A Search and Rescue Mission (John 3:17-21)

What happens after John 3:16? What does Jesus say to explain what He means by being born again and saving our lives from perishing?

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. John 3:17-21 NKJV

The problem here is not that God condemns us because we do not believe. Jesus did not come to condemn us.

We need a pardon – a stay of execution.

The truth of the gospel is simple. It’s a search and rescue mission. More than just lost, the enemy of our souls holds the once-born hostage, and so we live in darkness. We do evil, sin against God, because we prefer the lies of the enemy.

Darkness hides our sorry state and our sorry deeds. Darkness feels right to the condemned soul. Like cockroaches caught in the kitchen light, they scurry to hide in dark corners – already seen, already condemned.

For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Luke 8:17 NKJV.

Sooner or later, people will discover secrets, hidden wrongdoings, and concealed actions. Truth has a way of surfacing over time, regardless of attempts to hide it.

Secrets have eternal consequences.

Granted, we are not cockroaches, but people. On the other hand, God loves the unlovely, lonely, condemned, and sin-sick people. It was His idea to come and rescue us. He took the first step toward us.

The gospel is love in action to pardon

Jesus clarifies that anyone with a lifestyle of sin hates the truth, for it exposes the ugliness of their sinful nature. I’ve seen atheists fully convinced that God exists and still choose not to believe in God. They’re more comfortable with the lie the enemy tells them so they do not have to give up their sin and repent.

Darkness wraps them up in death, and they’re comfortable there. The light is a painful shot of reality – the truth hurts.

Love and Judgment

Can we separate the love of God from His judgment? If we still do not understand this concept, there’s a blind spot in the soul. Who will flesh it out? Our reaction to so great a love shows whether we are blind or have open eyes.

Condemn: declare a person guilty and worthy of punishment.

It is not God who so much as condemns them; God loves them. They condemn themselves by keeping their “blinders” on.

Hostility toward Christ reveals how much they love darkness rather than the light. Even really good people have a certain blindness to their destiny without Christ.

When we compare ourselves with those who live in the dark and see no difference, then we’re in danger. We live in the shadows: close enough to the darkness and yet far from the light. It is cold there in the shadow.

The floodlight of God reveals the truth: Everyone engaged in unconfessed and habitual sin will not want the searchlight of God on themselves. Yet, those with confessed sin and repentant hearts will welcome the light and not fear it.

The Christ-haters are so because they do not wish to be seen as they are. The truth is not that they “hate” Christ for who He is but more for what He sees and knows. They love the concealing darkness versus the revealing light.

Jesus, in His search and rescue mission, took on the consequences of our sin. Because of His love, He condemned sin to free those who believe from its power.

Christ Condemned Sin

Justified: acquitted and released from punishment.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit…For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh. Romans 8:1 & 3 NKJV.

Thank God that there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus – who walk in the Spirit. Now, in the light, you no longer follow the dictates and desires of your old life, but live to follow the desires of the Holy Spirit, in the light of what is pleasing to Him.

So, making you holy.

Holy and Righteous

Holiness: separated unto God for His good purposes.

Righteousness: In right standing with God.

Holiness and righteousness are real gifts from God to the twice-born. Holiness is a treasured place to be in the sight of God. It involves what we say and do, and the thoughts filling the inner recesses of our minds.

He whom Christ sets free is free indeed.

God’s purpose for sending Jesus was more than a rescue mission; He came to show His love and draw people unto Himself.

Life and Death Decision

The contrast between believing and unbelieving is a matter of life and death.

The character of those who believe, are faithful and loyal to Christ. It becomes evident in the way they live. Their attitude toward the light is one of delight and comfort. The light shines on the soul, exposing the transformed new creation in the Lord.

Oh! What a wonderful day for the believer!

Not so for the unbeliever. Everyone is accountable for their actions and choices: light or darkness, lies or truth, condemned or free?

The Heart of God

Father God’s heart is not predisposed to condemnation. The Father sent the Son to answer the question of sin and death. Our eternal destiny is determined on earth, between the dashes of our birth and the day we meet Him face to face.

I wonder who’s going to be more excited on that day? You or Christ?

In Christ Jesus, salvation becomes a reality to a hostile, sin-sick world. Without faith, everyone is “already “condemned and continues to sin.

In Summary

God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son because we were “already” condemned without Him. He needed to come on this search and rescue mission. He didn’t go to all this trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger or tell the world how bad they are.

No! He came to the rescue – to put the world right again.

So, if anyone trusts in Christ, they’re acquitted, yet anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it.

This is the crisis we’re in right now: God’s light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran from it and prefer the dark. They’re really not interested in pleasing the Lord – they’re addicted to denial and illusion, they hate God’s light and will not come near it. They fear painful exposure.

In Conclusion

In the light of God’s love and inevitable judgment, we stand exposed and our souls laid bare. Ask yourself: What does He see? What does He hear? What does He know?

If we see nothing good, obedient, or believing, then we are “already” condemned and not taking the blame so much as being already guilty.

No excuses. Just the truth.

Are you “already” standing in the right relationship with God or “already” condemned? The choice is yours. It’s a matter of life and death.

Please, go into the light and be rescued. God’s love covers a multitude of sins.

If we say we have no sin – refusing to admit that we are sinners – we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth (which the Gospel presents) is not in us – does not dwell in our hearts.If we (freely) admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins (dismiss our lawlessness) and continuously cleanse us from all unrighteousness (everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action). 1 John 1:8-9 Amplified Bible.

May God bless and keep you…