First, YOU inserted the word "whole", but that doesn't matter much. Calvinists believe the verse means exactly what it says. Whosoever believes will not perish. The verse never addresses why one believes and another does not. Free willers have to add their philosophy to that verse to make it fit their doctrine.Originally posted by Brother Bob:
1. Misinterpret all the clear passages about "God so loved the whole world that whosoever would believe would not perish but have everlasting life.
Show us a free willer's favorite passage where the context truly demands all people without exception.Originally posted by Brother Bob:
2. Misinterpret all the passages with words like "world" to mean a select group, even when the context demands all peoples without distinction of race, nationality, etc.
Show us a free willer's favorite passage where the context truly demands "any" means any person who ever lived, lives, or will live, without exception. Explain why the context demands this interpretation.Originally posted by Brother Bob:
3. Misinterpret passages with words like "any" and "all" to mean a select group without exception, even when the context demands "all means all" and "every creature". (See Mark 16:15)
I find it amusing that free willers always expand the scope of "any", "world", etc. to include every person without exception. But when the word election appears, they narrow the scope to some arbitrary limit like the apostles, Jews, etc.
Again, Calvinists agree 100% that everyone who believes will not perish. Free willers simply force "whosoever" to mean it is open to everyone. Unfortunately for free willers, the verse could just as easily have said "whosoever is 6 feet tall or taller". The phrase "whosoever believes" does not mean anything more than "whosoever believes". "Whosoever believes" will NOT perish. Now -- why does one person believe and another not believe? The verse doesn't address this question.Originally posted by Brother Bob:
4. Maintain the extra-Biblical opinion that God didn't mean all when He said "all" to choose. This is the most astounding one of all, since the Bible never says this, Salvation is not to everyone who will believe.