canadyjd
Well-Known Member
This is true. Paul told us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. It is a shame we cannot discuss our shared salvation without personal attacks.It's a shame we're divided over these things, seeing that all of us claim Christ as our Savior.
I suppose Christ spoke a mouthful when He said He came not to bring peace, but a sword.
The Church should be a family of believers in one accord, but we are far from that.
What I have found, to keep things civil, each person should be able to recite the other’s beliefs according to their own words, without misrepresenting what they believe.
You mentioned use of the word “world”. As with all other words, “world” has meaning in context.
In John 13 (?), some gentiles come to see Jesus. The Pharisees respond by claiming “the whole world” is coming after Him. In that context, does “world” mean literally the whole world? Of course not.
In John 3:16, the use of the phrase “whosoever believes” has already been limited by the prior verses concerning to role of God Holy Spirit in a person being “born again”.
The wind (Spirit) blows were it WILLS, so is everyone born of the Spirit.
This is actually a repeating theme in John… that those that are the children of God are born by the will of God (John 1), not by the will of man.
In John 3:16, the word “world” could mean the whole world without exception, however, given the limiting language of the preceding verses, it is more likely to mean both Jews and gentiles generally, without distinction but not without exception.
This is supported in John 10, the Good Shepard.
Peace to you