“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world; but to save the world through him.”
John 3:17 NIV
The purpose of Christ’s prophesied birth, 3 year earthly ministry and ultimate, personal physical sacrifice was to save a repentant, sinful world, NOT to condemn it. Condemnation had already been established in the Garden of Eden. Only God can condemn and then, only when His Law is broken. God’s Law to all of mankind was given very clearly in Genesis 2:17 when He instructed Adam and Eve, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest, thereof thou shalt surely die.” God set the rules not to sin, He gave the Law and He condemned man to ultimate eternal separation from Him and physical death if they broke His Law! But in His ultimate Mercy, He also gave mankind a path to eternal salvation! If they believed Jesus Christ died for their sins and asked Him for forgiveness of those sins, they would not die but have “…everlasting life.”
One of my favorite stories in the entire Bible is when the Jewish leaders brought forth the GUILTY, adulterous woman to Jesus, and under Mosaic Law, demanded she be stoned to death for her sins. Jesus’s response to them was very clear. If they were without sin, they could cast the first stone. In other words, only those sin FREE would be enabled to execute a sinful person. They, however, knew that if the roles were reversed and they were each held accountable for sinful things they had done, they would also be stoned to death as well. Their response?
“When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
John 8:10-11
Jesus was born sin free and yet He refused to condemn her for her sinful actions! He did not come to earth to condemn, but to save the world! But, there is something much bigger here after telling her since they did not condemn her, neither would He. His last statement sends, I believe, a much bigger message when He said “…go and sin NO more.” While not condemning her, He also DID NOT condone her actions. In other words, she was forgiven for what she had done but told specifically to not do it again!
In today’s world it is so easy, if you are anything like me, to want to “condemn” all the sinful activities of those that are in willful violation of what the Holy Bible says NOT TO DO. Every day we are inundated in the news, on TV shows, in personal conversations, etc. with “politically correct” notions that if we disagree with based on our faith and Biblical principles, we are accused of bigotry, homophobia, misogyny, etc. Even though there is no question, “…all have sinned and fallen short of the glory.” many of these are sins which we would not willfully commit, that DOES NOT allow us to condemn those that sin in the same way the leaders could not stone the woman for adultery or they would be held accountable for their other sins. The fact that we have faith in Jesus and have asked for forgiveness of our sins still DOES NOT enable us to be correct in condemning those continuing in their willful and unrepentant sin!
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”
Luke 6:37
The rise of the term “Silent Majority” arose a number of years ago and basically referred to the majority of American citizens who, even though they disagreed with something, still remained publicly silent on those key issues. For example, when Roe vs. Wade was made into law by the U.S. Supreme Court (in 1973), the vast majority of Americans DID NOT support indiscriminate abortions. Instead, 7 Justices (on a 9 person court) gave women the “right to privacy”, enabling since then for over 50 million children to be murdered “legally”. Nowhere in the Bible does it say abortion is OK but because we said and did nothing about it, the U.S. brought the legalization of abortion to not only the U.S., but with the encouragement of the U.S. State Department, to the rest of the world as well. As horrific as that is, we are still instructed to “…condemn not” those women that have had abortions or the doctors that performed them. As Jesus told the woman though, we are told to “…go and sin NO MORE.” So, what else are we told?
“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong…”
Exodus 23:2 NIV
We are told clearly to avoid the wicked and their sinful ways. Personally, I interpret this to not only mean avoidance of them but we must speak up loudly and bring the Word of God to the unbelievers so they might hopefully see the errors of their ways. While we are told to NOT condemn, I believe these Scriptures are also clear. We are NOT to condone any sinful behavior either. The deceptions of Satan are powerful, even if possible, “…to deceive the elect”. We are told to avoid; to stay away; to not invite them into our homes; to not send them along as if they were doing nothing wrong. While it is not OUR place to condemn them, we must make sure they also know what the Bible says. And yes, for this we will be persecuted as prophesied. Other examples of how the Bible says we should deal with them:
“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.”
Proverbs 4:14
Specifically, in the following passage we are told we will be considered a “partaker” in the sin IF we accept the evil into our home or wish them good luck without telling them what we know is right based on our knowledge of the Bible:
“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine (i.e., the doctrine/laws of Christ), receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
2 John 1:10-11
When we witness sin, it is very easy in our sinful nature to be “envious” of the drunkenness, idolatry, greed, etc. but we are again warned to stay away from them:
“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.”
Proverbs 24:1
I fully understand that some may view these statements as a condemnation of telling sinful people the wrongs of their actions. Rather, the Bible says we need to WARN them of the consequences of their activity if they continue to sin instead of turning away from sin:
“Now we exhort you, brethren, WARN (capitals mine) them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men. SEE THAT NONE RENDER EVIL FOR EVIL UNTO ANY MAN (capitals mine); but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
It won’t be easy! Any of us over the age of 21 have seen things get noticeably and progressively worse over the past 10-20 years. It wasn’t good when we were growing up but it is so much worse today and we haven’t even begun to see how bad it will soon become!
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 3:13-15
The day is fast approaching when a man (the antichrist, not Jesus) will come onto the earth doing miracles, deceiving and promising to correct all our “problems”. He will promise economic stability through his mark by which no one will be able to buy or sell; he will be able to end all international aggravations through a one world government; and, he will end the hatred between peoples and their religions by having a False Prophet create a one-world religion (which worships him). Read more on my posts regarding the coming antichrist at The Mark of the Beast or Satan ain’t all that smart! We are told emphatically though, if we are still here and missed the Rapture (see my post The Rapture – God’s Promise ) we are to still stay away from him and his demonic minions regardless of the enticements he may offer!!
“Wherefore if they say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.”
Matthew 24:26
Again, if you are like me, it will be very difficult in not wanting to condemn those that go against the Will of God. Just in researching and writing this post I have come to a much clearer view of what God has really intended for us. We are NOT to condemn them but we are to make sure all are aware of God’s Judgement on the world and our only path to salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and if we ask Him for forgiveness of our sins AND make every effort to “…go and sin no more.” We are told to stay away from them which means clearly DO NOT CONDONE THEIR SINFUL WAYS!
If you have taken any comfort in this message, please do as the Bible instructs us all to do and that is to “…therefore comfort one another with these words.” Share it/Like it on Facebook and/or LinkedIn or, forward your subscriber email to friends and family and encourage them to subscribe. May God Bless You!
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