by Frank Baugh

Created on: September 29, 2009

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It is hard to avoid the words of John 3:16. You find it in the strangest places. A current college Football player and Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow wears John 3:16 in the glare patches under his eyes when he plays. Probably no other verse has been heard of as much and been responsible for converting more people to Christianity. But, as with so many things, it needs to be put into context.

The verse comes from a discourse that Jesus was having with Nicodemus who was a Pharisee that had snuck out under the cover of darkness to visit Jesus. He tells Jesus that he must be a teacher from God "for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." Jesus continues by telling him that a man must be "born again" (another prevalent term in modern Christianity) to see the Kingdom of Heaven. Nicodemus is perplexed by this saying and asks how a person could climb back in the womb to be born again. Jesus explains that one must be born again of the Spirit in order to attain to the Father. Jesus chides Nicodemus that he a Master of Israel should understand such spiritual concepts. Jesus then goes further to say that he will be lifted up as the serpent on the pole by Moses in the Old Testament, and then follows the famous verse.

What is most interesting though is what follows John 3:16. Verses 17 and 18 contain the following: 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

There is a conflict between verse 17 and verse 18. Verse 17 says God sent his son into the world not to condemn it but in verse 18 makes it quite plain that he (or she as the case may be) that does not believe is condemned. Condemned to what? From the rest of the New Testament we know it is hellfire! We have one of the most loving statements in The Bible blatantly followed by a horrifying threat: you better believe or else!

I wonder about the other people that were alive on the earth at that time (or even now) that never had heard of Jesus. What about the people of Asia, of Africa, of Europe or of the Americas? They weren't able to hear about Jesus. Reckon that they all went in mass to condemnation?

I have mentioned before in previous articles what about good people, who have done well all their lives and lived up to the moral codes of their cultures, who have never heard of Jesus, do they all go to condemnation? What about good moral people of other religions? Do they go to condemnation? Does that seem fair?

Go to the last verse of the third chapter of John; it says: 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Now ask yourself, is the love of God conditional?

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