Self-Condemnation of Unbelievers

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

(John 3:17-19)

When unbelievers stand before God on their day of judgment, the purpose will not be to determine their innocence or guilt, as all will have already been declared guilty before God (Romans 3:19). If unbelievers are already declared guilty, when did this happen, and who declared them guilty? The answer is that each unbeliever is declared guilty while still alive on earth, and each one declares themselves guilty before God. In the above passage of Scripture, our Lord Jesus teaches that those who reject the gospel preached to them in this life effectively condemn themselves for eternity. This is why they will have no defence before the Lord on that day, realizing with absolute horror that they pronounced themselves guilty by rejecting the salvation God provided.

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

(Acts 13:45-46)

In the above passage of Scripture, the Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, confirms the truth taught by Jesus that all unbelievers condemn themselves in this life. This passage shows that those who reject God’s salvation pronounce judgment on themselves as unworthy of eternal life. Consider the gravity of this: on the day of judgment, unbelievers will realize they had a God-given opportunity to accept His salvation but deliberately scorned His grace and mercy, thus judging themselves unworthy of eternal life. No wonder our Lord describes the condemned as weeping and gnashing their teeth for eternity.

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him-- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

(John 12:46-48)

In the above passage of Scripture, our Lord Jesus clearly states what will convict unbelievers on that day. They will see a replay of the moment when they heard His word of salvation and rejected it.

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."

(Romans 10:16-18)

Will anyone on the day of judgment be able to claim they never heard the gospel? According to the Holy Spirit, no. In the above passage of Scripture, He reveals that the word of God has gone out to the entire world, leaving all without excuse. When Scripture states that the word of God has reached the ends of the world, it does not mean everyone has heard it directly. Rather, it means God has made His word available to all. Christian gatherings worldwide proclaim the word of God, and even before the church age, Jewish assemblies did the same (Acts 15:21). People know these assemblies exist but choose to ignore them. On their day of judgment, they will recognize that God provided opportunities to hear His word, which they deliberately disregarded. Regarding Jewish gatherings, I am not suggesting they proclaimed the gospel of salvation, but rather that God’s word was proclaimed, and those willing to hear could be led to righteousness through faith, as many Old Testament Gentile believers can attest.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,

(Romans 1:18-22)

Even those in remote parts of the earth, who have never heard the gospel preached, will be without excuse on that day. In the above passage of Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches that God has revealed His eternal power and Godhead to every person. Yet, each one will have rejected this knowledge, embracing the lie that God was not their creator but that idols of human making were. Thus, a clear truth emerges: people are not condemned to hell because of their sins but because they reject God and His salvation.

Michael E.B. Maher

The End of the Age

Buy Now

Donate

Payoneer