Why God did not Send Jesus

“¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” — John 3:17 (ESV)

There is pretty common knowledge of the verse before the one I have quoted above, John 3:16. Well for this morning I am looking at why God did not send His son. I believe that too often we are only looking at one side of things and as we do, our perspective is skewed to the point that we only see things from that view and omit the balance of the information. When I read John 3:16, I see the “whoever believes in me” part and feel as though it is only for those that believe and the rest are condemned. But that could not be further from the truth.

God loved the whole world, not just part of it and certain people in it. He has given the opportunity for all to be saved, only He knows, as is common for most things, that not everyone will take advantage of the gift of salvation He provides. We have to remember that God provides the same salvation for all. Verse 17 points this out to me.

I have to remember to look at things from the perspective of verse 17 as well as 16. I have to know that God did not condemn the world. He sent His son to save it. To offer salvation to all who would accept. Not just the “religious right” or the “church goers” or the “chosen nationality”. He sent Jesus for all the world and there was no condemnation in His coming.

“¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” — John 3:18-19 (ESV)

I see in the above verses that those that believe are saved those that are wicked are wicked and have condemned themselves. To often we want to blame someone else for that which does not go our way and really the blame should be placed solely on us. I have to know that Jesus came to save and not to condemn. I have to know that if condemned, it is my own doing. I also have to remember that Jesus came to save and, until I have passed from this world, I have the opportunity to accept the salvation provided and join Jesus in heaven, just as the thief crucified with Jesus.

Jesus was sent by God to save the world, not to condemn it. We have condemned ourselves with our actions. It is not too late however, there is still time now to listen to and accept the salvation provide by God through the death of Jesus so that we “should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (ESV)

When you think about the coming of Jesus, what are you thoughts on the reason He came? Are you even aware that He only came to save? What if we accepted He came to save and not to condemn?