The Word of God declares in John 3:18:
“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.”
According to this verse, on what basis is an individual condemned before God?
Is it because they have:
• never been baptized?
• never received communion?
• never turned from their sins or reformed their lifestyle?
• never prayed and asked Jesus to save them?
No. The unbeliever is “condemned already” for one reason alone: he “has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
This passage not only establishes that faith is the sole condition for salvation, but it also supports the doctrine of eternal security.
Consider the implication carefully. Can someone who presently believes in Christ—and is therefore not condemned—ever be accurately described as one who “has not believed”? The answer is obvious: no.
The moment an individual genuinely places faith in Christ alone, he forever forfeits the ability to fit that description. Someone who has believed, or who does believe, can never be classified as one who “has not believed.”
This directly contradicts the Arminian position, which asserts that salvation may be lost if a person ceases to believe.
Jesus further clarifies this truth in John 5:24:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
According to Christ Himself, the child of God is not only free from condemnation in the present, but will never come into condemnation in the future.
A non-meritorious moment of faith secures a permanent change in position before God. On that basis alone, the believer may confidently declare that his home is in Heaven.