Condemnation part 4
You all know I don't like to start a Rant with a memory verse... so I ramble a little bit about how I don't like to start with a memory verse, and then start with it. This is that. "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. And this is the condmenation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:17-19). There's a lot here. But I want to point out first and foremost that Jesus did NOT come to condemn us. He came to save us. Same thing we saw with the woman caught in adultery. He saved her life--literally--and He equipped and empowered her to truly LIVE by sinning (unbelieving) no more. That's key. Because He that believeth on him is not condemned. There is now no condemnation for those in Christ. And, listen, I believe we are all in Christ. When He was lifted up from the earth on the cross He drew us all into Himself and planted Himself in all of us. But there's a big difference between something being true and you not knowing that its true... and something being true and you knowing it. Because the truth HAS set us free and made us free. But knowing and believing that truth is what allows us to experience and enjoy the freedom. Love never condemns. So believing in God--in Jesus, in love--is what frees us from that condemnation. And, let me say it as strongly and clearly as I can: the condemnation of light coming into the world but men loving darkness rather than light... that's not condemning us. That's us condemning ourselves. Seeing a more excellent way but chosing to stay where we are... that's nobody's fault but our own. I want to say this too: Its only by us SHOWING people that more excellent way (that is Jesus, that is love) that they will be able to choose it. You can't scare people straight. You have to love the hell out of them. Fear is the opposite of love. There is no fear in love. If you're trying to intimidate or manipulate or control someone... that's not love. Love is not about getting anything from anybody. Love is not about getting your own way. Love is giving. Giving every thing you have and every thing you are. Doing for others. HELPING others. That's love. Seeing a need and meeting it. Did I already say helping people? Condemnation never helps. But it always hurts. We hurt ourselves when we choose darkness over light. When we choose to stay where we are instead of letting the Spirit lead us we are condemning ourselves. Robbing ourselves of the gift we've been given. It has never been God condemning us. Why would He? The God who is love created us in order to express Himself to us. In order to love us. In order to love in us, and through us, and as us. He came to save us from condemnation. To save us from ourselves. And I think that's really where I want to end this Rant series tomorrow--letting God get rid of our self-condemnation.