HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED
“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."
John 3:18 (NKJV)
Comment: Whoever refuses to accept Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Saviour is already condemned (John 3:18). God is not condemning the world, those who did not receive Christ as their Saviour and Lord, because of their sins, but because they have not believed in the Son of God given as the propitiation or appeasement for the Sin of mankind (1 John 2:2).
The despise of God's offer of salvation, Jesus Christ, would be the main reason why whoever ended up in hell found themselves there. God would not condemn the world because of their sins but because they rejected His offer of salvation—Jesus the way out of their sins and the destruction ahead.
Those who are born-again have this responsibility to make this known to the world and be clear about it (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
Religions are the ways deviced by humans through which God could be reached or acceessed. There are different religions of the world in which their leaders taught them on how to reach God.
The only means or channel through which God can be reached or acceessed is Christ Jesus (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
a. Through Jesus Christ mankind is reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18,19).
b. Through Christ Jesus the Sin of mankind is forgiven; His death is the atoning sacrifice for the Sin of the whole world (1 John 2:1,2).
c. A place is prepared for those who put their faith in Christ Jesus; such would have a blissful eternity in God's Kingdom (John 14:1-3).
Some people could not put their faith in Christ Jesus because what is said here about His atoning sacrifice is too good to be real or true. To such, It is like a farce or a phony, something that is not genuine or real.
When Apostle Paul talked about resurrection of the dead on the Mars Hill, amidst the Areopagites, in Athens; they mocked and teased him, they did not believe—It was incredible to them (Acts 17:32).
The Scripture says: "FOR THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS IS FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING, BUT TO US WHO ARE BEING SAVED IT IS THE POWER OF GOD" (1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV).
The other set of people could not put their faith in Christ Jesus because they would not want to live by the principles of His teaching. They do believe that His standards or teachings are too stringent to follow.
They wanted to live a carefree life and would not want to follow the narrow way; they would not want to deny their flesh of pleasures of the world: "BECAUSE NARROW IS THE GATE AND DIFFICULT IS THE WAY WHICH LEADS TO LIFE, AND THERE FEW WHO FIND IT" (Matthew 7:14 NKJV).
The other day, a Jewish man on social media was saying the teaching of Christ Jesus that we believers are propagating are not praticable. He specifically mentioned where Jesus taught: "BUT I TELL YOU NOT TO RESIST AN EVIL PERSON. BUT WHOEVER SLAPS YOU ON YOUR RIGHT CHEEK, TURN THE OTHER TO HIM ALSO" (Matthew 5:39 NKJV).
A teaching like this and some of other teachings of Christ Jesus are the ones that such people find difficult to agree and abide with.
Whoever wants to please the flesh and have his or her way would not want to agree or obey or practice the teaching of Christ Jesus.
Jesus Christ was revolutionary in His teaching during His earthly Ministry. Most of the things He taught were seen to be strange by the religious leaders of His Days—the reason why they were completely against Him.
If you also found It difficult to embrace Jesus' teaching and principles, you found the narrow way too difficult to follow, It means you have chosen the path of condemnation and destruction.
The choice of where to spend eternity after your journey on earth could only be made while you are still living. You can do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2).
However, it cannot be forced on you. It is in your hand to decide.
Peace.