John 3:18

[Greg_McPherran]

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

This would seem to say that people who do not believe in Jesus are condemned but we don’t teach that. What does John 3:18 mean?

Greg

 

[trogiah]

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

This would seem to say that people who do not believe in Jesus are condemned but we don’t teach that. What does John 3:18 mean?

Greg

I believe it means this:

Every body lives by some rule. Everyone puts faith in some god. Every one listens to some Voice. The rule that Jesus gave us was to love others as he has loved us. The God we are called to put our faith in is the Creator and Master of the Universe. The Voice that called Jesus “my beloved son” was the Voice of Reality.

Other rules we follow will eventually fail us and leave us condemned. (Later in John, Jesus tells the Pharisees, “Do not imagine that I will be your accuser, The one to accuse you is Moses in whom you have put your faith” I think what Jesus was saying was that the Pharisees had made their faith into a legalistic slavery to the law Moses had given them but had failed to keep the top priorities which was simply the Love of God and the Love of neighbor.)

Someone who makes Money their top priority eventually is lost because they can’t take it with them. Someone who makes beauty there greatest love eventually is condemned because all beauty fades.

etc. etc.

You asked an important question. Hope this helps.

-Jim

 

[Greg_McPherran]

Does John 3:18 apply to all humans today? What does this mean about people who do not believe in Jesus?

Greg

 

[Todd_Easton]

In context, John 3:18, is addressed to “a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews,” who said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” In other words, the condemnation for not believing in Jesus in John 3:18 is addressed to those who had seen the signs Jesus had performed but refused to follow him because they “loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)

This is similar to the situation in Matthew 11:20-24:
Then he [Jesus] began to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Recognizing that faith in Jesus and faith in his Catholic Church are gifts from God, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, in paragraphs 846-847:
“[A]ll salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body…[However, those] who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.”

Therefore, generalizing John 3:18, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
679. Christ is Lord of eternal life. Full right to pass definitive
judgement on the works and hearts of men belongs to him as redeemer of the
world. He “acquired” this right by his cross. The Father has given “all
judgement to the Son”. Yet the Son did not come to judge, but to save
and to give the life he has in himself. By rejecting grace in this
life, one already judges oneself, receives according to one’s works, and
can even condemn oneself for all eternity by rejecting the Spirit of
love.
…
682. When he comes at the end of time to judge the living and the dead,
the glorious Christ will reveal the secret disposition of hearts and will
render to each man according to his works, and according to his acceptance
or refusal of grace.

 

[YAQUBOS]

Peace be with you!

John 3:18 applies to all humans. Jesus said:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” ( John 3:16 )

He didn’t say that the Son came just for some people.

And the following words apply also to the whole world.

So all who don’t believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are condemned, and are dead in Sin. NO ONE can see the Kingdom of Heaven if he is not BORN AGAIN of the Spirit:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ( John 3:3 )

In Love,
Yaqubos†

 

[jc_escobar]

YAQUBOS:

So all who don’t believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are condemned, and are dead in Sin. NO ONE can see the Kingdom of Heaven if he is not BORN AGAIN of the Spirit:

Hi Yaqubos,

What exactly does this being BORN AGAIN imply for you?

Blessings,
J.C.

 

[YAQUBOS]

Grace to you!

jc_escobar:

Hi Yaqubos,

What exactly does this being BORN AGAIN imply for you?

Blessings,
J.C.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” ( John 1:12-13 )

Important points to notice:

• As many as received Him ( Jesus ).
• Only these have received the RIGHT to become children of God ( Born again ).
• These have received Him by believing in His name ( as personal Lord and Savior ).
• These are not children of God by inheritence ( not of blood nor of the will of flesh or man ).

In Love,
Yaqubos†

 

[Melchior]

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

This would seem to say that people who do not believe in Jesus are condemned but we don’t teach that. What does John 3:18 mean?

Greg

Greg,

Why wouldn’t you believe that? If no one comes to the Father but through Christ, then that would indicate those who don’t will not be saved. I mean this sincerely, if we can be saved if we reject Christ then why be a Christian? It becomes meaningless.

I think it could not be more clear. If you don’t believe in Christ you are condemned. I cannot fathom that the Catholic Church does not teach this. If I am wrong and she does then my journey stops here and now since scripture over and over again makes clear that rejecting Christ is damnable.

Mel

 

[ahimsaman72]

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

This would seem to say that people who do not believe in Jesus are condemned but we don’t teach that. What does John 3:18 mean?

Greg

I think Todd Easton expounded well on this, but I will add my opinion. I must say that this always troubled me because it seems exclusive. I can accept easily the first part, “Whoever believes in him will not be condemned.” The second part is much more difficult to me, nevertheless it is still true.

At this point, I believe in predestination and election, therefore to me it shows a clear distinction in this verse that some will be saved and some lost. There are tares and there are wheat. Which person belongs to which group is God’s business.

 

[ahimsaman72]

Greg_McPherran:

Does John 3:18 apply to all humans today? What does this mean about people who do not believe in Jesus?

Greg

Greg, do you have a problem with “Africans who never hear of Jesus, therefore they are not saved and go to hell?” Does that seem harsh and unloving? When I think of that (or used to) I would be very upset and have sympathy for those who never hear of Jesus and therefore would be condemned.

The catechism explains very well its position on those situations. I won’t paraphrase here, but it does explain about baptisms of desire, blood and so forth. I can’t give you the link here, but you can look it up easily enough.

As I have begun to learn Calvinism and sovereignty of God, I can see things much clearer with respect to this kind of situation. I am a practicing Baptist who has been contemplating conversion, so my viewpoints are naturally of protestant nature, but I believe the present Catholic position on salvation is stepping in the right direction (as I understand it), although obviously Calvinism and Catholicism are at odds in many, many respects.

