The Catastrophic Consequence of Unbelief
Journey Through the Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
This morning, we conclude our study of Christ’s crucial conversation with Nicodemus. As we already learned, Nicodemus was the one person who should have known Christ and understood that He was the promised Messiah. Unfortunately, for all of the learning and knowledge of the Old Testament law and prophet, Nicodemus, along with the rest of the Sanhedrin, totally missed all the signs that pointed to Jesus as the Messiah. Nicodemus himself stated...
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
The fact that all the religious leaders of Israel did not recognize Christ as Messiah did not surprise our Lord. Instead, Christ, who is God, knew what was within man. Thus, Christ ignored Nicodemus’ initial statement and went straight to the heart of the matter—a fact that reminds me of this verse in Hebrews.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
I think of this verse because Christ is Logos, the Word. John 1 established that fact right at the beginning of this great gospel. Now, in dealing with Nicodemus, God's Word (Logos) quickly and powerfully, like a two-edged sword, pierced through to the real issue of the heart. Nicodemus could not understand anything about Christ. Nothing could be discerned until he was born of the spirit, not just flesh. For that reason, Christ says...
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
This statement then becomes the core principle of all things spiritual. No person born into this world outside of the Lord Jesus is born spiritually alive. That is the point of this entire dialogue with Nicodemus. We are all born sinners.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Our father, Adam, along with Eve, our mother, disobeyed God and allowed sin into this world. Their one act of disobedience brought doom upon the entire human race. Their sin passes from one generation to the next. We know this by all the evil and wickedness in the world today. I submit to you this morning that the world is not getting better. We may have great technology and the ability to do wondrous things, such as fly planes in the sky and even venture into space. Yet, it is incredible how much more sinful and wicked the world grows with every advancement in technology. Never has sin been more open and celebrated than it is today. Our society proves that sin is innate within each person. It also proves the validity of Christ’s statements to Nicodemus.
Throughout this dialogue with Nicodemus, Christ has stated several consequences associated with man’s sinful nature. Let me note a few we have already discussed, and then we will focus on a very severe consequence that comes to the forefront in today’s text.
First, our sin prevents entrance into God’s kingdom.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
There is only one way into God’s kingdom. The way is Jesus Christ. He is the only way. Christ further clarified this by saying...
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Later, Christ proclaims...
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Another consequence of our sin is spiritual ignorance.
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
There was no way Nicodemus could understand or accept the things Christ spoke of, for Nicodemus had not believed. We spent some time in the message two weeks ago making this point.
Faith must proceed understanding. Only when people believe Christ as their personal Savior can they truly understand the things of God.
That was the point when Christ asked, “How shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things?” In 1 Corinthians, we learn that it is only when a person has God’s spirit residing in them that they can know the things of God.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
However, there is one more consequence that is much more severe than these. This consequence, which I speak of, becomes the focal point of these last few verses in this dialogue with Nicodemus.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
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.
Last week’s message was about “belief.”
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
We discussed how a person only needs to look to Jesus and live. Even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, Christ was lifted up before all men upon the cross of Calvary. Christ, God’s only begotten Son, sacrificed Himself upon that cross for all of mankind’s sins. He took that action so we would not perish but have everlasting life. However, everlasting life only comes to those who choose to “believe in him.” The act of believing in Scripture is identified by the word “faith.” Thus, a person must have faith that Christ is God and that He, as God, rewards those who “diligently seek Him.” If you recall, the word “diligently” means doing something in the manner accepted or expected. Consequently, Biblical faith means doing things God’s way as He has determined and nothing more. God determined that a person’s spiritual and eternal salvation only comes through “believing” that His Son died for your sins. Therefore, God sent His Son into the world so that the world (all humanity) might be saved through Him. God did it all. We know this as God’s grace.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
You see, God didn’t have to do this way. God could have destroyed mankind and recreated a new earth and a new race of humanity. Yet, God chose not to do that. Instead, He chose, by His grace, to love us and provide us a means to escape the most severe consequence of sin yet. That is the heart of our message today. A message that is predicated by a choice. Each person is given the choice to accept what Christ did upon the cross or reject God’s plan, as noted in John 3:16. However, in today’s text, Christ establishes a very sobering fact. There are consequences for your choice, bringing us to the first point of the message today.
Condemned Already
Condemned Already
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
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.
Christ specifically states that He came not into the world to condemn it. Why is that? The answer is found in the next two verses. Christ did not come to condemn the world, for the world is already condemned.
Note verse 18 again.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Did you catch the consequence of choice in this verse? Those who believe are not condemned. However, those who do not believe remain in their condemnation. They are condemned already.
We see this explained with a degree of detail in Ephesians 2.
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Note the condition of people before they are “born again.” The word “quickened” means to make alive. It has the sense of being born again or resurrected from the dead. Thus, before we are “quickened” or, as Christ noted, “born again,” we were dead in trespasses and sins.
The word “trespass” means overstepping or going beyond God’s moral boundary or limit. “Sin” is any action or feeling that oversteps or exceeds what God has required.
