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For God sent not His Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world
through Him might be saved. (John 3:17)
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From this verse we can see that God didn't send
His Son into the world to condemn it. The Son
didn't come to rebuke or condemn mankind. God's
purpose in sending His Son into the world was to
provide salvation through Jesus for all the people
in the world.
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He that believeth on Him is not condemned:
but He that believeth not is condemned
already, because He hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God.
(John 3:18)
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A person who believes isn't condemned, but a person
who doesn't believe has already been condemned.
No one under God's condemnation can
enter the kingdom of heaven even if he performs
good deeds. It's after faith comes that good deeds
are necessary.
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And this is the condemnation, that light is
come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil. (John 3:19)
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When it says here that "men loved darkness rather
than light," it means that they are more attached to
the things of this world. They are more involved
in the things of this world and are more interested
in this sinful world. In the parable of the prodigal
son, what happened to the younger son? He had a
complete change of heart as he realized that he
would die of hunger if he carried on the way he
was going. All that a person can do is turn around.
That is repentance. It's all too easy to think, "All
my life I've lived just as I pleased. Maybe it's time
I started going to church," and to make this the
first step to a reformed life. This isn't, however,
what is meant by repentance.
I'm believing and receiving
While I to the fountain go;
And my heart the waves are cleansing
Whiter than the driven snow. 9
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The faith that we come to know at that moment the faith that enables us to entrust everything to
God his faith is all important. Entrusting everything
to God is what is meant by receiving the light.
In the world of nature, there are bugs and winged
insects that come thronging to the light. There appears
to be a lesson for us to learn from this. Going
to heaven is a matter of abiding in the light.
Walking in sunlight all of my journey,
Over the mountains, through the deep vale,
Jesus has said, "I'll never forsake thee."
Promise divine that never can fail. 10
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Jesus was "the true Light, which lighteth every man"
(John 1:9). The moment we entrust ourselves to this
true light, we are born anew as children of God.
.9 Anonymous, Sins of Years Are Wash'd Away.
10 Henry J. Zelley (1859-1942),
Walking in Sunlight, 1899
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