Subject: Sovereignty and Free-Will |
Bible Note: YOU SAID: "Considering the unequivocal force of such evidence, there is absolutely no logical reason to deny that when the text says ‘world’ it means ‘world,’ and everybody in it." (Grace of God, Will of Man; p. 80.) 1. I never said the term “world” meant the elect, but I did say it had at least 7 different definitions (see below, from Owen’s work Death of the Death). Thus, your “unequivocal force of such evidence” is once again assumption and once again no Scripture: The word "kosmos", and its English equivalent "world", is not used with a uniform significance in the New Testament. Very far from it. It is used in quite a number of different ways. 1. "Kosmos" is used of the Universe as a whole: Acts 17:24 "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth." 2. "Kosmos" is used of the earth: John 13:1; Eph 1:4, etc.: "When Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world He loved them unto the end. "Depart out of this world" signifies, leave this earth. "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world". This expression signifies. before the earth was founded — compare Job 38:4, etc. 3. "Kosmos" is used of the world-system: John 12:31, etc.: "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the Prince of this world be cast out" — compare Matt. 4:8 and 1 John 5:19, R.V. 4. "Kosmos" is used of the whole human race: Rom. 3:19, etc.-"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." 5. "Kosmos" is used of humanity minus believers: John 15:18; Rom 3:6: — "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you." Believers do not "hate" Christ, so that "the world" here must signify the world of unbelievers in contrast from believers who love Christ, "God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world." Here is another passage where "the world" cannot mean 'you, me, and everybody', for believers will not be "judged" by God, see John 5:24. So that here, too, it must be the world of unbelievers which is in view. 6. "Kosmos" is used of Gentiles in contrast from Jews: Rom. 11:12, etc.— "Now if the fall of them (Israel) be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them (Israel) the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their (Israel's) fulness." Note how the first clause in bold face is defined by the latter clause placed in bold face. Here, again, "the world" cannot signify all humanity for it excludes Israel! 7. "Kosmos" is used of believers only: John 1:29; 3:16,17; 6:33; 12:47; 1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19. ---- YOU QUOTE: on John 3:16, Calvin said: ". . . The Heavenly Father loves the human race, and wishes that they should not perish.''11 Concerning the term whosoever in the same verse, he said: "And he has employed the universal term whosoever, both to invite all indiscriminately to partake of life, and to cut off every excuse from unbelievers. Such is also the impact of the term world, which he formerly used; for though nothing will be found in the world that is worthy of the favour of God, yet he shows himself to be reconciled to the whole world, when he invites all men without exception to the faith of Christ, which is nothing else than an entrance into life.'' John Calvin, Commentary on the Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids: Wm. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1949), I, p. 125 Once again you are attempting to quote a book and not Scripture. I never once said I agreed with “everything” Calvin ever wrote. See link: http://www.the-highway.com/atonement.html ---- YOU STATE: The fact is the limited view was not popularly held until the Synod of Dort (1619) and the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) long after Calvin’s death So, now we are to maintain HISTORY and YOUR BOOKS over against what Scripture states. Besides your facts on history being incorrect, your assumption to put both of these “fallible” works above the “infallible” Word of God is inexcusable. --- YOU STATE: "The Term "Limited Atonement" Really Means Limited Love, Limited Grace of God, and So Slanders God, and Is Unscriptural" (source unknown)” Source UNKNOWN, correct, it is NOT GOD’S definition. I do not serve an UNKNOWN GOD who writes his statements, I serve the Living God, you uses terms such as grace, election, predestination, calling. May God give you eyes to see and ears to hear. |