John 3:18

The person who believes in Jesus escapes condemnation (cf. John 5:24; Romans 8:1). However the person who does not believe in Jesus stands condemned already with no way of escape (cf. John 3:36). The reason for his or her condemnation then becomes his or her failure to believe on the One whom God lovingly and graciously has provided for salvation. Faith is the instrumental means by which we obtain salvation. Failure to exercise faith in Jesus will result in spiritual death just as failure to believe in the brazen serpent resulted in physical death for the Israelites (Numbers 21:4-9). The difference between belief and unbelief is clear from here on in this Gospel. [Note: See Michael A. Rydelnik, "The Jewish People and Salvation," Bibliotheca Sacra 165:660 (October-December 2008):447-62, for defense of the particularist view that Jewish people who do not believe in Jesus are lost.]