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John 3:17 - Jesus Came To Save Not Condemn.

John 3:17 (NIV) For God did not send his Son 
into the world to condemn the world, but to save 
the world through him. 

COMMENTARY PEARL

Because of Our Need
   Can you imagine prospective parents 
saying, "We'd like to adopt Johnny, but first we 
want to know a few things. Does he have a house 
to live in? Does he have money for tuition? 
Does he have a ride to school every morning and 
clothes to wear every day? Can he prepare his own 
meals and mend his own clothes?" 
   No agency would stand for such talk. Its 
representative would lift her hand and say, "Wait a minute. 
You don't understand. You don't adopt Johnny 
because of what he has; you adopt him because of 
what he needs. He needs a home." 
   The same is true with God. He doesn't 
adopt us because of what we have. He doesn't give 
us his name because of our wit or wallet or 
good attitude ... Adoption is something we 
receive, not something we earn. [Grace For The Moment 
SB By Max Lucado re John 3:17] 

COMMENTARY 

Already Judged
   As a society, Americans are fond of their 
rights. We're very protective of our liberties, even 
when they might bring harm rather than good. That 
can be true of spiritual matters as well. For 
example, exercising the "right" to reject God's plan 
of salvation leaves a person in a condemned 
condition. 
   I have heard the following phrase often 
in my years of ministry: "I don't believe God 
is going to condemn me to hell." I agree, but 
not with the comment's intended meaning--that a 
person is worthy of heaven on the basis of his own 
merit. You see, it is true that the Lord doesn't 
condemn people to hell. He allows them to opt for 
that eternal destination themselves. They have a 
right to choose. 
   God says that those who do not believe in 
Jesus Christ have been judged already (v. 18). In 
other words, by rejecting--or politely 
ignoring--their need for a Savior, unbelievers have chosen 
to remain unsaved and unforgiven. Scripture 
teaches that there will one day be a judgment, but 
God has already determined that those who trust 
in Christ will stand with Him while the rest 
will be sent away (Matt. 25:34-46). An 
unrepentant man or woman is not condemned by God but, 
rather, has chosen to remain in the company of all 
those condemned by their own free will. 
   God desires that everyone come to a 
saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ (2 Peter 
3:9). To that end, He has granted each person the 
right to decide whether or not to follow in 
obedience. However, those who reject the Savior are 
forewarned that they have settled for condemnation. [In 
Touch Daily Devotional by Charles Stanley at 
www.intouch.org] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

Say Yes To Him
   Only God saves. If we could save 
ourselves, why would we need a Savior? Jesus did not 
enter the world to help us save ourselves. He 
entered the world to save us from ourselves. 
   As a Boy Scout, I earned a lifesaving 
merit badge. I never actually saved anyone. In 
fact, the only people I saved were other Boy 
Scouts who didn't need to be saved. During training 
I would rescue other trainees. We took turns 
saving each other. But since we weren't really 
drowning, we resisted being rescued. 
   "Stop kicking and let me save you," I'd 
say. 
   It's impossible to save those who are 
trying to save themselves. 
   You might save yourself from a broken 
heart or going broke or running out of gas. But 
you aren't good enough to save yourself from 
sin. You aren't strong enough to save yourself 
from death. 
   You need a Savior.
   Because Jesus came, you have one.
   When you say yes to him, he says yes to 
you. [You Can Count On God by Max Lucado] 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study 
Guides: 
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/  

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657