Bob Cassell, Messenger, RFTC
When the Law was set aside and grace as a means to life entered, condemnation of the broken law was also set aside. However, Jesus was careful to make it clear to Nicodemus that the possibility of condemnation was not removed.
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, that men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3: 17-19).
This passage reveals an entirely new cause for the condemnation of humanity. The condemnation is for the penalty of man’s stupidity and unbelief. Man is condemned “because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (v. 18b).
The entirety of the human race came under the condemnation of spiritual death by the single sin of Adam. “… by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation.
“Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Romans 5:18).
The root cause for condemnation of all humanity was because of the sin of one man. This initial sin from mankind was a volitional sin that Adam did in disobedience to the one simple law that God gave for his guidance in the Garden of Eden.
This immediate condemnation was intensified. The word of God subsequently stated that “the law entered that the offence might abound” (Romans 5:20). This is a reference to the law that was given by Moses. This law is specifically called the ministration of condemnation. “For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory” (2 Cor. 3:9). The condemnation of the Mosaic law applied to all who did not keep the entire law. To offend in but one point made anyone guilty of all. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).
The law condemns because no human does all that the law demands and does perform that which it forbids. Encompassed in this statement is the merit and demerit of humans which is the important and deciding factor.
The condition for condemnation subsequent to the law is not based on the demerit of man. It is in no manner related to the doings of man. It is because of the failure of man to believe in or to depend upon the merit of the Son of God. The words “in the name of” means that which the Son of God is and has done.
The individual who depends upon that which the only begotten Son of God is and that which He did while in the world is not condemned. The unwise or uninformed individual who fails to depend on the only begotten Son of God is condemned already for the sole reason he does not depend upon who He is and what He has done for him.
Just what is it that the Son of God was, and what did He do upon which one must depend? Several things must be understood. He was, “full of grace and truth” (John 1: 14). No sin was found in Him. He was “the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He was lifted up on the cross as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (John 3:14). By taking away the sin of the world He forever removed the offence by which judgment came upon all men to condemnation. The prior condition for condemnation under law, that extended back to the first law given to man in the Garden of Eden, was done away. With the removal of the grounds for condemnation, the law as a ministration of condemnation came to an end.
The initial work of grace that came by Jesus Christ and made it possible for full forgiveness was the removal of condemnation under the law. However, this did not remove condemnation from mankind. It simply changed the condition that caused man to be condemned. This is most significant because it is impossible for sinful man to escape condemnation as long as he is under the law. No human can ever meet the requirements of the law; furthermore, he cannot do anything about the offence of Adam by which condemnation has come upon the whole of mankind. Under the law mankind is hopelessly lost.
Thank God for his super surpassing grace. What is left for man to do has been accomplished by a mediator. Christ suffered once for the ungodly, and He is the only mediator between God and men.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
What man can do is to recognize his wretched and hopelessly sinful condition and depend on the merits of the Son of God and His finished cross work on his behalf.
What is left for man to do is to receive Him Whom came grace and truth. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).
“He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
Humanity is not presently condemned because the law has been broken but because of the rejection of the Son of God. When he is rejected the grace and truth which came by Him is not meritorious.
Condemnation comes because of unbelief in the Son of God, and this is reaffirmed in statements made by Jesus as recorded in John. In addressing the Jews He stated, “if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). In His closing public message Jesus declared, “He that rejects me, and receives not my words (of Grace), has one that judges him; the word that I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
The amazing work of the Holy Spirit in the present age is to convict the world of Sin, not because the world is breaking the law of Moses, not because men are sinning, but “because they believe not on Jesus Christ” (John 16:9). To believe on Jesus Christ is the first convicting work of the Holy Spirit in penetrating the heart of all who are unsaved.
It is true that many well-intentioned evangelists, Sunday school teachers, and pastors consume much time attempting to convict lost and needy souls of sin because they are breaking the commandments of Moses and are living immoral lives.
To do so is to confuse law with grace. This legalistic approach darkens the minds of many so that the pure gospel of grace is only vaguely understood. The present message to the unsaved world is that they are condemned not because of their evil doings but only because they reject Jesus Christ by whom came grace and truth. In so doing they place themselves outside the saving power of God’s grace. To stand outside of the Grace of God is to be without hope and without life. It is to be cursed because the unbeliever can only offer to God his own works and will stand before Him in his own imperfect human merit.
Listen carefully… Judgment because of the sin of Adam and all personal sins was addressed when the Son of God was lifted up on the cross and paid forever this awful debt. Jesus claimed, “liberty for the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isaiah 61:1). Liberation comes when those who are drawn to Him believe in Him and His finished cross work. Thereafter, man is judged solely according to his attitude toward the Son of God on the cross. He is not judged according to law or his personal sins but according to his acceptance of God’s amazing grace. It is because of the finished work of Christ on the cross that there was a complete change in God’s dealing with humankind.
When He had been lifted up those present and all of mankind “would see Jesus” (John 12:20). We are privileged to read in the twelfth chapter of John the last public proclamation of grace presented by the amazing Son of God. He came and presented Himself as the light of truth that came into the world, that whosoever believes on Him shall not abide in darkness. It is those who do not believe that will be judged and not according to the law but by the word (full of grace and truth) that He had spoken. He had not spoken of Himself, but as the Father had commanded that He should speak.
The good news of the gospel is that all He did while on the earth was perfect and proved to every inquiring mind that His impeccable life was a demonstration to the world, now and then, that He truly was the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. What could be more exciting and satisfying than to spread this Gospel to the unbelieving world? A word of warning: To challenge Satan’s dominion (this world and its systems) armed only with emotion and hot zeal will end in resounding defeat. Facing unbelievers who react to the gospel message with hostility, ridicule, or persecution requires much more than human dedication. Every dedicated soldier of the cross must possess a prepared soul that has been established by a fortress of Bible doctrine. This fortress is the mind of Christ which must circulates through the mind and prepare the soul.
“Who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Yes, it is abundantly clear…. we do have the mind of Christ and it is what He left us that fortifies the soul. What are we to do with this beautiful mind that we can read and apply every day? The answer is … “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Let His thinking become your thinking and if this happens you will be thinking beyond yourself and will acquire His divine operating assets. These Spiritual assets will fortify your soul and prepare you for every exigency, every trial, and all that Satan puts in your path to believe him rather than the sure promises of the infallible word of God.
Let me leave you with encouraging words from the Apostle Paul. “That in everything you are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge. So that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:5,7).
Will you make it to the end? It’s all about Him and what He has done and will do. “Who shall confirm you unto the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:8).
You may relax and be aware of who it is that makes you blameless in the day you meet the Lord of Glory. He is this exclusive and only one that confirms you and makes you blameless and takes you all the way to heaven at your death.
If you are depending on your best performance or your best behavior, you may be assured that you will falter and will need his deliverance when you close your eyes in death. Your perseverance or your continual or best works will not take you to heaven. That journey is paved with His precious blood and those that walk on this pathway must walk by the perfect righteousness that has been imputed by means of His amazing grace.
Eternal life is all of Him and none of you. The entrance to heaven will be barred to those who offer their best but only produce filthy human rags of unrighteousness. Grace would not be grace if any of the journey depended on you and not on Him. Please stop your trying for credit or merit and start a new journey of trusting him and relax in his keeping grace and power. He never fails…. you do and it is you who are a witness against yourself.
