TULIP GEMS

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”  (2 Peter 3:18)

The sheep hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him out of her.  "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."   (Revelation 18:4)   

The Bible tell us that Jesus “shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).  He gave “His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).  Jesus laid down His life for “his friends” (John 15:13).  Thus His death is "LIMITED" to the Church, to his people, to his sheep, to his friends. 

In so many words, the Bible tells us that Christ did NOT die for ALL men without exception.  But, what about universal sounding verses like John 3:16? 

GOD LOVES THE WORLD 

"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."   (John 3:16)  (Emphasis mine) 

In the parable of the tares, Christ explained that "the field is the WORLD" (Matthew 13:38).  The farmer (God) loves his field (the world) with an eye to his "wheat" (the children of the kingdom).  But He does NOT love the tares (weeds -- the children of the wicked one).

John was an Apostle to the Circumcision, meaning the Jews (Galatians 2:9).  Therefore, when he wrote John 3:16, he was stating that Christ died, not for the Jews only, but also for the Gentiles.  This matches up with his other statements such as John 11:51-52 and 1 John 2:2. 

Prior Page

Next Page