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NASB | Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense. [Ps 19:1-4; Eph 2:10] |
Subject: Is God somehow responsible? |
Bible Note: Dear Romans, I appreciate your concern regarding my statement about God's love and how it applies to mankind. I should have explained myself in more detail. It is true that God loves all people, but He has a special kind of love toward those He has elected to salvation. This "special" love is that of a father for his children or a husband for his wife. What I had in mind, when I made my remark, was the false doctrine known as "the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man." This doctrine stems from the teaching that Jesus died for the sins of all mankind i.e., "unlimited atonement". The historical (and I hold, biblical)teaching of the protestant faith has been a "limited atonement". "Limited Atonement is a doctrine offered in answer to the question, "for whose sins did Christ atone?" The Bible teaches that Christ died for those whom God gave him to save (John 17:9). Christ died, indeed, for many people, but not all (Matthew 26:28). Specifically, Christ died for the invisible Church -- the sum total of all those who would ever rightly bear the name "Christian" (Ephesians 5:25). This doctrine often finds many objections, mostly from those who think that Limited Atonement does damage to evangelism. We have already seen that Christ will not lose any that the father has given to him (John 6:37). Christ's death was not a death of potential atonement for all people. Believing that Jesus' death was a potential, symbolic atonement for anyone who might possibly, in the future, accept him trivializes Christ's act of atonement. Christ died to atone for specific sins of specific sinners. Christ died to make holy the church. He did not atone for all men, because obviously all men are not saved. Evangelism is actually lifted up in this doctrine, for the evangelist may tell his congregation that Christ died for sinners, and that he will not lose any of those for whom he died!" (reformed.org) You wrote: "1) John 3:16 say "For God so love the world ...whoever believes in HIM..." The question here is who is the "WORLD?" I believe the world refers to the righteous and unrighteous; believers and unbelievers; Christians and Gentiles. Furthermore, it says 'WHOEVER' that I am quite sure means "anyone whether Christians or Gentiles." I disagree because the verse says "whosoever believes". Who will believe? Those whom have been chosen and whose names have been written in The Book of Life from eternity. We love God because He first loved us! I would gladly respond to the other verses you listed, but I would like a reponse to this post before going further. God Bless, John |