What must I do to be saved
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I rebuke you for making false accusations that Satan has deceived me, you sound like you have been deceived. You need to convince me that the word "World" as used in the context of John 3:17 means the WHOLE World.
If you were honest you would admit that there are several different contexts this word is used in throughout the Scriptures.
So you shouldn't jump on your high horse of ignorance and force your narrow view on everybody
If you were honest you would admit that there are several different contexts this word is used in throughout the Scriptures.
So you shouldn't jump on your high horse of ignorance and force your narrow view on everybody
Read Romans 1:18 - 32
This section of Scripture tells us exactly what occurs in those who do not believe. It's not that they can't believe. It's that the unbeliever rejects the truth of God's Word when it is shared with them and the believer does not reject the truth when someone shares God's Word with them.
Romans 1:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:18-19 tells us that the truth is suppressed when God makes it plain to them. The word "hold" in vs 18 is the Greek word katechō and it means to suppress; hold back; restrain. When the Word of God is spoken, it is restrained from reaching the heart of the unbeliever. They reject the truth. They reject God.
Because they suppress the truth, they do not glorify God, their thinking becomes empty and foolish and, as a result, their foolish hearts become darkened — Rom 1:20-21.
Because the heart is darkened, they profess themselves as wise but in reality they become fools and turn to idolatry — Rom 1:22-23.
Because of this, God gives them over to uncleanness — Rom 1:24.
Because they are given over to uncleanness, they degrade their own bodies and exchange the truth of God into a lie. They worship creation more than the Creator — Rom 1:25.
Because of this, God gives them over to vile affections — Rom 1:26.
Because they are given over to vile affections, they commit shameful acts and receive in themselves the adequate penalty for their error — Rom 1:27.
Because they do not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gives them over to a reprobate mind — Rom 1:28.
Because they have a reprobate mind, they exhibit all of the behaviors shown in Rom 1:29-32.
Look at how long God holds on to a person before he or she is given over to a reprobate mind. First it's suppress the truth; then the foolish heart becomes darkened; then given up to uncleanness; then given up to vile affections; then reprobate mind. Each time the person is given up to the next downward step, it is because he or she has rejected God.
These are the steps that are taken over the course of many years. God holds on as long as He can, but at some point, as they move further and further away from Him, God has to let them go.
It's not like they suppress the truth in unrighteousness one moment and the next moment they have a reprobate mind. There are more than several steps involved in the downward spiral to reprobate mind. And in the Greek the word reprobate means not standing the test; not approved.
And at any point, a person can allow the truth of God's Word to penetrate their heart and God will start working to bring increase to that little kernel of truth they do not restrain. God brings the increase in the heart of those who do not reject Him.
This section of Scripture tells us exactly what occurs in those who do not believe. It's not that they can't believe. It's that the unbeliever rejects the truth of God's Word when it is shared with them and the believer does not reject the truth when someone shares God's Word with them.
Romans 1:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:18-19 tells us that the truth is suppressed when God makes it plain to them. The word "hold" in vs 18 is the Greek word katechō and it means to suppress; hold back; restrain. When the Word of God is spoken, it is restrained from reaching the heart of the unbeliever. They reject the truth. They reject God.
Because they suppress the truth, they do not glorify God, their thinking becomes empty and foolish and, as a result, their foolish hearts become darkened — Rom 1:20-21.
Because the heart is darkened, they profess themselves as wise but in reality they become fools and turn to idolatry — Rom 1:22-23.
Because of this, God gives them over to uncleanness — Rom 1:24.
Because they are given over to uncleanness, they degrade their own bodies and exchange the truth of God into a lie. They worship creation more than the Creator — Rom 1:25.
Because of this, God gives them over to vile affections — Rom 1:26.
Because they are given over to vile affections, they commit shameful acts and receive in themselves the adequate penalty for their error — Rom 1:27.
Because they do not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gives them over to a reprobate mind — Rom 1:28.
Because they have a reprobate mind, they exhibit all of the behaviors shown in Rom 1:29-32.
Look at how long God holds on to a person before he or she is given over to a reprobate mind. First it's suppress the truth; then the foolish heart becomes darkened; then given up to uncleanness; then given up to vile affections; then reprobate mind. Each time the person is given up to the next downward step, it is because he or she has rejected God.
These are the steps that are taken over the course of many years. God holds on as long as He can, but at some point, as they move further and further away from Him, God has to let them go.
It's not like they suppress the truth in unrighteousness one moment and the next moment they have a reprobate mind. There are more than several steps involved in the downward spiral to reprobate mind. And in the Greek the word reprobate means not standing the test; not approved.
And at any point, a person can allow the truth of God's Word to penetrate their heart and God will start working to bring increase to that little kernel of truth they do not restrain. God brings the increase in the heart of those who do not reject Him.
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No need to get into personal attacks. Anyone who distorts the Gospel is indeed deceived by Satan.
So let me answer your question, and in turn you should abandon your false Calvinistic ideas. The world in John 3:17 (as in John 3:16, or in 1 John 2:2, or many other Scriptures) means "the whole world".
οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον ἀλλ' ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Strong's Concordance
kosmos: order, the world
Original Word: κόσμος, ου, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: kosmos
Phonetic Spelling: (kos'-mos)
Short Definition: the world, universe
Definition: the world, universe; worldly affairs; the inhabitants of the world; adornment.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2889: κόσμος
5. the inhabitants of the world: θέατρονἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ καί ἀγγέλοις καίἀνθρώποις, 1 Corinthians 4:9 (Winers Grammar, 127 (121)); particularly the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human race (first so in Sap. (e. g.) :.. John 3:17; John 10:36; John 17:18; 1 John 4:9;...
So let me answer your question, and in turn you should abandon your false Calvinistic ideas. The world in John 3:17 (as in John 3:16, or in 1 John 2:2, or many other Scriptures) means "the whole world".
οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον ἀλλ' ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Strong's Concordance
kosmos: order, the world
Original Word: κόσμος, ου, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: kosmos
Phonetic Spelling: (kos'-mos)
Short Definition: the world, universe
Definition: the world, universe; worldly affairs; the inhabitants of the world; adornment.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2889: κόσμος
5. the inhabitants of the world: θέατρονἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ καί ἀγγέλοις καίἀνθρώποις, 1 Corinthians 4:9 (Winers Grammar, 127 (121)); particularly the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human race (first so in Sap. (e. g.) :.. John 3:17; John 10:36; John 17:18; 1 John 4:9;...
That was a very well summarized and articulated portion of Scripture, I agree that everything you said is Biblical. The only question that remains is, what role does God play in all of this. Is He passive in this, does He make the rules and then leave each person to navigate their way through life and hopefully they all make the right decision to obey and gain salvation.
This question has divided the Church, because you could use the scriptures to support both positions.
This question has divided the Church, because you could use the scriptures to support both positions.
hmm it must not be by human intelligence
Romans 9:16, Zechariah 4:6, Ecclesiastes 9:11, Proverbs 21:31, Deuteronomy 29:4, Proverbs 20:1, Psalm 94:11, John 1:18, Matthew 11:27/Luke 10:22 and a number of other passages spring to mind -- alongside obviously 1 Corinthians 1:25-27, and frankly most of John ch. 6
Romans 9:16, Zechariah 4:6, Ecclesiastes 9:11, Proverbs 21:31, Deuteronomy 29:4, Proverbs 20:1, Psalm 94:11, John 1:18, Matthew 11:27/Luke 10:22 and a number of other passages spring to mind -- alongside obviously 1 Corinthians 1:25-27, and frankly most of John ch. 6