John 3:17–19 (NKJV) — 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to
condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 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. 19 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.
Many feel unloved. They feel God hates and condemns them. They run from
God instead to Him. Jesus speaking to Nicodemus tells him of the great love
of God. Even though our words and actions bring condemnation upon us,
God still loves us. Jesus did not come into this world to send us to Hell. He
came to deliver us from the eternal torment of Hell.
The world outside of Christ is pure spiritual darkness. Sin hides in darkness.
Jesus, as the Light of the World, came to save us from perishing and lead us
to eternal life. In Matthew 20:28, Jesus says, “just as the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Jesus was born to die. He died for us. He freely gave His life so we could live
with Him for eternity. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying
and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners, of whom I am chief.”
There is only one way to eternal life with God. In 1 Timothy 2:5, Paul writes
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus.” So, who is condemned? It is not the one who places his faith in
Christ but the unbeliever. God’s salvation is for all people. He loves those
who love Him and for those who hate Him. Jesus died for the sins of the
world. But many reject Him.
We enjoy Christmas. We exchange gifts with one another. We share our love
with each other. The greatest gift that was ever given was that of Jesus.
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Many reject the gift of God.