“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. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil (John 3:16-19).
“When we go to Christ’s manger something happens… We are judged or redeemed.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Like it or not, judgment is essential to the Christmas message. Christmas is a celebration of the Incarnation of the eternally begotten Son of God. Yes, God sent the Son… that the world might be saved! That begs the question, “Saved from what, from whom?” John the evangelist answers, “He who does not believe has been judged already.” Why? “…because men loved the darkness… for their deeds were evil” (John 3:18-19).
Continue reading “Judged or Redeemed”