 

[Greg_McPherran]

Hi Ahimsaman,

ahimsaman72:

Africans who never hear of Jesus, therefore they are not saved…

I do disagree with that and the Church teaches it is no fault of their own.

I do not see Jesus’ statement as referring to people who have never heard the gospel. However, I do ask if Jesus’ statement does refer to people today who have heard about Jesus and the gospel and still do not believe in Him.

Greg

 

[Todd_Easton]

Greg_McPherran:

However, I do ask if Jesus’ statement does refer to people today who have heard about Jesus and the gospel and still do not believe in Him.

I don’t think Jesus’ condemnation refers to people who have simply heard something about Jesus. However, I think it does refer to people who have heard about Jesus and suspect what they have heard is true. If they fail to act on their suspicions, then they would be culpable and subject to condemnation.

A similar situation is mentioned in paragraph 846 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it says:
“Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.”

Remember what Jesus said:
“And that servant who knew his master’s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.” (Luke 12:47-48)

 

[ahimsaman72]

Greg_McPherran:

Hi Ahimsaman,

I do disagree with that and the Church teaches it is no fault of their own.

I do not see Jesus’ statement as referring to people who have never heard the gospel. However, I do ask if Jesus’ statement does refer to people today who have heard about Jesus and the gospel and still do not believe in Him.

Greg

Greg,
I would have to agree with you. That seems to be the sentiment expressed. I always thought in the past it could apply to both those who never heard and those who have heard, but I’m beginning to change that.

 

[CANman]

Man, we need to be very careful of using any or a few Scriptures to build a whole doctrine upon. My understanding of verses such as these is that they are intended for a general audience. In other words, under NORMAL circumstances, such and such would be the case. But as we know, there are sometimes extenuating circumstances, and as such God is not constrained to be limited to the strict interpretation of the Law. For instance, in John 3:18, it states if you “do not believe” you will be condemned. But how can you be condemned if what has been presented to you is not the REAL Gospel, i.e. the TV evangelist? Will you be condemned for rejecting a psuedo-Jesus? So I believe this verse is specifically intended for those who have presented with the Truth properly, and then rejected it, as a previous poster intimated. Our job as Catholics is go out and preach the REAL JESUS to a confused world.

 

[Shibboleth]

I would look at it this way.

If your friend tells you something you have a choice whether to believe in what that person said or not to believe.

If your friend never tells you that something you are not confronted with the choice of whether to believe it or not.

The same thing exists with Jesus and the Gospel – if a person is never exposed to Jesus they do not have the option to believe or disbelieve in him. So in the end the verse in question really does not apply to such people.

They have neither believed or disbelieved in Jesus and his teachings.

 

[E.E.N.S]

Shibboleth:

I would look at it this way.

If your friend tells you something you have a choice whether to believe in what that person said or not to believe.

If your friend never tells you that something you are not confronted with the choice of whether to believe it or not.

The same thing exists with Jesus and the Gospel – if a person is never exposed to Jesus they do not have the option to believe or disbelieve in him. So in the end the verse in question really does not apply to such people.

They have neither believed or disbelieved in Jesus and his teachings.

You could also relate this to the hot/cold/lukewarm verse…hot being the saints (perhaps); cold being those who have never heard (perhaps); and the lukewarm could be those who have heard but choose not to follow Christ…(perhaps)

 

[Greg_McPherran]

The key is that Jesus words are extremely strong.

Where would this put many people in America today for example, who clearly are aware of the Church and Jesus and yet do not believe in Him?

I also don’t understand “already condemned”. I understand there is always a chance to repent so I don’t understand how someone can “already” be condemned.

I also think we need to be very careful about watering down Jesus’ teachings.

Greg

 

[E.E.N.S]

YAQUBOS:

Important points to notice:

• As many as received Him ( Jesus ).

Eucharist

- Only these have received the RIGHT to become children of God ( Born again ).

Baptism

- These have received Him by believing in His name ( as personal Lord and Savior ).

What does it mean to you to “believe?” And why do you believe in the Bible in the first place?

- These are not children of God by inheritence ( not of blood nor of the will of flesh or man ).

…not of man, no, but through the Body of Christ.

 

[mlchance]

YAQUBOS:

So all who don’t believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are condemned, and are dead in Sin. NO ONE can see the Kingdom of Heaven if he is not BORN AGAIN of the Spirit:

That’s “no one can see the Kingdom of Heaven if he is not born again of water and the Spirit” (my emphasis).

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[Steven_Merten]

NAB MAT 21:31
Jesus said to them, **"I assure you that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God **before you. When John came preaching a way of holiness, you put no faith in him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe in him. Yet even when you saw that, you did not repent and believe in him.

How does one go to heaven by “believing” in John and putting “faith” in John. If you do a bible on disk word scan on the word “Believe”, you will see that it means to do what God tells you to do. Obey! John, filled with the Holy Spirit, told the people what Jesus and the Father wanted them to do and therefore “believing” in John or having “faith” in John (doing what he tells you to do) gets people into heaven.

NAB WIS 12:2
Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little, warn them, and remind them of the sins they are committing, that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!

NAB JOH 3:36

Whoever believes in the Son has life eternal. Whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure the wrath of God.

---

******NAB LUK 8:13 **
Those on the rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. They have no root; **they believe **for a while, but fall away in time of temptation.

NIV PSA 78:32

In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.

NAB MAT 7:21

"None of those who cry out, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.Peace in Christ,
Steven Merten
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com