Did Jesus come to judge the world or not? (John 3:17)
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. According to this verse, God did not “send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” He added later, “I judge no one” (John 8:15; cf. 12:47). However, in other places Jesus claimed “authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man” (John 5:27). Indeed, He even claimed, “For judgment I have come into this world” (John 9:39) and the Father “has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
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Tim Maas
Supporter
The primary purpose of Jesus' imcarnation was to make human salvation possible through His sinless life, atoning death, and subsequent resurrection. In that sense, He did not come into the world to condemn it but to save it (as only He could). However, those who fail to avail themselves of the salvation made possible through faith in Him will be judged accordingly, and will experience the eternal consequences of that decision, which will be totally as a result of their own actions, since God has already done everything possible and necessary for them to be saved.
April Streets
Supporter
John 3:17 is correct by informing us that Jesus’ ministry was one of salvation. During the crucifixion, Jesus declared, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). In this display of spiritual excellence, Jesus invokes forgiveness and is far from the position of judge. However, the fact that Jesus stated authority to execute judgment, is not indicative of him actually judging the world during his earthly ministry, but he is arguably stating a truth that would manifest at a different dispensation in time [emphasized]… when everyone will stand at the judgment seat of Christ, to give an account of themselves to God (Romans 14:10-12). As the Spirit of God knows all things (I John 2:20), it was a foreshadowing of what would be forthcoming.
James Kraft
Supporter
First John 2:2. And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. John 3:16 precedes John 3:17. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:18 Believers can no longer be condemned to hell, but unbelievers are condemned already because they have not believed on the name of the Son of God. Believers believe Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house. John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent me, that ALL that seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that BELIEVETH on me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE. Present tense. If you are a WHOSEVER, you have eternal life. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, First Corinthians 15:1-4, for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that BELIEVETH, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
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