John 1-3: Jesus - Judge or Savior?

How would you prove from Scripture that Jesus didn't come as a judge? He loves us so much, after all, that He wouldn't want to see anyone hurt. Certainly an all-loving Savior couldn't send anyone into HELL, could He? It's so great to have verses such as John 3:16-17 to give us a proof-text for this thought!

"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."

Isn't it comforting to know God doesn't want to judge the world? We swell with joy when we see that God sent Jesus to save the whole world! That means all men, right? He's not a judge, but a Savior!

But wait... What about the next couple of verses? But why read on, if we already have what we want out of the Scriptures? I'd hate to read on to discover what I THOUGHT was incorrect! But God doesn't care about what I WANT - He cares about what is RIGHT. And if I have a heart for God and what is right, I should read on. I should take ALL of what God says on a subject, not just rip a couple of verses out of context.

John 3:18
"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."

Really, verse 16 said this clearly ("whoever believes in Him shall not perish"). But verse 18 (in fact 18-21) drives the point home. Jesus did not come to earth in the capacity of Judge. He came as a Savior to offer salvation to the entire world. He did not come to EXECUTE judgment, but to speak words by which we will be judged one day (John 12:48).

When it boils down, Jesus left our salvation UP TO US, in a sense. His resurrection holds the POWER of salvation and the OPPORTUNITY of salvation, but to actually take hold of that salvation takes FAITH - believing that He is the Son of God, the only begotten of the Father.

Have you taken hold of salvation? Do you believe? Jesus came so that we might have faith in Him. Men who have no faith can obtain faith. Men who have little faith can have their faith strengthened and fortified so they will never fall away. But we must have a desire for it. Do you want it?

God bless,
Nathan

Tomorrow's Reading: John 4-6