Reformationist
Non nobis domine sed tuo nomine da gloriam
Originally posted by ScottEmerson
As for kosmos and use of the world - using only the believers is a HUGE error and is a presupposition.
According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon:
kosmos, kosmou, ho; (NT:2889)
1. an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order
2. ornament, decoration, adornment: 1 Peter 3:3
3. the world, i. e. the universe Acts 17:24; Rom 4:13
4. the circle of the earth, the earth Mark 16:15
5. the inhabitants of the world: 1 Cor 4:9
6. the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ John 7:7
7. worldly affairs; the aggregate of things earthly; 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: Gal 6:14
8. any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort James 3:6
2889 kosmos {kos'-mos}
probably from the base of 2865 ; n m
See: TDNT - 3:868,459
AV - world 186, adorning 1; 187
1) an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government
2) ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1 Pet. 3:3
3) the world, the universe
4) the circle of the earth, the earth
5) the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human race
6) the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ
7) world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly
7a) 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
8) any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort
8a) the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Rom. 11:12 etc)
8a) of believers only, John 1:29; 3:16; 3:17; 6:33; 12:47; 1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19
Note: Neither my list nor yours is listed in order of acceptance. If that were the case than John 3:16 would actually say "For God so loved the harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
From Rick Young:
Uhh... Who is Rick Young?
"and [Christ] Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)
Well ScottEmerson, let's see what the word "propitiation" means:
A propitiation is "an atoning sacrifice." So, according to you, Christ was the "atoning sacrifice" not only for John and those in the immediate community he was preaching to, but also to the entire world. Right? Let me see if I understand this. You say that Christ "paid the price" for the sins of the whole world. So everybody's sins have been paid for, right? That makes me wonder who you think is actually going to hell. I mean, according to you, all the sins ever committed were paid for by Christ's "atoning sacrifice." Hmmm...sounds like, if your, or should I say Rick Young's, interpretation of the word is correct, everyone has been made righteous. Hooray!!
I don't think that's what he means.
Even if you don't believe that it is God who decides who is a believer surely you don't think Christ's sacrifice so ambiguous that it paid the price for the sins of those that don't, and won't, believe in Him. Even if you don't believe in predestination, you too are put in a position where you limit the scope of Christ's sacrifice. Otherwise, you are saying that Christ died for some people whose lives were not even affected by His supreme sacrifice. Surely you believe that Christ's sacrifice did more than just provide an opportunity. Surely you acknowledge God is omnipotent and, as such, is effectual in everything He does. If not, ask yourself exactly how ineffective you really think God is that He would send Himself in human form that it would have no more affect in the lives of some then to provide with them something to "not believe in."
God bless.
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