John 3 - Does God Condemn People To Hell?


16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever 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 3:16 is one of the verses that most everyone, including non-Christians, know and could quote by heart.  And, of course, the unconditional love of God is at the heart of the Christian faith and message.  In the context Jesus is talking to Nicodemus, a member of the ruling council.  Nicodemus is curious about Jesus and what kind of prophet he might be.  Jesus gently scolds Nicodemus as  a teacher he should know about who Jesus is and why he came. John 3:16 sums up Jesus' message to Nicodemus, especially the aspect that God loves the whole world, not just the Jewish people.  

 But what we often don't talk about as much is verses 17 and 18, which also have some powerful things to say to us especially in regard to condemndation. A lot of people wrongly believe that God is a condemning God.  They assume that if there is any possibility of hell for those who don't believe, that this makes God necessarily judgmental and full of condemnation.  I think these verses helps us out in regard to this subject.  

 Why?  Because it states God's motive in sending Jesus.  God sent Jesus because he so loved the world.  That would include everyone. Saints and sinners. Jews and Gentiles. Men and Women.  Gay and Straight.  Black and White.  God could never love anyone on this planet more than he loves them right now, including me and you.  God sent Jesus into the world to save it through his death on the cross, which proved his love for all humankind once and for all time. It proved his motive and deep desire was for all people to be saved. There is no greater love that God could show then giving up His one and only Son to save us.  So where does the condemnation part come in?

 Notice it says, "Whoever believes is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son".  God does not condemn anyone to hell, but people condemn themselves when they refuse to believe in Jesus.  God wants all people to be saved and showed it by sending His only Son. But, he still allows people to reject him, by rejecting Jesus, His son.  It would be like if I found a way to get you out of jail, if you accepted the gift I gave to get you out, but you refused.  Where does that leave you?  In prison.  You are still condemned. My desire was to free you but you chose to stay in jail.

 My personal opinion is that this is what hell is.  A place for people who refused God's gift to them and spent the rest of eternity wishing they hadn't.  God would have done anything to provide a way out for them, including sending His own Son to die for them, but unfortunately they would not accept the help.  

 So what can we do?  Live such lives of showing God's great love for people in what we say and do so that people will be confronted with the great truth of John 3:16.  Rather than just memorizing John 3:16 we will need to live it out so that everyone will have a compelling opportunity to believe in Jesus before their hearts become hardened. We know as we love people with the same heart God has for them regardless of who they are or what they have done, we are testimony of to them of God's great love!          

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