Does God love the World, the whole world, that is all the people that inhabit the world, is this what the verse is saying? The word “World” is used in 58 verses in the Book of John, 79 times. Some ways in which this word “World” is used; an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government; ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, ‘the heavenly hosts’, as the ornament of the heavens. ; the world, the universe; the circle of the earth, the earth; the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family; the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ; the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ; any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort; the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Rom_11:12 etc); of believers only, ( Joh_1:29; Joh_3:16; Joh_3:17; Joh_6:33; Joh_12:47) Now to stay in the text we will only be looking at the book of John.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world ( the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family) He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. (John 1:9-11) The word “know” is an intimate relationship, to fully understand, to believe on, rely on, and trust in. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of the blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, But of God. (John 1: 12-13) Does God Love the World? John the Baptist was baptizing in the Jordan river when Jesus came to be baptized by Him, when John saw Jesus He says” Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Does Jesus take away the sin of the whole world? If he did every person in the world either good or bad , evil or righteous would go to heaven. Now back to John 3:16; For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16,17) John 3:18; Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Who ever does not believe is condemned already it does not say will be condemned, this key to understanding John 3:16. If it said because they didn’t believe could be condemned you would have a solid argument, but it doesn’t say that, those who do not believe are condemned already.
The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. ( the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ, here Jesus was talking to Jews hostile to Christ, This is key; the ungodly masses the world cannot hate the the ungodly Jews, but they do hate Jesus because He testifies that there works are evil. (John 7:7) So again I ask you does God Love the whole world? Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” (John 9:39) Into this world; the blind will be given sight to see the truth of the gospel, the blind being the spiritual blind. Those who claim to see by the flesh will be made spiritually blind to the truth. Again does God love the whole world?
Will close this out with John 17; The High Priestly Prayer. I have manifested you name to the people, whom you gave me out of the world, yours they were (predestined) and you gave them to me, and they have keep your word. (John:17;6,7) Again not by the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but by the will of God. Jesus here declares that some people “past tense” were yours, And the Father gave them to Jesus. John 6:44) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. I am praying for them, I am not praying for the world, but for those whom you have given Me for they are yours.( John 17:9) Does God love the whole world? O righteous Father, even through the world does not know you I have know you, and these know that I have been sent by you. Does God love the whole world? Or does He love some of all parts of the world?
Gregory Lane
Filed under: Arminian Corner, Bible
