JOHN 3:16 - FOR GOD SO LOVES THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE

No it is not. "Reformed" theology has always taught that the death of Jesus Christ in its extent, was only intended for the "elect", and only these could ever be saved. That the "whosoever", is to be taken in a narrow, limited sense, rather than what Jesus Himself intended, "the human race". The salvation of sinners is based on their repentance of their sins, and their acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and not on some decree by God before all time to save only some, which is not taught in the Bible!

 

Read very carefully what Jesus says in John 3:16, "for God so loved the human race, that HE GAVE". This phrase "He gave", speaks of the death of Jesus Christ, and answers Romans 3:23-26, "for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God; for the showing, I say , of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus." God's love is "universal" and intended for the "whole human race", and to this "whole human race", "HE GAVE" Jesus Christ as the propitiation, for "ALL (whole human race) have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", and as Romans 3 says, that only those "that have faith in Jesus" as their Redeemer, can indeed be saved. You are quote wrong in saying, "The verses in John 3 do not say Jesus died for the entire world, but only for those who would believe". It does say that Jesus died for the whole world, but only those who believe can and will be saved. A doctor might have the cure for your life-threatening illness, but unless you go to him for this treatment, you would die. If you did not go to get treated, and you were to die, does this mean that the doctors treatment "failed"? This is exactly like the Atonement of Jesus Christ, if the sinner does not accept what Jesus has done, and they end up in hell, there is no way that Jesus' death did not accomplish what it was meant to, and somehow failed as some wrongly assume.

 

So, how does the choice of the sinner to reject the Atonement of Jesus Christ and their Reconciliation to God, in any way diminish what Jesus did for the whole world on the cross? Jesus Himself clearly says, "you refuse to come to Me that you may have life" (John 5:40). He does not say that "you cannot come", as if some outside power were holding them back, but "YOU REFUSE", as Paul says in Acts 28:27, "their eyes they have closed". THEY HAVE CLOSED.

 

I say ME, not because as you put it, so that God does not get any glory, BUT, because I AM a sinner! WE sinners have to decide whether WE will accept what Jesus Christ has done for US. But, no human being can ever do so by and of themselves. As Jesus put it, "the Comforter...when He is come, He will reprove [convict] the world [human race] of sin...Of sin, because they believe not on me" (John 16:7-9). It is only when the Holy Spirit works in the heart of the sinner, and shows them their hopeless, lost, sinful state, and their need for a Saviour in Jesus Christ, that they will repent and turn to God. As salvation from start to finish is indeed the work of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, ALL GLORY goes ONLY to Them!

 

that is what you say. So what I have quoted from the Bible from John and Acts, is wrong? Read again what the Apostle Paul says why people will go to hell:

"They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."

I cannot understand the hate that the co-called "reformers" and "Calvinists" have for the world? It is very clear in their warped arguments that God has "selected" just a few to be saved, and damned the others!!! You you guys thing that you are "better" than the rest? that somehow you "deserve" to be saved and the non-elect damned to hell?

The Bible very clearly says that people are given a clear choice, like Joshua says "choose this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:14-15), words that are completely pointless if they could not! What did Elijah mean when he said, "“How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21)? Are you saying that he was not giving the people a real choice between the Real God of the Bible, and the false gods of the world? Jesus Himself says, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." (Matthew 12:30). What did God mean when He speaks through Moses, "Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster." (Deuteronomy 30:15)?

 

typical Calvinist response when they know they are in the wrong!

 

There are certain "Christians" who are content in twisting the Word of God!

 

rather childish response!

 

I might add here, Revelation 22:17;

"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let anyone who hears this say, "Come." Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life."

and, Acts 2:21;

"And it shall come to pass that everyone whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." (Greek text)

Clearly people have a choice here, to "drink freely from the water of life", and "call upon the Name of the Lord"

God does not force anyone to do what they do not want to. This is "free will", which is taught in the Bible, as human beings are "responsible" for their actions. Not as some have corrupted this into denying that man is "free to choose"!

 

Whether or not anyone else believes a saved person can lose their salvation, I cannot answer, as I do not know what everyone believes here. No doubt those who do not hold to "once saved always saved", will believe this. My post is not dealing with the "eternal security" of believers. As to you other question. "Universal Atonement" does not mean "Universal Salvation", that all will be saved. Nor does it mean that "all have been saved". I believe that the death of Jesus Christ provides the Atonement for the repentant sinner, who comes to Jesus in faith for his salvation through His finished work on the cross. How can the "whole human race" be saved, when we know that the greater majority will perish and end up in hell? Further, no person can ever be saved without their acknowledgement of their sins, their need to repent of their sinful life, and accept what Jesus Christ has done on the cross for them.