Have you ever been judged for your belief in someone or something? Who is it that was passing judgement on you? Was the judgment fair?
The bible has record of a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a religious leader. He was trying to understand Jesus. In this story Jesus shares some incredible things:
#1. There is a spiritual life that is initiated by God’s Holy Spirit. It has a clear beginning. Jesus compared it to birth, a new life born to live.
#2. This spiritual life is what gives people the ability to understand God and the work of God’s kingdom. We can’t make sense of God without this spiritual life.
#3. God loves the world. He sent His one and only Son to bring us into relationship with Him forever.
#4. God did not send Jesus into the world to judge it, but rather, to save it.
#5. There is no judgement by God or from God against anyone who believes in Jesus.
#6. There is a judgement by God for those who do not believe in Jesus as God’s one and only Son.
#7. The judgement is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than light, for their actions were evil.
#8. People who love evil are afraid of having their sin exposed, so they avoid Jesus.
#9. To those who do what is right, they draw near to Jesus. In doing this others can see their commitment to doing what God wants.
#10. Ultimately, relationship with God is determined by belief in Jesus as God’s one and only son.
What God has provided us through Jesus Christ is a relationship that fulfills any judgement on my life for sin and brokenness. A ruling of judgement is completely satisfied (sentence fulfilled) through belief in Jesus Christ as God’s one and only son.
While the world may judge for expressions of faith, and religion, especially related to Jesus, God releases me from judgement and invites me into the spiritual life of His Kingdom forever.
It’s an easy choice.
(John 3:1-21)