Not to Condemn, but to Save

John 3:16 is quite possibly the best-known scripture in the Bible.  But God has hidden,  in John 3:17, a key for us in our walk as ministers of reconciliation.


"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him".

It is easy to be critical of or to condemn those who don't follow Him.  That's our flesh nature.  But He came to save.  And our born-again nature as His partners in securing His creation for His glory should be evident in the way we deal with people.  Jesus came to save the world.  People.

Certainly we aren't to tolerate acts of sin and injustice - He didn't - but our first response should rise from an awareness of the need of the salvation of the person.  If we can separate the person in need of salvation from the behavior in need of condemnation, we would be a more accurate reflection of Him.

Q4U:  Can you think of a time that you separated the person from their behavior and were able to see reconciliation take place?