Many years ago I visited a large basement which was used for keeping medical equipment, bandages, etc. It had been flooded with dirty water from the street above. An expert examined the packages of bandages. Some were obviously soiled but others did not seem too badly affected on the outside. However he ordered them all to be placed on trolleys and then he wrote in bold red letters on a big placard attached to each trolley the word “CONDEMNED”. Everything had to be burned.
A very religious man, a Rabbi called Nicodemus came and spoke to the Lord Jesus one night. Nicodemus had a great knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures and it is likely that he lived a respectable, moral upright life. To an observer, he did not look as if he was badly affected by sin, yet the Lord Jesus said, “he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God,” John 3.18.
Some people imagine that they will have to wait until some ‘judgment day,’ far in the future to discover whether they have merited a place in heaven or whether they will be sent to hell for ever. Again, some think that only those who commit dreadful sins like murder or robbery will be condemned to a place in hell. However “sin is the transgression of the law,” 1John 3.4. Every time you break any of God’s laws, you are therefore guilty of committing sin against Him. The Lord is “of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity,” Habakkuk 1.13. That is to say He is so holy that He cannot look lightly or with ‘tolerance’ on evil as some men may do. Actions, words and even thoughts which most people think are of little importance do not escape His notice; He has a perfect, accurate record of them all.
John 3.18 tells us that every unbeliever is “condemned already.” Isn’t it dreadful to think that you have already sinned enough to be “condemned”, even though your life may be outwardly decent, respectable or even religious. Hearing this often comes as a shock to people; some resent it, others just want to forget about it and hope that everything will work out favourably in the end. However the solemn fact remains; you are “condemned already.” Would it not be wise to face up to the seriousness of your sin now, rather than continue on in unbelief or carelessness?
Others, realising that they do not feel that they are acceptable to God at present, would like to do something to free themselves from this ‘condemnation’. They try to improve their lives, join a church organisation or do charitable acts. These things may be very good and commendable, but they will not lift the sentence which has been passed on you — “condemned already.”
The same verse, John 3.18, that tells us “he that believeth not is condemned already” also shows us the only means by which that condemnation can be removed. “He that believeth on Him (Christ) is not condemned.” It is not a mixture of Christ’s work and merits and your own which removes the condemnation; it is simple faith in Christ only. He is the Person who came down from heaven and went all the way to the Cross and endured all God’s righteous judgment against sin. There, He laid the only proper basis on which God can maintain His holy righteous character and pardon a repentant sinner.
Any person who puts his faith in Christ is described as being “in Christ Jesus.” In Romans 8.1, we are reminded “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” No need to wait for some future day for God to decide on his destiny. This is the great truth which brings settled peace to the soul of the believer. For the believer, condemnation is past; Christ the holy and sinless substitute has taken his place in death and judgment, so he can sing truthfully —
John 3.18 divides people into just two classes — “condemned already” and “not
condemned”. Into which class do you fit?