John 3:17-19 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.… I. WHAT IT IS THAT GOD HAS ACTUALLY DONE FOR US AS FALLEN SINNERS. 1. What is done? He hath redeemed us. Fallen by sin we are all by nature children of wrath, and according to the rules of justice uniter condemnation. Instead of allowing righteous wrath to take its course, God has interposed in arrest of judgment; not to do an unrighteous thing, not to exercise His mercy at the expense of His justice, but to open a door for lovingkindness. The everlasting Son took into union with Himself the nature that deserved the wrath and placed Himself beneath the falling thunderbolt which would have crushed the world. This was done 1800 years ago, and nothing can be added to it or diminished from it. 2. For whom is this work done? (1) For God, in order that His love might flow out in acts of beneficence while at the same time His justice and purity might remain untainted. (2) For the world. Every sinner therefore may put in his claim. 3. Has God actually saved any one? Is redemption the same as salvation? What is salvation? (1) To have all my sins pardoned. (2) To have my soul renewed unto holiness. (3) To have my body transformed into the likeness of Christ's glorious body. (4) To reign with Christ. In this full sense none are saved. God has made provision and is acting on it, and men are being saved, but are not fully saved this side of heaven. II. WHAT IS IT THAT GOD IS NOW DOING FOR US AS FALLEN SINNERS? 1. He is giving to one sinner after another repentance and forgiveness of sins and a character unto holiness commenced and progressive. During the whole of the dispensation this is the revealed work of the Holy Spirit. 2. To separate the elect from the mass of mankind as His purchased and sanctified ones. 3. He is giving the faith which secures all this, even freedom from condemnation and acceptance in the beloved. 4. Without this faith the old condemnation remains, and a fresh condemnation is added, that following on the rejection of salvation by the only begotten Son of God. (H. McNeile, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. |
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