Just seeing John 3:16, many who read this will say the quote with no problem, but how many would recognize or recite John 3:17 with such ease? (If you can't recite it, then your job now is to look it up!)
In the past few decades, I truly feel the church has lost site of the fact that Christ didn't come to condemn the world and that we (the church) are now his representative here. As such, we too should not condemn the world. Does this mean that we should not declare things as sin, certainly not! We must identify sin, but unless the individual calls out to Christ as their salvation, then it would do them no good to try to live up to standards that the church is having trouble keeping.
Read now what the Apostle Paul says about friendship with sin Vs. friendship with the people Christ didn't come to condemn. 1st. Corinthians 5:9-13.
Bottom line in what I am saying - we know that the world is perishing (we as Christians can't stop this, it is God's plan!) That being said however; we need to love those that are currently condemned no matter what we may see as vice in their life. Furthermore, we need to hold those who claim Christ as Lord to a higher standard. When a brother or sister stumbles - we need to hold them to account as we lift them up. If they refuse to repent; then sadly they by definition have rejected not you, but Christ.
Thankfully there is Grace!
Contributed by Duke Clements
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