Advent Devotion (Day 28) - No Condemnation

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him, might be saved.
John 3:17

What a beautiful statement! The God of the universe, speaking through one of Jesus' closest disciples,  John, wanted to make sure that all of humanity understood His heart.

John wrote this within 60 years of Jesus' return to Heaven. Some of his first readers might have even witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus. With memories of such violence against God Himself, these readers, and those who would follow, may have wondered what God thought of the people He created after what they did to His Son.

In this statement, God reassures them that His purpose in sending Jesus remains...Salvation! Jesus revealed the heart of God the Father in sending God the Son...to bring salvation - rescue, hope, healing -to the world through Him.

Paul goes on to repeat this truth in Romans 8:1-2 when he says "Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

For those who believe in Jesus as their Savior...there is no condemnation...no eternal punishment for our sins. We don't have to fear death and what comes beyond because we have been saved from the penalty for our sins. We are free in Christ!

Paul reiterates this truth again in Romans 8:34 when he asks, "Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God --and He is interceding for us."

So not only are we not condemned for eternity, we have an intercessor who, even now, speaks up on our behalf...the Lord Jesus Christ.