NOTES for Joh 3:16-21
Jesus’ words about Judgment take on a special meaning in the context of His conversation with Nicodemus about the Kingdom. Indeed, the second birth is inseparable from the life of the Kingdom. One does not simply enter it; one must become a new person in order to share in its life. Here and now. One must be born again.
But what is to be done with sin? Judgment is a consequence of sin—or, more precisely, of human sinfulness. Even the pre-exilic prophets spoke of Judgment as an encounter with God face to face, in which everything hidden would become visible. It is not God who judges a person; the person judges himself. Or, rather, a person is judged by his own sin. And now comes a unique offer. Entry into the Kingdom is open to everyone, regardless of their sins, granted in advance. The King of this Kingdom, appointed by God, is endowed with special authority: He has the right to accept everyone who turns to Him and trusts Him, entrusting themselves and their life to Him.
Such a person will enter the Kingdom and share in its life. The King Himself will deal with that person’s sins. But this King will not expel a sinner from the Kingdom unless the sinner chooses to leave, unwilling to work on himself. In short, everything concerning Judgment for such people will be connected with the King, and in due time this same King will present each of His subjects to God, His heavenly Father.
Moreover, a guarantee is offered: if a subject does not abandon his King under any circumstances and agrees to the work on himself and his sins that the King proposes, forgiveness of sins by the heavenly Father is guaranteed. This is a peculiar kind of delegated heavenly justice. The question arises: what could make a person refuse so advantageous an offer? Obviously only one thing: confidence that, despite his sins, he will not work on himself. Not because he cannot—the King knows His subjects, and His tasks are often difficult but never impossible—but because he does not want to, for reasons known to him alone. Whatever those reasons may be, one thing is clear: such a person will prefer to keep away from God, and from the Kingdom as well. He thereby determines his own fate in eternity, for love cannot be compelled.