Theological Correctness

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.” [John 3.18]

In other words, God's judgment (damnation) is the default condition of any given human up until such time as that individual believes in Jesus. This default condition is one and the same as that of Satan whose sentence is eternal punishment (again, damnation) dating back to the Garden of Eden. Satan, who rejected God, and those who follow suit by likewise rejecting Jesus Christ, equally share in God's damnation and judgment.

It is theologically correct then to call these "God-damned unbelievers."

Shocking? Indeed! Appalling? Of course! Heartbreaking? ...What???

THINK!

Until we truly comprehend the blatant accuracy of this statement, we will neither experience for ourselves nor share God's heart for unbelievers. All are damned by God as a result of Satan's trickery and our own personal unwillingness to confess sin. But in God's unfailing love for "damned" mankind, the story of the Bible unfolds revealing a masterful plan to fulfill the irrevocable sentence of damnation another way - by a perfect substitute - Jesus.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. [John 3.16-17]

So, it is also theologically correct to call these "God-loved unbelievers."

Believing in Christ means we respond to God's love and come to Him. Coming to Him means His light shines on us. His light shining on us means we are exposed. Being exposed means we have nothing left to hide. Having nothing left to hide means we are free. Being free means we are no longer damned.

On the other hand...

Not believing in Christ means we do not respond to God's love and come to Him. Not coming to Him means His light does not shine on us. His light not shining on us means we are not exposed. Not being exposed means we have everything to hide. Having everything to hide means we are not free. Not being free means we are eternally damned.

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. [John 3.19-21]

Father, I do believe. And, I have nothing to hide - all the punishment that Jesus took should have been mine. Thank You for Jesus.