EXAMPLES: There are two examples from Scripture that aptly apply. First, God clearly laid out to Adam the parameters or boundaries God expected. He gave Adam dominion over the entire garden. Adam was to tend the garden, which, in turn, provided physical nourishment. Adam could eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, with the exception of one tree. God forbade Adam to eat of that tree. However, as we know, Satan tempted Eve. Eve then looked at the tree, saw that it was good to eat, and appeared that it could make one wise. She desired it. She took it. She ate it and gave it to Adam, to whom the moral boundary was given. He trespassed. He overstepped and ate what was forbidden by God. In doing so, trespasses and sin entered into the heart of man.
The other example that comes to my mind is the Law. God laid before all of Israel the Ten Commandments written in stone. It was God’s moral law. Later, during Christ’s ministry and teaching here on earth, He noted that all ten commandments are summed up in two things. We are expected by God to love Him with all heart, soul, and mind. Additionally, we are to love our neighbors with the same love by which we love ourselves. Yet, as simple as those two parameters may be, man has absolutely failed in both. Why is that?
The answer is simple. We are all born condemned already due to Adam’s failure to obey in the garden. Now, each person born into this world is born, as Ephesians so adequately describes, as “children of disobedience” and “wrath.”
Again, I point you to Romans 5:12
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
If you tie that verse to Christ’s statement to Nicodemus when He said...
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
It all begins to make sense. Every person is born already condemned because we are born with Adam’s sinful nature. We were born already with a nature to disobey God and with anger towards God. It is for this reason that men and women today naturally reject God and His Word.
Note again this truthful statement by Christ.
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.
Let me give you two practical illustrations that prove this point.
The first illustration is one I have used many times already. However, it once again fits with today’s message. There is not a parent here this morning who teaches their children to take sinful actions. We do not teach our children to lie, cheat, steal, or throw things when angry. Amazingly, children already know how to do these things. Instead, we spend an enormous amount of energy coupled with much anxiety teaching our kids to act morally right. However, let me add this. With each generation, the desire to teach morality declines because the more sinful adults become, the less they desire to teach their children moral uprightness, consequently, with each passing generation, morality declines, and wickedness increases. It happened in the generation leading up to Noah’s flood. History is repeating itself even today. However, my point remains the same. Christ said we are already condemned. How is that possible? It is possible because we are born with the exact sinful nature of disobedience and wrath as our father, Adam.
The second illustration is this. Again, it is a straightforward illustration that brings together both Romans 5:12 and John 3:18. Before Adam sinned, there was a close relationship between God and man. There was sweet fellowship and communion. Nothing stood between the two. Man enjoyed the full blessings of God. God enjoyed the excellent companionship of man. All was wonderful until sin interrupted the two. Note that just as I have my index fingers together, so were God and man. However, sin entered man’s heart when he disobeyed and trespassed God’s moral boundary. Such sin completely ruined man’s relationship with God. Scripture is clear that God is holy and cannot tolerate sin.
44 For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
45 For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Due to man’s sin, God cast man out of the garden. This action demonstrated a separation, you might say a death, of man’s relationship with God. In that moment, man did not die physically, but spiritual death occurred, and man experienced the wrath of God. It was then we were condemned. Since that day, each person born into the world was born already a sinner and already condemned. The evidence of this came via the first two men born into the world - Cain and Abel. Cain committed the first murder, stemming from his own disobedience to God’s moral law. And so it has continued from generation to generation until the day we were born into this world. On that day, you and I were born already separated from God by our sin. We are already condemned. If we continue this way without any hope and without any escape, we die physically, still spiritually dead, and separated from God. We die in our condemnation with no hope of an eternal life with God filled with joy, peace, and contentment. We are most miserable men indeed!
Praise God, the story does not end there!
Condemnation Avoided
Condemnation Avoided
Let me finish this message by bringing you back to John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
These verses are at the center of this entire conversation with Nicodemus. Christ, God’s only begotten Son, came to save us from predetermined condemnation.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
One of the great passages of Scripture explaining God’s plan for redemption is Ephesians 2.
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Christ is the answer to escaping or avoiding our predetermined condemnation. There is no other way. He is the way.
All of which brings us back to one thing alone.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The key words in this verse are “whosoever believeth.”
What must a person believe?
Each person must believe that they are a sinner already condemned. They must also believe that Christ came to save them from their condemnation. They must believe in His death, burial, and resurrection as the means of salvation.
Doing so will lead a person to repent and confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is the promise that comes straight from God to us.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Conclusion
Conclusion
God offers each person a choice. As I just read, you can choose to believe God or not. It is your choice. However, let me remind you that your choice has consequences. The most severe consequence you face is the fact that you are already condemned. It is a fact of life that does not change. However, the good news is that you can avoid your predetermined condemnation by believing in Christ as your personal Savior. How will you choose?
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
Why do you think Nicodemus struggled to understand that Jesus was the Messiah, despite his knowledge of the Old Testament law and prophecy?
What do you think it means to be born again spiritually? How does this relate to the concept of sin and salvation?
According to the text, what are some of the consequences of sin? How do these consequences impact our relationship with God?
Why is faith necessary for understanding the things of God? How does faith impact our ability to comprehend spiritual truths?
In your opinion, what can we do as individuals to overcome the consequences of sin and draw closer to God? How can we develop a deeper understanding of spiritual truths?
