18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
Believe in Jesus and receive justification; reject God’s precious Remedy and receive condemnation. Sounds rather black and white does it not? God’s purpose in sending Jesus into the world was to save the world through Him. He came peacefully in His first Advent, not condemning, even though our hands were stained with sin. Jesus was sent to reconcile the world back to God - not counting men’s sins against them – even while we were as yet sinners. Jesus - the Savior for all who would believe in Him.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! Romans 5:6-9 (NIV)
Jesus died in place of the powerless, the feeble, the ungodly, the sinner and even the enemy. Those who believe in Him are declared righteous - saved from the wrath of God - through the blood of His Son. Reconciliation occurs – the removal of enmity takes place between a holy God and sinful man - fellowship once again restored.
10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:10-11 (NIV)
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)
24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24 (NIV)
“I beseech thee, O Lord, that this infinite gift of thy Son may appear to me greater and greater every day; and that thy love, shining out in His redemption, may go on so to increase in my soul, as to disperse all clouds of darkness, unbelief, and hard thoughts of thy goodness. Whenever this slanderous spirit tries to lift up his head, grant that my faith and love may be quickened and strengthened in such a manner, as heartily to praise thy great love, in spite of all his suggestions: this is the chief desire which I offer unto thee in all my prayers night and day.” K. H. Von Bogatzky
“The salvation that comes from God is not based on human logic, but on the sacrificial death of Jesus. We can be born again solely because of the atonement of our Lord. Sinful men and women can be changed into new creations, not through their repentance or their belief, but through the wonderful work of God in Christ Jesus which preceded all of our experience. The unconquerable safety of justification and sanctification is God Himself.” Oswald Chambers
On the flip side of this verse we are warned of the deplorable condition of those who choose to persist in unbelief and in willful ignorance – standing condemned already. How great the sin of unbelief! God’s Remedy was nearest and dearest to Him – should it not be so to us as well? Unbelief is a sin against God’s Remedy for man’s transgression – a rejection of His Son who is both infinitely true and infinitely good. Clamoring for their own way, those who do not believe will one day be confronted with evidence before the Lord regarding all of His righteous acts done on their behalf yet rejected by them. To be sure, there is indeed a “Woe!” for this.
9 The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have? Jer 8:9 (NIV)
15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:15 (NIV)