Have ever heard the phrase, "God hates sin, but loves the sinner"? I have heard that most of my life. And it's true. John 3:16 teaches us that God loves His creation. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:16-17).
What an encouraging passage. God truly loves the sinner enough to send HIs sone to save them.
And as we read on in John, we see the seriousness of rejecting His Son. "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God" (John 3:18-21).
Sin and a rejection of the Son of God is condemnation. God doesn't condemn sin but condemns the sinner.
Reflect: What does John 3:16-21 teach us about God? What does it teach us about mankind?
Respond: How does the seriousness of sin and God's grace move you to reach the lost in your life?