John 3:19-21 (D)

When we fail to keep it within context, the idea of self-condemnation can produce various unbiblical implications. If we must retain this term, at least we must say that God is the one who makes people think and behave in a way that condemn themselves. But it is often easier just to say that God makes them that way, keeps them that way, then condemns them for being that way, and that in all of this, he remains righteous and blameless. Just as a potter has the right to do whatever he wishes with a lump of clay, God has the right to make any kind of creatures he wishes and to do whatever he wants to them.

Unbelievers tell us not to judge them. "You narrow-minded bigots!" they would say to us, "You don't even know us!" We do not claim to know more than what God has revealed to us through Scripture, but Scripture gives us so much information about their thoughts and motives that it has rendered speculation unnecessary. From these three verses alone, we already know about their dispositions, the nature of their deeds, and why they do not come to Christ. God has given us a description of their very thoughts and motives, so we know what happens in their hearts, even at a deep spiritual level.

We do not play God or usurp his authority, but we merely repeat and expound on what he has already declared: "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." And at the same time, precisely because we do not play God or usurp his authority, we dare not keep silent about his revelation to us or compromise its message before the world, when he has commanded us to preach to all nations.

Non-Christians want us to stop seeing things in black and white, in absolutes, and start seeing in shades of gray instead. But John gives us no such option. With him it is either belief or unbelief, life or death, love or hate, light or darkness, good or evil, true or false, and salvation or condemnation. He packs all of these ideas in verses 16-21, and he would repeat them and add several others in the rest of his writings. You are either a Christian or a non-Christian. You either believe in Christ, or you disbelieve in Christ. If you believe, you have eternal life, but if you disbelieve, you are condemned to hell forever. It is as simple as that.

Man is a sinner. He needs a savior. Jesus is the answer. Just reading John 3:1-21 is enough to make a Christian weep and tremble. His spirit responds to God's words (John 6:63), and his heart burns within him as he reads (Luke 24:32). But all of this feels dead to the damned. No, it is not that the words are dead – they are "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12) – but the hearts of the damned are dead.

What about you? Does all of this mean anything to you? Does all this talk about spirit, faith, life, and light sound meaningless and foolish to you? There is nothing wrong with the message, but there is something wrong with you. You are still dead in your sins, and you must be born again. Seek him today. Entreat him today. And it might be that he has chosen you even before the foundation of the world, so that he will now open your understanding, revive your spirit, and grant you new life in Christ.

(end of series)

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