4/2 John 3:17

¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸ Whoever 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.

America's most influential export is agnostic secularism that is hostile toward the gospel. Its proponents come unglued when they hear the words "sin" or "hell." They believe the teaching of Christianity is a perversion of the words of Jesus. They would gladly accept the first of our verses for today, but would suggest to us that other peoples added the second. In their mind, if there is a heaven, we are all going there, with the possible exceptions of Hitler and Mao.

Our loving God sent Jesus to rescue us from certain judgment. All that is required is our believing faith in Him. But when we trust Him, we acknowledge that He is our Creator and we should be subject to Him. That is the reality that those who oppose the gospel so vehemently resist. They believe the only way to be fulfilled is to live out one's passions. Jesus came to deliver us from enslavement to destructive passions so that we could find real life.

John is telling us that we are condemned to certain and deserved judgment. God sent Jesus to save us from that judgment if we place our faith in Jesus. He bore our judgment for us and gives us His righteousness so that we might escape the wrath of God and live forever in His presence. This is not an exclusive faith that shuts others out, but an inclusive faith that invites all in. The fact that evil is in the world is unquestionable. The question we should ask is this: "Is Jesus God's provision to deal with the evil in us or was He just a good man?"

Consider: The way we answer that question will make all the difference in our lives right now and forever.