17"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
18"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
3 comments:
Look at verse 17 specifically. The word "but" tells us that the 1st part contrasts the 2nd. I believe the 1st & 2nd parts are true opposites. "judge" is the antonym of "saved". The antonym that I most often consider for "saved" is "condemned". So, I see "judge" as the synonym of "condemn".
When you say you judge people and make judgments, are you condemning? Is that your intention? Could you use another word to express what you really intend when you "judge"?
That makes sense. But is the Bible always talking about condemnation when it refers to judgement? When I think condemn, I think condemn to hell. Is there another kind of condemnation?
I think there is only one meaning for condemnation. Now, you could be behaving in a manner that condemns you but if you come to Christ with a repentant heart, you can be redeemed! Just think of the justice system. There is a judgment phase (decision) then there is a sentencing phase (condemnation or exhonoration). As long as when you make your judgement you are not pressing forward to the sentencing, you should be okay (of course, depending on your intentions when you judge). That is why I like to think of Judgement Day as Sentencing Day. The day you die, your judgement is set. See the parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus. The rich man couldn't do anything to get out of his Sentence because the opportunity for that would have been while he was alive. He realized that and that is why he wanted someone sent to his brothers.
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