Red Letters/Black Letters: Day 87: The Forgotten Verse

"For the Son did not come into the world to condemn the world; 

but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17

As you most likely well know John 3:16 is probably the American church's favorite verse. Tim Tebow would often wear in under his eyes during games. At any major sporting event you can find it on handmade signs. If you have somehow made you way through life without seeing John 3:16 when you are out about in public I am utterly impressed. It is that popular, much less popular though is John 3:17.

As we looked at it yesterday John 3:16 speaks of God's love being so great that Jesus was sent to give us eternal life. John 3:17 (found above obviously) states that Jesus did not come to condemn but rather to save. 

I think that the reason that 3:16 is viewed as so important and 3:17 isn't is because a lot of people use 3:16 as both an evangelism tool as well as a tool to condemn those who do not 'believe in him.' It goes like this, 'God sent Jesus to die for you so that you could have eternal life. If you don't believe in Jesus you are going TO BURN in eternal torment IN HELL.'

Now, I don't really want to talk about hell, or heaven for that matter. As I said yesterday everlasting life does not begin at the time of your last breath, if it does you aren't following Jesus particularly well.

What I do want to say is that I believe that these verses are found next to them for a particular reason, to keep people from using the first verse to condemn the world. I heard a sermon this past week that said salvation isn't a matter of varying degrees of life but rather that we were dead and post salvation we can live. [Shout out to Dr. Todd Faulkner] Jesus didn't come here to condemn, he came to raise the dead. And if we hope to follow him we should be about the same, raising the dead.

Why?

The people you can't stand already know you can't stand them. The ones you don't want in your church know full well you don't want them there. Telling them that is not news. Telling them you love them would be news. Telling them they're welcome would be news. Jesus came to raise the dead, stop calling them dead and help them breath.

+ Before today did you know John 3:17?

+ Have you used John 3:16 as a tool to condemn? Other verses?