christ (Acts 2:38). Once baptized into His name, the Christian keeps on believing in Jesus to continue to be delivered from condemnation (Col. 1:22-23).
“He Who Does not Believe Is Condemned Already”: Millions of people have never been taught the soul saving gospel and thus do not believe and as a result, they are condemned. Millions more fail to be delivered from their state of condemnation even after being taught the gospel because they do not believe. Their failure to embrace “the Light” and take heed to the gospel brings condemnation upon them (2 Thes. 1:7-9).
The Basis for Condemnation Depends on Our Response to “the Light.”
Christ, the True Light: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world…” (John 3:19a; cf. John 1:4). Christ or “the Light” has come into the world to lead people out of darkness into the light. This was prophesied by Isaiah some 700 years before Christ. “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them” (Isa. 9:2, NASB; cf. Isa. 60:2). Jesus declared to be that light: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12b, NKJV).
Every Person Chooses to Come to the Light or Stay Away from it: “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). The truth is, no one is a victim of the condemnation of God, but instead each person chooses for himself whether or not he will be condemned by the type of response to the Light he gives.
Who Hates the Light and Thus Has Chosen Condemnation?
Those Who Love the Darkness Rather Than the Light: “Men loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19b). Most people in the world choose to walk in darkness (i.e., sin or evil; see Rom. 13:12-13). They make this choice because they love their sins more than they do the Light! The fact that people love their sins so much accounts for the unbelief in Christ and the character and darkness of the human race (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Many who love their sins hold to a “form of godliness” (2 Tim. 3:5) or act religious, yet reject the power of the Gospel that could make them godly. They cling to the darkness or the religious error that will condone their wicked behavior. They love the false doctrines that will tell them that they do not need to change their ways for God (e.g., 2 Tim. 4:3-4).
Those Who Fear “Exposure”: “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20). Just as the thief does not want the spotlight upon him as he commits acts of crime during the night, the sinner shuns the Light because his deeds are evil. Christ, the true Light, dispels the darkness: “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5). The truth that Christ speaks drives out error: “And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness” (Eccles. 2:13). Despite the value of Light, evildoers reject it because they do not want their works condemned. They dread an examination or investigation of their life by the truth. They hate the light that exposes, tests their deeds, and determines the true nature of their actions (Heb. 4:12). Many people, deep within, are ashamed of their evil deeds and thus purposefully do not want the Light or the truth that will give them a guilty conscience. Yet, it is that guilty conscience that can lead to their repentance and salvation! (e.g., Acts 2:37-38). Sadly, many people today have chosen condemnation by their negative response to the Light.
Who Loves the Light and Thus Has Chosen Salvation?
Those Who Practice the Truth: “But he who does (practices – NASB) the truth comes to the light...” (John 3:21a). Practicing the truth is continual obedience to the word of God (cf. John 17:17). Practicing the truth is equal to walking in the light (1 John 1:5-7). Thus, having the truth is not merely an abstract idea to possess. Truth is to be lived out – practiced throughout life. Those who truly love the Lord (the Light) will obey His word (John 14:15, 21). True love for the Lord is to choose salvation, not condemnation! (Eph. 6:24; cf. 1 Cor. 16:22).
Those Who Come to the Light to Make Known Their Deeds: “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:21). Those who love the Light gladly come to the Light so they may plainly see that their conduct is good and right before God. They find joy and fulfillment because the truth reveals that they are living for God, please Him according to His will (3 John 3-4). The light of truth justifies their deeds; therefore, they do not shun the Light as evildoers do. They are not afraid of their deeds to be exposed to the Light because their lives are an illustration of the truth or of the Light (Eph. 5:8-10).
What is your response to the Light? Salvation or condemnation is truly a choice that each person makes. Which do you choose? Come to the Light and obey the word of the Lord today!
www.cvillechurch.com
Many people today believe that one’s eternal salvation or condemnation is out of their hands, that a person’s eternal fate has little or nothing to do with what they do, that God will save or condemn those who He wills regardless of the choices they make. However, the Scriptures teach us something else entirely. People choose for themselves salvation or condemnation by the kind of deeds performed in life.
