A pastor jokingly told his people involved in
playing ball during a Summer of Service in their city not to worry if they lost
because “there is no condemnation for those in Christ.” He said that to
encourage the young people involved in volunteering and recreation. But he also
said that because it is theologically correct! Jesus was saying the same thing
in John, chapters 3, 5 and 12, as Paul has written in Romans 8:3. That, on the
cross, Christ “condemned sin in sinful man.” Remember, “condemned” is the same
word as judged in the original language. That is why Romans 8:1 reads, “Now
therefore, there is now no condemnation [krisis] for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This means even when we
lose, even when we fall short of the glory of God, we win! Because in the end,
God wins! Just like He did on the cross.
So whatever else the Bible has to say about
judgment in the end time, it has to be consistent with what the Gospel and the
Cross reveal about judgment. Why? Because the Bible writers use the words for
judgment and condemnation [and the forms of them] interchangeably for all three
places judgment is described in Scripture, including the end time.
This is where Jesus goes next in John 5. “Moreover,
the Father judges no one, but has
entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they
honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent
him. I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me
has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to
life.” (John 5:22-24)
Isn’t that a powerful statement? Whoever comes
near to hear and believe has eternal life. Present tense. Then, Jesus adds
these staggering words. “They will not be condemned.” This is another form of the word judged, krisis in Greek. You have
crossed over from death to life. Point number one: People far from God are
precious to God. Point number two: People near to God are precious to God too.
Why? Because they’ve already passed over from death to everlasting life! They
are in Christ, “the Son.” They have eternal life now.
“I tell you the truth [Jesus says], a time is
coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and
those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has
granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to
judge because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is
coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those
who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to
be condemned.” (Verses 25-29)
We don’t have time to go into all the details
about the end time that Jesus is referring to here. The important thing that
Jesus is saying is point number three: the risk is worth the
reward. Believing that people far and near to God are
precious to God is a risk because going out of our way to love them confuses
the church and messes up our lives in a good way. But so do babies and people keep
having them right? Why? Because the risk is worth the reward! And it’s the same
way with Jesus.
Because what Jesus has in store for those that
love Him isn’t some cheap parting gift on “The Price Is Right” if you don’t win
the Showcase Showdown. No! Because the showdown has already been won! What God
has in store for those in the end time is even more of the same, love, joy and
peace. Yes, patience will still be required. Especially of the saints, as
Revelation reveals. But kindness, gentleness, self-control—all the fruit of the
Spirit and spiritual gifts you have now—will be multiplied and made richer in
the end time. And after that, we will get even more. That’s the actual context
of that text about heaven: “No eye has seen nor ear heard the things which God
has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
That is true of heaven and it is also true of
everything we experience with Jesus before then. Even during the end time
judgment, which John 12:48 describes this way: “There is a judge for the one
who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will
condemn him at the last day.” There is an end time judgment for those who reject
Jesus. But one for those who don’t reject Jesus is not necessary because they
have already passed from death to life! All the end time judgment does for them
is validate in heaven the decisions they have already made on earth, as Jesus
guaranteed in Matthew 18:18. This is interesting: One way to define the Hebrew
word “cleansed” in Daniel 8. It can simply mean “to validate.”
But for those who don’t reject Jesus, the prizes
are awarded now. And last forever. And I think that’s what Jesus is telling us
through the words of John today. Number one: People far from God are precious to God. This is why He goes out
of his way to draw them close. Number two: People close to God are precious to God too. This is why He goes
out of his way to keep them close and not in crisis. Number three: Believing both of these
affirmations is a risk because it confuses the church and messes with your life
and your spouse and your church and your children and everything else in a good
way. But the risk is so worth the reward. This is a joyful meaningful life
worth living with Jesus now and throughout all eternity. This is what Jesus was
talking about. This is what he offered that paralytic. And this is what He is
offering to you again today.
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