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| "Both points are distinctly stated to us: namely, that faith in Christ brings life to all, and that Christ brought life, because the Heavenly Father loves the human race, and wishes that they should not perish." John Calvin. |
Here is some friendly exchanges among brethren of this popular passage of Scriptures.
A brother wrote:
In John 3:16 we read, "For God so loved the world." Some would say that is the "World of the elect," but the word is larger than that. There are many other verses that can be produced that seem to indicate that God's affection goes beyond just the elect. I believe that Scripture teaches that God has an affection for all His creatures, and with the exception of the fallen angels, blesses them.
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Brother Brainy,
The love spoken of in John 3:16 is that particular and peculiar love that is intimately and distinctly connected with the sending forth of Jesus Christ, whose work and death alone secured the free gift of eternal life for each of God's elect, and it is that eternal life alone that enables one to believe the gospel (the good news) of what God has done in Jesus Christ to save them.
'Whoever believes HAS/POSSESSES eternal life' is a statement declaring a fact, not a statement making a conditional offer.
To see the love spoken of in John 3:16 outside this context (all stated there in the verse itself) is to shift the focus.
There is a redemptive love of God for His elect alone.
There is a general love/benevolence/care of God for His creatures. You are right, there are many other verses that can be produced that seem to indicate that God's general benevolence extends to His creatures. But His redemptive love is restricted unto the elect alone - He has made up His mind of that matter from before the foundation of the world.
God's redemptive love embraces the non-Jews too, i.e. the world. God has His elect throughout the world, not just among the Jews. That was the message the Jews needed to hear.
"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."
just a little sandy thought,
sing
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Hi Sing,
Just a quick note from work. I realize that ole John Calvin doesn't quite carry the same weight with us Baptists as with the Presbies, but here are some of his comments on John 3:16 for conversation's sake....
16. For God so loved the world. Christ opens up the first cause, and, as it were, the source of our salvation, and he does so, that no doubt may remain; for our minds cannot find calm repose, until we arrive at the unmerited love of God. As the whole matter of our salvation must not be sought any where else than in Christ, so we must see whence Christ came to us, and why he was offered to be our Savior. Both points are distinctly stated to us: namely, that faith in Christ brings life to all, and that Christ brought life, because the Heavenly Father loves the human race, and wishes that they should not perish. And this order ought to be carefully observed; for such is the wicked ambition which belongs to our nature, that when the question relates to the origin of our salvation, we quickly form diabolical imaginations about our own merits. Accordingly, we imagine that God is reconciled to us, because he has reckoned us worthy that he should look upon us. But Scripture everywhere extols his pure and unmingled mercy, which sets aside all merits.
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Brother Brainy,
Keep talking. I am just talking too... grainy as sand in the south sea. So, no smooth clay around.
Well said. That Genevan condemns himself about how, in his very own words, "we quickly form diabolical imaginations about our own merits." O that diabolical imagination, "NAMELY that faith in Christ brings life to all [who believe].”
O that irrational and nonsensical fable that a lifeless person can have faith in Jesus Christ in order that his faith may bring him life! O that breed of Calvinists... with the wicked ambition that belongs to their nature. [Listen, I am only using the words the Genevan himself have used!]
The Genevan said, "... namely that faith in Christ brings life to all..." So in his mind it is faith in Christ is the instrumental CAUSE/MEANS of bringing life to all."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
The text states so plainly, WHOEVER believes in him... HAVE everlasting life.
Both the Calvinists and Arminians say, "believing BRINGS everlasting life."
These say, believing is IN ORDER to have everlasting life.
I, a Chinese lad, say, "believing evidences the everlasting life already given by God’s free grace."
I say, "one believes BECAUSE he has/possesses everlasting life.
I am not a baptized presbyterian.
mumbling in the south seas,
sing
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Brethren,
I was surprised by Calvin's commentary on John 3:16.
What do you think of it?
sing
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Brother Sing,
I agree with your assessment. Calvin says “faith in Christ brings life to all”. I do not know what he was thinking, but it sounds to me like he is speaking of faith as being instrumental. Who’s faith? I’m not sure, but it sounds like he is speaking of his (their) own. I believe that the Bible clearly teaches that the only instrument that “brings life to all” is the Holy Spirit, which is taught in the first part of this same chapter.
I am not sure why men claim that it is their faith that saves them, but I have many reformed friends that make this claim. Of course, when they do, they usually will add the extra instrument of Gospel preaching too. -DS
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Dear Brother Sing,
Your commentary seems much better than Calvin's to me. I would rather he had written, "Life in Jesus Christ brings faith to all who are given that life." -- LM
