Both believers and unbelievers have huge Misunderstandings about Judgment. Sometimes when a Christian explains God's commands, we hear this rebuke:
"John 3:17 says, 'God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world.' If Jesus didn't judge anyone, neither should we."
Those who use this rebuke have failed to study that verse in context.
In the verses immediately following 17, Jesus judges both sin and sinners (John 3:18-20).
In fact, in John 9:39, Jesus says, "For judgment I have come into this world."
Is this a contradiction?
No!
First, we should note that John 3:17 uses the word condemn in most translations, and John 9:39 uses the word judgement. There's a difference.
John 3:17 explains that Jesus' mission was not to condemn us to Hell. We are already condemned to Hell apart from Christ. His mission was to warn us of condemnation so we could turn to Him and be saved.
And a necessary part of His mission was to judge our sins and warn us to repent.
Jesus came to judge and save, not condemn.
----------------You can listen to this devotion on You Tube: Did Jesus Come to Judge?
To read about the misuse of Matthew 7:1 in rebuking Christians who talk about sin, see "Judge not!".
Other posts that have helpful insights into this subject:
I see this so similarly, but with a minor difference that uses an emphasis on the words specifically used in these scriptures. A Judge is not needes to necessarily "condemn" as is true through the multiple meanings of the word "condemn". A very real way of reading these scriptures is that it is mankind's actions through sin that condemn ourselves.
ReplyDeleteJesus does not need to judge us for us to be condemned by our actions, however, without His judgement there is no opportunity for mercy. We are already condemned by sin, but His judgement confirms our state in that condemnation as either guilty or covered by His Love in action. Selah.
May the Lord bless you and keep you as you fulfill the role He has given you to exhort His people to Him and His teaching.
Hi Servant,
DeleteI agree with the heart of what you are saying, but I want to clarify a couple of points.
There is a popular belief I hear often that God doesn't send anyone to Hell. We send ourselves by unbelief. And I think some might read your comment and think you are saying something similar, although I don't think that's quite what you mean.
But I think it's important for us to understand that we cause our punishment, but God is the one who judges and punishes us. We don't judge and punish ourselves.
God's judgement is unbiased and pure. He knows all things, every tiny detail, so all of His judgements are perfect.
The Evil unrepentant God-hater is not going to judge himself accurately, nor is he going to throw himself in hell. God will do those things.
I hope that clarifies that aspect of this subject.
God bless you, and like you, I am grateful for God's mercy as well as His judgement.
God's judgments do not condemn us but they are designed to save us and bring us into righteousness. They teach us Righteouness. If you have to amputate your leg to stop a disease from spreading every where. The doctor comes in to do the surgery but the focus is to save your life, not loose your leg.
ReplyDeleteThe overall message of your comment is correct and uses some good analogies. However, God's judgments do condemn those who refuse to repent. That's why we can say there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). But those who reject Him will be condemned.
Delete"¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:17-18
DeleteHi Morning Praise. I assume you read the devotion which includes that Scripture as well as John 9:39 where Jesus says, "For judgment I have come into this world." This devotion explains how the two verses are both correct. Much confusion and false teaching comes from believing one verse and ignoring other verses.
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