What is the basis for our judgment?  What is it that condemns men?  It is unbelief in the Son of God and His redemptive act for us. The coming of Jesus divided men into 2 groups: the saved and the unsaved.  His coming gave men the opportunity to choose salvation or condemnation.  To refuse His gift is to be judged.

Barclay notes that there was once a visitor to a famous art gallery who was shown around by one of the attendants. The gallery contained priceless masterpieces of exquisite beauty but at the end of the tour the visitor told his guide that he didn’t think much of those old pictures. The attendant quietly replied that the paintings were no longer on trial, but those who look at them are. The visitor’s reaction had displayed how blind he was to the beauty of true art. His reaction brought judgment upon himself.

The same is true in regard to Jesus. When we are confronted with Jesus we react in one of two ways: either we think He is beautiful and true and place our trust in Him, or we see nothing lovely in Him and reject Him. God’s purpose in sending Him was to save the world, but by His coming He naturally brings judgment with Him. We judge ourselves by our reaction to Him. God has not condemned man; He has only loved him. It is man who has condemned himself!