Featured Reformed V Biblical Salvation

John 3 is a continuation of themes first stated in John 1. This is how John writes. He introduces a theological theme, moves to another or two, then comes back to elaborate on previous themes offering more detail.

He first introduces the theme of being “born” in John 1 where he states those that are children of God are born by the will of God.

In John 3 he elaborates on the theme of being “born” by stating you must be “born again” or born from above. He also includes in the teaching of being born again that this new birth is done by the will of God Holy Spirit which cannot be manipulated by human effort.

And so, the “whosoever” of John 3:15-17, has already been qualified by John 1 (children of God born by the will of God) and John 3 (those born again by the Spirit are born by the will of God Holy Spirit).

That God loves the world, loves every single person on the planet, does not change the previous foundation already laid that the children of God are born by the will of God.

These themes are further explained later in John where Jesus says He lays down His life for His sheep, (not for all) that He knows His sheep and calls them by name (a specific call to a specific people already known to Him, not a general call to all),

He tells the Pharisees they “do not believe because they are not His sheep”. He doesn’t say they are not His sheep because they don’t believe, He says they don’t believe because they are not His sheep.

Reformed theology rightly harmonizes these teachings by understanding them both in the context they are written and the Bible as a whole.

Nothing is ignored, all is dealt with.

peace to you

 

The Romans 11:30-32 verse tells us God consigned all to disobedience,unbelief, so that he could show mercy to all.

Bible Gateway passage: Romans 11 - Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament


ἀπείθεια (apeitheia)
Strong: G543

GK: G577

an uncompliant disposition; obstinacy, disobedience, unbelief, Rom. 11:30, 32; Eph. 2:2; 5:6; Heb. 4:6, 11; Col. 3:6