Faith’s Results:
Justification
The person who believes in Jesus Christ is not judged,
however
he who does not believe is judged already, because he has not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:8).
This powerful statement on salvation by faith in Jesus
Christ indicates the unbeliever is in a continuing state of condemnation because
he has not put his faith in Christ. He has refused to enter into a state of
belief in Christ.
The person who puts his trust in Christ is not being
judged. His judgment for the penalty of sin has already taken place. However,
the person who is not believing has been judged already and is under judgment.
The reason for this judgment is he has not put his trust in the name of the
uniquely-begotten Son of God. He is in a state of unbelief.
Putting your trust in Jesus Christ removes condemnation
because He takes our place and pays the penalty for sin for all who put their
sin problem in His hands (Romans 8:32f).
The apostle John states the saving truth very clearly. The
person who puts his faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior does not come into
judgment. Jesus said emphatically, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My
word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into
judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).
Judgment has already been passed on the person who refuses
to trust in Christ as his Savior.
The unbeliever already stands condemned. The believer in
Jesus Christ on the other hand, is under “no condemnation” (Romans 8:1). He
“will not be condemned” (John 5:24).
What must you do to be condemned? Nothing. What must you do
to be lost? Nothing. “He who does not believe has been judged already, because
he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18b).
The opposite is also true. “He who believes in Him [Jesus
Christ] is not judged” (v. 18a). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall
be saved” is the simple truth of the saving Gospel.
You cannot be lost by trusting in Christ Jesus, but you are
lost if you do not put your trust in Him. When God saves you, it is not because
of anything you do or any virtue you possess.
“He that believes is not condemned.” The moment you believe
on Christ you are not condemned because you are justified. The judgment and
condemnation are removed. That will be just as true a million years from now.
The person who believes on Christ never shall be condemned again. It is removed
once and for all. He has a new relationship and standing before God. “He who
believes in Him is not judged.” Why? Because “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses
us from all sin.”
The moment a person puts his faith in Christ he is freed
from all condemnation—past, present and future. From that moment he stands in
God’s sight as though he were without sin. All of his guilt has been taken from
him and placed on Christ. The Lamb of God has lifted up and carried away all of
our sins! Since that is true our sins cannot be on Him and on us at the same
time. Since all the believer’s sins are on Christ the believer has been set
free, acquitted, and justified. Because his sins are on Christ they are gone
away forever “as far as the east is from the west.” They are blotted out; they
are removed from us forever. He cast them into the depths of the sea. They are
forever under the blood of Jesus.
If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ to save you, God
no longer sees you as a sinner, but as a saint. He accepts you as though you
were perfect. The righteousness of Jesus Christ is yours because of the
substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. God imputed your sins on Christ, and He
imputed the righteousness of Jesus Christ to you when you believed on Christ as
your Savior (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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