19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
What is it that condemns the sinner before God? Many will say, “It’s how you live before God, and if the good deeds don’t outweigh the bad, you are condemned.” However, what say the scriptures, God’s Word?
1. Sinners are born into this world in a condemned state already.John 3:18 teaches that” he that believeth not is condemned already.” In Psalm 51:5 we read David’s testimony of all who are born into this world, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” There is nothing we ‘do’ to condemn us before God, we ARE condemned already by virtue of being sons of Adam. ‘All have sinned and come short of the glory of God,’ Romans 3:23. Left to ourselves, we would die as we have lived without hope and without God in this world.
2. Sinners show their condemnation by their rebellion against God and His Son-John 3:19 ‘This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light...’ The Light is the LORD Jesus, and His coming into the world was to conquer the dark evil of sin and condemnation that is the sinner’s just dessert, by paying the sin debt of those that the Father gave Him from eternity. And yet, as glorious the Light of the glory of God is, in the face of Jesus Christ, none would see Him, nor come to Him, were it not for the Spirit of God graciously giving us eyes to see and the life to come to Him, 1 Cor. 2:9. The two characteristics of those who remain in condemnation are:
1. They LOVE their darkness. Men are like cock roaches that scurry for cover when the light is shined on them. None would, of themselves, give up their sinful way of life in exchange for the glorious, eternal gift of life from the Giver of life, who gave His life that He might redeem unto God a people for His name. Yet, He does draw each one of those for who He saved and justified at the cross, John 6:37.
2. They HATE the light. It is not that they just prefer not to come to the Light, but they hate it (Christ) [literally to pursue with hatred]. There is nothing passive about this hatred. Such is the nature of every one of us, but for God’s Spirit of grace making us willing in the day of His power, to lay down our arms of rebellion against the LORD, and bow to Him willingly, against our will.
3. Sinners would prefer to die in their condemnation than have their deeds reproved-John 3:20.”The heart is evil above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it,” Jeremiah 17:9. The very Light of salvation they hate, and the very sin that is their condemnation they love dearly. But, when the Spirit of grace converts the sinner’s heart, in God’s purpose and will, there is no more clinging to the dead works of the flesh, but a constant, urgent, continual coming (being drawn) to Christ the Light. It is that the very deeds that once condemned us, now be exposed as evil in the Light of Christ, and thereby repentance toward God and faith in the LORD Jesus be manifest as the very glorious, saving, work of God, by Christ’s sacrificial death.
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