John 12:47
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
At His first coming He passes no judgment on any who hear His teaching and refuse to believe, because His mission is to rescue the world rather than to condemn it. He comes as light to draw all out of darkness to the Father, speaking only what the Father commanded, whose command brings everlasting life, to heal broken character, free captives from Satan, and lift and bless the weary by revealing God's love. Yet refusal does not leave a person without judgment, for the very teaching that is rejected will judge the one who rejects it in the last day, especially as the heart is hardened by resisting light and the Spirit's appeal. Therefore belief is left free and never to be forced, and those who follow Him are to persuade and appeal in love, seeking to restore the straying with compassion and hope rather than reproach, while those who truly believe surrender their own way and practice and obey what He taught.
Came to Save, Not Judge
These words were cried out from intense desire that men receive the truth and live, spoken on the occasion just before His betrayal and death. At His first coming He does not judge anyone who hears His words and does not believe, for He came to save the world and not to judge it. His present forbearance toward the unbelieving hearer belongs to that saving mission, not to absence of judgment to come.
He came into the world as light so that whoever believes on Him will not remain in darkness. To believe on Him is to believe on the Father who sent Him, and to see Him is to see the Father. He spoke nothing of Himself but only what the Father commanded Him to say and to speak. The Father's commandment is life everlasting.
He was sent to rescue sinful, undeserving men rather than to condemn, crush, or punish them. His purpose is to heal flawed character and to save men and women from Satan's power. By revealing God's love He lifts up, ennobles, blesses, and gives rest to the weary and burdened. Even when mocked, blindfolded, struck on the face, and blasphemed at His trial, He remained meek and lowly, seeking to heal rather than crush.
Rejection and Final Judgment
To hear His words and not believe does not bring judgment from Him now, for at His first coming He came to save the world and not to judge it, yet rejection does not leave a person without judgment, for whoever rejects Him and does not receive His words has a judge, and the very word He spoke will judge that person in the last day. Repeatedly refusing the light and the appeals of the Holy Spirit hardens the heart and leads into darkness. Those who resist the light and value human approval above God's favor may refuse to confess Him, but His words will still judge those who reject them on the last day.
He does not judge and condemn those who never received light, so devoted Christians who died keeping Sunday are not lost and their piety is not demerited, for they are not accountable for Sabbath light that never came to them but were accepted as they cherished and walked in the light that shone upon their pathway. Greater light is given to this generation than was given to the fathers, and those who now receive increased light as truth unfolds from searching the Scriptures must walk in it step by step with Jesus who is the Light of the world, faithful in improving clearer privileges and opportunities as the fathers would have done if they lived now. To hear His words on the Sabbath and refuse to believe and obey because the fathers kept Sunday leaves no cloak for sin.
His saving mission calls for self-surrender and self-denial and willing subjection to Him in God's appointed way, which cost heaven an infinite sum to provide and costs the believer something to receive. Those saved become willing subjects of His kingdom, the elect chosen of God and precious, while those lost are lost because they choose their own way and will and refuse the discipline and captivity to Him which is the freedom of the sons of God, serving God at will while working away from Him when it suits their inclination, at the loss of their souls. Believing Him therefore calls for practicing and obeying His teachings.
Freedom and Saving Others
The verse establishes freedom of choice in religious belief or non-belief, so faith is not to be compelled, and for that reason His ministers are to persuade and appeal rather than command or force.
His example of coming to save and not to condemn calls His followers to help straying and imperiled people return to Him with compassion, hope, and encouragement rather than reproach, using their influence to save rather than destroy.
It calls them to approach people and labor for them in love instead of building barriers around them or continually confronting them with their wrongs.