In catching up with this discussion, since leaving on Saturday, it really has gained little traction and moved forward just as little.
However, the one thing that keeps jumping out at me, is how the "free will" arguers use the word "all", to defend their position. They claim the "free grace and election side" do damage to this words true meaning. Can we be honest here, just for a moment and admit that "all", often does not mean "all".
May I ask then, the "free will" side, or any who oppose election on this basis, if "all" means "all" and does "all" mean "all" of mankind in the following verses:
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Mat 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 12:23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
Mat 14:20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
Mat 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 21:26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
Mat 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
John 3:26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
John 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
That's enough for now. In each of the above verses, is not the word "all" limited in it's use and it's understanding?