The Great Danger of Rejecting Jesus

Topic: The Great Danger of Rejecting Jesus

Text: John 1-3

Focus: John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Discussion: The Gospel of John provides a clear and urgent warning about the dangers of rejecting Jesus Christ. From the opening verses, John establishes Jesus as the eternal Word of God (John 1:1), the Creator of all things (John 1:3), and the Light that shines in darkness (John 1:5). His mission is to bring salvation, yet many reject Him, leading to dire consequences.

Before we look at these consequences, let us see ways people reject Jesus, so we can reflect on our lives too, to see if we are rejecting him or not. 

A- The Ways to reject Jesus

Here are more ways people reject Jesus:

1. Outright Denial (Like Peter) – Peter denied knowing Jesus three times out of fear (Matthew 26:69-75). Some reject Jesus by verbally denying Him, especially when pressured by society.

2. Outright Betrayal (Like Judas) – Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for money (Matthew 26:14-16). Some reject Jesus by knowingly choosing personal gain, even at the cost of faithfulness.

3. Combining Jesus with Others (Like Simon the Sorcerer) – Simon Magus believed in Jesus but wanted to buy the Holy Spirit’s power for his own use (Acts 8:18-23). Many reject Jesus by treating Him as just another religious figure rather than the only way to God.

4. Superficial Following (Like the Rich Young Ruler) – The rich young man followed God’s commandments but refused to give up his wealth to follow Jesus (Matthew 19:16-22). Some reject Jesus by holding onto their idols instead of surrendering fully to Him.

5. Half-Hearted Commitment (Like Demas) – Demas was a companion of Paul but abandoned the faith because he loved the world more (2 Timothy 4:10). Many reject Jesus by prioritizing worldly pleasures over devotion to Christ.

6. Skeptical Doubt (Like Thomas, Initially) – Thomas doubted Jesus' resurrection until he saw proof (John 20:24-29). Some reject Jesus by refusing to believe without tangible evidence.

7. Political Steeze  (Like Pilate) – Pontius Pilate knew Jesus was innocent but handed Him over to be crucified to please the crowd (Matthew 27:24-26). Some reject Jesus to maintain their social or political status.

8. Religious Hypocrisy (Like the Pharisees) – The Pharisees rejected Jesus because He challenged their religious traditions (Matthew 23:13-36). Many reject Him by choosing religious rituals over a true relationship with God.

9. Fear of Persecution (Like Many Disciples Who Left) – Many of Jesus' followers left Him when His teachings became difficult (John 6:60-66). Some reject Jesus because following Him requires sacrifices they are unwilling to make.

10. Deliberate Opposition (Like Saul Before Conversion) – Saul (Paul) persecuted Christians before his encounter with Jesus (Acts 9:1-5). Some reject Jesus by actively opposing His gospel and His followers.

Each of these ten ways and more represents a heart posture that refuses to fully accept Jesus as Lord. Some, like Peter and Thomas, later repented and turned back to Him. Others, like Judas and the Pharisees, remained hardened in their rejection.

B- What then is the Danger of rejecting?

John 3:36 states:

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

This verse sums up the greatest danger—eternal separation from God. Let us now explore three specific dangers of rejecting Jesus, supported by Scripture.

1. The Danger of the Great Condemnation 

(John 3:18-19)

John 3:18 says:

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Rejecting Jesus does not place a person at risk of condemnation—it confirms that they are already condemned. This condemnation is not a future possibility but a present reality for all who refuse to believe.

Why is this condemnation so great?

1. It is self-inflicted – John 3:19 explains:

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

The rejection of Jesus is not due to ignorance but willful love for darkness over light.

2. It is irreversible without Christ – Jesus said in John 8:24:

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

3. It leads to eternal separation from God – 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 warns:

"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."

Without Christ, people remain in condemnation, destined for eternal judgment.

2. The Danger of Facing Eternity in God's Wrath 

(John 3:36)

John 3:36 warns that those who reject Christ will experience God's wrath forever.

What is the nature of this wrath?

1. It is continual – The verse says, "the wrath of God abideth on him." It does not merely come upon a person at judgment—it already abides on them and will continue for eternity.

2. It is severe and fearful – Hebrews 10:31 declares:

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

3. It is unavoidable outside of Christ – Romans 2:5 warns:

"But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God."

4. It results in eternal torment – Revelation 20:15 gives the final consequence:

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

To reject Jesus is to embrace God's judgment, a fate of unimaginable suffering and eternal loss.

3. The Danger of Missing Out on Jesus' Miracles Here

(John 2)

John 2 recounts Jesus’ first miracle—turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. This event was not just about providing wine but revealing Christ’s power.

Why does rejecting Jesus mean missing His miracles?

1. Miracles affirm His divine authority – John 2:11 states:

"This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."

Those who reject Him miss seeing His glory in their lives.

2. Jesus performs miracles for believers – In Matthew 13:58, we see a tragic reality:

"And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

Unbelief limits the manifestation of Jesus’ power in one’s life.

3. His miracles bring transformation – The blind received sight, the lame walked, the dead were raised (Matthew 11:5). Those who reject Christ miss out on the spiritual and physical transformation He offers.

4. The greatest miracle is salvation – 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Without Jesus, people miss out on the greatest miracle—being made new in Him.

Rejecting Jesus does not just have eternal consequences; it also means missing the miracles of His grace, provision, and power in this present life.

Final Call: Choose Life in Christ

The dangers of rejecting Jesus are severe:

- Condemnation is immediate and absolute.

- God’s wrath is abiding and eternal.

- A life without Christ’s miracles is empty and void of divine intervention.

But there is good news! Jesus invites everyone to receive eternal life through faith in Him:

John 3:16 –

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

The choice is clear:

- Believe in Jesus and receive life, peace, and salvation.

- Reject Him and remain under condemnation, wrath, and loss.

Will you believe today?