Probably this is one of the most often referenced chapters related to salvation. Therefore a discussion surrounding John Chapter 3 and its content in context perhaps is one of the focal points in the discussion of salvation and the nature of it.
In John Chapter 3 we find that the text opens with Nicodemus' question by night to see for himself who Jesus is and by extension what Jesus mission is. We know this, because our Lord speaks to Nicodemus heart and need:
"Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Nicodemus reveals his concern for his welfare and disbelief and his focus on the temporal:
"How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
Jesus clarifies and speaks of the Spirit of God which is unseen yet the evidence is there.
"The wind blows where it wishes and you here the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Clearly Jesus is illustrating some important concepts regarding the nature of salvation. Perhaps they are obvious, but let's take a look anyway.
First, salvation is not physical in nature, it is spiritual. It is not of this world. In other words, there is no stripe down the back of those with the Spirit who are born again.
Second, being born again is reference to a new creation. In essence, one is reborn in a Spiritual sense to salvation (which it makes sense for us to use that term as synonymous with in a peaceful relationship with God. More on that later.)
Third, there is evidence of salvation, but how it got there (the power behind it) and where it went afterward is mysterious. Probably someone with much more time and spiritual insight than I can rattle off a few more nuggets, however let's focus on these.
Since Jesus is truly explaining something to Nicodemus and the text doesn't show evidence of trying to confound him, we can assume therefore that Jesus words to Nicodemus are a sincere effort to reveal spiritual truth to a lost soul. Now here is the hard part, keeping in mind that Jesus is still talking to Nicodemus revealing that truth to him, Jesus states the following:
"No one has ascended to Heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man" Jesus is claiming his lordship and right to speak these truths and who He is in reference to salvation.
(another interesting aside, Jesus is the one who ascended, yet in Isaiah, Lucifer is the one who claimed that he would as one of his 'I Wills' that got him cast from heaven - this underscores Satan's desire to be like God)
In a reference to a picture of the simplicity and effectiveness of salvation Jesus references the journey in the wilderness with Moses after God delivered Israel from Egypt, "14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
Keep in mind this is in reference to the way the serpent was lifted up as a description to Nicodemus a lost soul who doesn't understand spiritual truth. In that story poisonous snakes bit the children of Israel and any who chose to follow God's prescription for salvation from the death that followed the bite was to look upon the serpent that Moses lifted up. No sacrifice, no work just look and one would be cleansed from the poison - healed.
Numbers 21:8: "Then the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live."
of course it happened just as God purposed. Those who looked lived, those who didn't perished.
Just an aside - in the case of Calvinists, this would mean Christ is referencing a subset of those in the wilderness, and that there was only enough power that God elected to use to save those who God compelled to look and that the serpent's power was limited and didn't really mean that everyone had the opportunity/capacity to be healed. Armenians would say that the serpent was effective for anyone who chose to look, but was only effective on those who actually did look. In this Calvinists indicate that God selected those who would be healed and those who would not and Armenians indicate men are accountable for their own choice. Either way, Christ himself is using this as an illustration about the nature of His divine appointment and mission. He must be lifted up to be that object that provides the basis for faith, namely the sacrificial death on the cross, for the propitiation for our sins and the resurrection to be the firstborn among many heirs.
So there it is. That pesky little verse that is a point of contention for so many. " For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. "
Who is Jesus talking to? Nicodemus certainly but perhaps by extension to all humanity. Is Nicodemus saved at that point? He certainly doesn't show that he is -Jesus is trying to explain spiritual concepts to him that have eluded him to this point, which is why Nicodemus chose to seek Jesus in the middle of the night. So is Jesus speaking spiritual truth to condemn Nicodemus or plant a seed for salvation?
Clearly, we must conclude that Jesus is planting the seed for salvation as the following verse 17 indicates, "For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him." This verse supplies more context. We understand both through the life of Jesus as well as from what he indicates here that the nature of Jesus mission was to guarantee salvation of those who would believe and to spread the gospel.
Moreover, Jesus expounds on where judgment comes from, "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil."
Clearly Jesus is teaching that all men stand condemned based on the exposure to the Light. They loved darkness rather than the Light. He doesn't condemn, he doesn't need to, instead, he came to be lifted up so that the world might be saved.
So here is the debate - who is "whosoever" that is a subset of "the world" that Jesus came to save? I don't think one can be dogmatic about it very frankly. Instead, Jesus is both generally speaking about the nature of salvation and specifically about the mechanics of his mission and what it would accomplish. Having said that, Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus - certainly not the English, but the Greek/Aramaic equivalent. How would Nicodemus have received the phrase, "the world"? How would Nicodemus have understood the term, "Whosoever"?
More to come, but these are some points to ponder when considering John chapter 3.
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2 comments:
So consider the fact that Jesus knew that Nicodemus would be saved, from the foundation of the world. But do you see that in his disposition when he says, how is it that you are a teacher of the law and don't know these things? Why didn't he say, oh nicodemus, you don't get it now, but you will soon. Both are true aren't they? But one speaks to God's motives to be mysterious and not outrightly reveal his plan of salvation or redemption.
the thing is this, the therefore in 3:16 is there for a reason. he's saying premise, point, driven home, therefore, supporting why.
Christ was saying that he would be lifted up and crucified and that was pre-planned, that was determined, that was necessary, therefore, he explaines why that proposition has come to the table it's because God so loved the world...but if God so loved the world that he pre-planned to sacrifice his own son, why then is it ineffective on some? Isn't that a waste? Didn't Christ die on a fools errand if nothing was actually accomplished at the cross? Or are we saying that God didn't bet at all, he knew who would accept, and so he sent his son knowing they would accept. But while in one sense we might consider that free will, really it's not. Since God is just running the table, because he knows everyones cards already.
So then, Christ died,
Not so that everyone could be saved. because, everyone is not saved. furthermore, Christ himself makes clear that the only ones who CAN be saved in 6 is the one the father calls, and then again in 10 he says that only his sheep can hear his voice. Knowing what Paul says that we're predestined to be adopted as children and partakers at the table, what then for those who have the ability to believe?
Good post.
OK, so quick question - I recently got married and invited many guests. I purposed in the beginning to feed all of them and paid the price for all of them and both expected and pleaded with them all to come. Though I bid them, some refused. In there refusal, I found others and ensured that my feast would be enjoyed. Although I paid for everyone who ate at the wedding feast, it was only effective on those that came. They couldn't come without an invitation. The sadness is that I wish more had come, but I ensured that some did. I did not make them come, they came of their own free will. Was it a waste for me to have the wedding?
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