The Point of Jesus

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. -John 3.16-18

John 3.16 is the most searched for Bible verse. It is one of the first Bible verses I remember learning. This passage of Scripture presents a message of hope, but more than that, it gives us one of the most direct explanations of Jesus. The Church has pushed people away from God because of the attitude it has adopted. Sadly, people see the Church as condemning and judgmental, and in turn, they associate these traits to Jesus. The message of John 3 does not present this view of Jesus.

Jesus came to give life, not death. Jesus came to give forgiveness, not condemnation. Jesus came to give love, not judgment.

Humanity is already facing eternal death. We are cursed with sin and must pay the price of that. Jesus came to save us, and bring life in place of death. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, the whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." Jesus does not send people to Hell, He came to rescue humanity from Hell. In Jesus is life, not death. We have death already, we need Jesus to have life.

Humanity is already condemned. We are enslaved to sin and bound for Hell. Jesus came to change that offering forgiveness from condemnation. "God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." Jesus does not condemn, He forgives. Condemnation is the current state humanity is in, and it is the result of rejecting the forgiveness of Christ. Condemnation is the state of our existence, Jesus offers a different course.

Humanity is already judged. We are sinful and must be held accountable for our sin. Jesus came to bring love in place judgment. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Rejecting Jesus brings about judgment, that is the state of life apart from Him. In Jesus is love, and freedom from judgment.

Humanity is already headed to destruction, but God loved the world too much to abandon it in this state. Jesus was not given to point out how bad we are, but to rescue and transform humanity, bring redemption and restoration. All of the negative perceptions of Christ are mankind placing the blame of our condition on Jesus. He is not at fault for where we are, but is the only hope that exists for change. Christ is not the reason for war and division; He is not at fault for judgment, condemnation, and death, He is the solution.

Mankind is already messed up without Jesus, He did nothing to make the situation worse. The only hope is in what Christ offers, life, forgiveness, and love. That is the point of Jesus.

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!