“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.
PLAINNESS and decision characterized the Savior's ministry. Perfect simplicity, and unmistakable clearness marked His discourses, while they were most profound in the depth of wisdom and truth which they set forth. Though His language was often so personal, pointed, and brought home to the souls of those whom He addressed, yet no one could excuse himself on the ground of its not being intelligible. He was indeed the Faithful Witness, faithful to God and faithful to men. He had just before said to Nicodemus, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again;" and when this man of the Pharisees enquired "How can these things be?" in reply, the Lord presented to him the divinely-written narrative of the serpent of brass which Moses lifted up, as the immediate cause of life to bitten, dying Israelites, and applied it as typical of His own work on the cross, by adding, "even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And to skew that God Himself is the source of all this He added, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 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." Nothing can be clearer than that God looks at each person now as either" condemned already," or as" not condemned." It is therefore of vital importance that the reader should enquire, as in God's presence, to which of these two classes he at this moment belongs.
Let it be remembered, that God's dealing with men now is not on the principle of probation. Man has been put to the test, both "without law" and "under law," and has proved himself to be utterly and incurably bad. "Without law," man became a god-maker, and creature-worshipper—"he worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator;" and "under law," he became an idolater; and at last the murderer of the Holy Son of God, whom he hated, without a cause. God has therefore now concluded all under sin, under both its guilt and power, condemned already, only awaiting the executioner to carry out the awful sentence. The last thing that could be done for man was God's sending His own Son. But they said, "This is the heir, come let us kill Him, and let us seize on His inheritance. And they caught Him, and cast Him out of the vineyard, and slew Him." The next thing, therefore, must be a certain, fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, that shall devour the adversaries. No marvel then that it is written, "He that believeth not is condemned already."'
Meanwhile, however, before the coming wrath, God is longsuffering, preaching peace and bringing salvation to the vilest of sinners, because the claims of His infinitely holy and righteous throne have been met by the -atoning work of Jesus. That sacrifice was so satisfying to God, and so infinitely meritorious in His sight, that He can righteously and justly save to the uttermost all who come unto Him by Christ. God is therefore now publishing this full deliverance from all condemnation and coming wrath, to every one who believes. The present is therefore a moment of eternal importance, a time of securing eternal life, or of madly rushing on to eternal destruction. It is then a simple question with souls of having received Christ as their Savior whom God has sent, or not. God now speaks to men lovingly, faithfully, beseechingly, about being reconciled to Him by the death of His Son. We now know God as in and through Christ. Hence it is life eternal to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. And so sufficient is the sacrifice of Jesus to meet all the requirements of divine justice and holiness, and to meet also the need of the sinner, that God can now say, through His servants, "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (the Lord Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38, 39.) The believer then is at this time so completely delivered from condemnation and coming wrath as to be "justified from all things." Precious consolation; all of God, and all through Christ. Believers are justified persons. The whole question of sin, and its connection with judgment and wrath having been so met for them by Christ in the death of the cross, that "There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." How can there be, if God has already judged everything that could be judged both as to our nature and ways, in the person of His beloved Son? God therefore speaks of us as "justified from all things," and being now justified by the blood of Christ. (Rom. 5:9.)
If then men neglect this great salvation, come not to the Lord Jesus for salvation, receive Him not as theme Savior whom God hath sent; if persons are hesitating to believe on Him for salvation, no marvel that it is said, "He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." How could it be otherwise?
Dear reader, have you believed to the saving of your soul? Why not? Do you not see from this Scripture that your only way of escape from coming' wrath is to believe on Him whom God hath sent? Take refuge then at once in the open arms of this sinner-loving Savior! Trust only in Him! Rest in God's word about Christ; Build on no other foundation than this Rock of Ages! Oh! flee to Him, for there is salvation in no other! Do, dear reader, hearken to Him who said "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." O yes! only trust Him! Come now, come as you are, in all your rags of sin and filth, not waiting another moment, not thinking of doing anything, or altering, or improving, or reforming first; oh no, but just as you are, come to that blessed Jesus who died for sinners, who is now in heaven at God's right hand, and He will give you rest—present and eternal rest.
Look then, dear reader, to Him, and believe on Him, whose loving heart still delights to save the lost, and who still says, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”
“Welcome, all by sin oppress'd,
Welcome to the Savior's breast;
Nothing brought Him from above,
Nothing but redeeming love.”