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NASB | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
Subject: Which proposition is scriptural? |
Bible Note: John, You asked: "Who is saved other than those whom God has chosen? None!" You are so concerned about God’s sovereignty being overruled by man’s free will. I think you and I both agree that God is sovereign. Where we disagree is in the fact that since everyone is not saved, that some are outside of His sovereign will. You believe that it simply is not His will that “all” be saved. I want to show scripture that proves that it is not God's will that any should perish, but instead of imposing His will on them, He allows them to die in their sins. You said: "As you know elected means chosen, as in "God's chosen people"." By your reasoning all of God’s chosen people were saved. Why would Paul pray that Israel be saved if he believed in strict election. Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel[10:1 NU-Text reads [them.] ] is that they may be saved. They were indeed chosen a holy nation. So why were so many lost? The answer is that God refuses to force His sovereign will on anyone. Their individual hearts had problems. Jer 17 9"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. Notice this scripture: Ezekiel 18:23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live? It is critical that you see that it is not God’s sovereign will that any should perish. God said it again in a different way so there is no doubt: 32For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!" Read more: Ezekiel 18 21"But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. 23Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live? 24"But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die. 25"Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is not fair.' Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? 26When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. 27Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. 28Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29Yet the house of Israel says, "The way of the Lord is not fair.' O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair? 30"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!" Pastor Glenn |