Not to condemn…but to save… – Sunday, April 03, 1955
Of the seventh day preceding Easter, John the Beloved and others record how the multitude acknowledged the Master for what He was: the King of Israel, Messiah, and Savior. Less than one week later, with false accusation and the mockeries of men, he was on the cross—and there was death and darkness and despair.
But these were followed by dawn and light and life, by resurrection and redemption from death. Some nineteen centuries have passed since then, and the “opposition in all things” is still sharply in evidence: Still there is the struggle of evil and good, error and truth, darkness and light, death and life.
But despite all discouragements, and sometimes despair, there is the blessed reassuring certainty that the Lord God who gave us life and made us in His image will, with our willingness, lead us to further light, to fuller life, and happiness.
For this cause were all the commandments given—and for this He sent His only begotten Son not to condemn, but to save the world2— that same beloved Son who said: “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick”3—that same beloved Son who said: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”4 And to the sick, the suffering, the sorrowing, to the injured and offended, to the puzzled and perplexed, to those withdrawn within themselves, to the falsely dealt with and deceived, to those who have lost their loved ones, to those who live in loneliness—to all, there is help from Him who even now sits at His Father’s side, and who was sent to encourage, to help, to heal, to love, to lift the lives of men, to lead the way to happiness and everlasting life.
What else would any father wish for his children? What else would we wish for our own—but happiness and everlasting life with our loved ones? And for this cause are all the counsels and commandments of God given. There are no unessential commandments, none that we can safely ignore or set aside (unless God shall withdraw it or declare it fulfilled). And blessedly, the same sure things that lead to happiness hereafter, lead also to happiness here.
We would say, in words recorded by John: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world”1 but to save. We would say, in the words uttered at the hour of His ascension, that this same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
“And we would say in the words of Job, but with conviction of our own: I know that my Redeemer liveth.5
1See John 3-17
2Matthew 9:12
3Matthew 11 -28
4Acts 1:9-11
5Job 19:25
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April 03, 1955
Broadcast Number 1,337