Condemnation Is Determined by a Person’s Faith in the Son of God.
He Who Believes in Him Is Not Condemned: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18, NKJV). The person who believes in the name of the only begotten Son of God is not under condemnation (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1). His belief prompted him to obey the gospel (Mark 16:16) and thus receive the forgiveness of sins as given only in Christ (Acts 2:38). Once baptized into His name, the Christian keeps on believing in Jesus to continue to be delivered from condemnation (Col. 1:22-23).
“He Who Does not Believe Is Condemned Already”: Millions of people have never been taught the soul saving gospel and thus do not believe and as a result, they are condemned. Millions more fail to be delivered from their state of condemnation even after being taught the gospel because they do not believe. Their failure to embrace “the Light” and take heed to the gospel brings condemnation upon them (2 Thes. 1:7-9).
The Basis for Condemnation Depends on Our Response to “the Light.”
Christ, the True Light: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world…” (John 3:19a; cf. John 1:4). Christ or “the Light” has come into the world to lead people out of darkness into the light. This was prophesied by Isaiah some 700 years before Christ. “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them” (Isa. 9:2, NASB; cf. Isa. 60:2). Jesus declared to be that light: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12b, NKJV).
Every Person Chooses to Come to the Light or Stay Away from it: “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). The truth is, no one is a victim of the condemnation of God, but instead each person chooses for himself whether or not he will be condemned by the type of response to the Light he gives.
Who Hates the Light and Thus Has Chosen Condemnation?
Those Who Love the Darkness Rather Than the Light: “Men loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19b). Most people in the world choose to walk in darkness (i.e., sin or evil; see Rom. 13:12-13). They make this choice because they love their sins more than they do the Light! The fact that people love their sins so much accounts for the unbelief in Christ and the character and darkness of the human race (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Many who love their sins hold to a “form of godliness” (2 Tim. 3:5) or act religious, yet reject the power of the Gospel that could make them godly. They cling to the darkness or the religious error that will condone their wicked behavior. They love the false doctrines that will tell them that they do not need to change their ways for God (e.g., 2 Tim. 4:3-4).
Those Who Fear “Exposure”: “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20). Just as the thief does not want the spotlight upon him as he commits acts of crime during the night, the sinner shuns the Light because his deeds are evil. Christ, the true Light, dispels the darkness: “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5). The truth that Christ speaks drives out error: “And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness” (Eccles. 2:13). Despite the value of Light, evildoers reject it because they do not want their works condemned. They dread an examination or investigation of their life by the truth. They hate the light that exposes, tests their deeds, and determines the true nature of their actions (Heb. 4:12). Many people, deep within, are ashamed of their evil deeds and thus purposefully do not want the Light or the truth that will give them a guilty conscience. Yet, it is that guilty conscience that can lead to their repentance and salvation! (e.g., Acts 2:37-38). Sadly, many people today have chosen condemnation by their negative response to the Light.
Who Loves the Light and Thus Has Chosen Salvation?
Those Who Practice the Truth: “But he who does (practices – NASB) the truth comes to the light...” (John 3:21a). Practicing the truth is continual obedience to the word of God (cf. John 17:17). Practicing the truth is equal to walking in the light (1 John 1:5-7). Thus, having the truth is not merely an abstract idea to possess. Truth is to be lived out – practiced throughout life. Those who truly love the Lord (the Light) will obey His word (John 14:15, 21). True love for the Lord is to choose salvation, not condemnation! (Eph. 6:24; cf. 1 Cor. 16:22).
Those Who Come to the Light to Make Known Their Deeds: “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:21). Those who love the Light gladly come to the Light so they may plainly see that their conduct is good and right before God. They find joy and fulfillment because the truth reveals that they are living for God, please Him according to His will (3 John 3-4). The light of truth justifies their deeds; therefore, they do not shun the Light as evildoers do. They are not afraid of their deeds to be exposed to the Light because their lives are an illustration of the truth or of the Light (Eph. 5:8-10).
What is your response to the Light? Salvation or condemnation is truly a choice that each person makes. Which do you choose? Come to the Light and obey the word of the Lord today!
posted by Mark E Larson | 9:51 AM
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