Hello again GraceAndTruth, yes, I know what v18 says. I'm not following your meaning though, so if you have a chance, please clarify what you just said for me (about v18, or perhaps how you believe that v18 qualifies the meaning of v16, etc.?).
Thanks
~Deut
This is a bit long winded, but bear with me:
I am of the school of context. The entire chapter is the context. As with any topic, it can go beyond one chapter.
John 3:16 for example is one verse in a chapter on salvation, (among other things).....
.For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
Breaking that down (as any hermenutic student would):
1st part "For God so loved the world" God loved this world very much. Who did God love? the world
Is the 'world' every person? Cannot be for God was at enmity with the Caananites, the Amarites, the Philistines and all those who were not of His chosen people, the Jews. God hated (RA) Esau.
So then I look to the Strong's to hone in on the word "world" because the meaning is not clear from this one verse. #2889 Kosmos is the Greek word translated in this particular sentence as 'world'
World = 2889= KOSMOS = orderly arrangement, decoration (His church is His orderly arrangement)
It becomes clear ONLY BY IMPLICATION (meaning,
the text determines the exact meaning) the world in the wide OR narrow sense, includes the inhabitants.
Ie: the wide sense would be the entire world…….the narrow sense would be a certain group of people
It obvioiusly has to be in the narrow sense because scripture shows us that God does not love everybody. Reprobate is used in scripture to designate those outside the faith. Reprobate (adokimos) means cast away, good for nothing, rejected, reprobate
So now we know that kosmos in this verse does not mean everyone (every inhabitant)
So in the narrow sense it has to mean a group of people. Which group is determined by reading the full text of the chapter
The Intercession of Christ for His beloved at the Last Supper
“ I ask on their (the disciples) behalf,
I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom THOU HAST
GIVEN ME; for
THEY ARE THINE”
another example of the narrow sense.
v18 the judgement on the unbeliever took place in eternity past, the words 'has been judged already' puts it in the past tense.
(the pots predestined to destruction)
v27 a man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven (basic english - can means ability, ergo man is not able.)
I do not hide the fact that I am a sovereign grace believer....so-called Calvinist or Reformed.
I believe that many believers like yourself hold to the same tenets of faith that I do. Trinity, Scripture alone and at the least the ULP of Tulip. I do not think any believer would reject the 5 solas. Hanging the name 'arminian' on believers like these is not only an insult, they are far from the remonstrances of those tenets.