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'Kosmos' is used of the Universe as a whole: Acts 17:24 - 'God that made the world and all things therein seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth.'

'Kosmos' is used of the earth: John 13:1; Ephesians 1:4, etc., etc.- 'When Jesus knew that his hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world He loved them unto the end.' 'Depart out of this world' signifies, leave this earth. 'According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.' This expression signifies, before the earth was founded—compare Job 38:4 etc.

'Kosmos' is used of the world-system: John 12:31 etc. 'Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the Prince of this world be cast out'— compare Matthew 4:8 and 1 John 5:19, R. V.

'Kosmos' is used of the whole human race: Romans 3:19, etc.—'Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.'

'Kosmos' is used of humanity minus believers: John 15:18; Romans 3:6 'If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.' Believers do not 'hate' Christ, so that 'the world' here must signify the world of unbelievers in contrast from believers who love Christ. 'God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world.' Here is another passage where 'the world' cannot mean 'you, me, and everybody,' for believers will not be 'judged' by God, see John 5:24. So that here, too, it must be the world of unbelievers which is in view.

'Kosmos' is used of Gentiles in contrast from Jews: Romans 11:12 etc. 'Now if the fall of them (Israel) be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them (Israel) the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their (Israel’s) fulness.' Note how the first clause in italics is defined by the latter clause placed in italics. Here, again, 'the world' cannot signify all humanity for it excludes Israel!

'Kosmos' is used of believers only: John 1:29; 3:16, 17; 6:33; 12:47; 1 Corinthians 4:9; 2 Corinthians 5:19. We leave our readers to turn to these passages, asking them to note, carefully, exactly what is said and predicated of 'the world' in each place.

Your comments are always welcome. Be sure to review the Submission Guidelines before posting a comment. Also, here's a friendly suggestion - remember that a lot of people will read your comments. Take just a second and double-check your spelling, grammar, etc. :) Enjoy! Article: The Meaning of 'KOSMOS' in John 3:16 by Arthur W. Pink *Name: Location: Email: NOTE: Your email address will not be displayed/shared. It is only needed in case I have a question regarding your comments. *Subject: *Comments:

Throwing Pebbles at Battleships Posted By: Brian Dempsey - GOL I appreciate your comments, however strongly I disagree. My greatest concern is not your view of Reformed hermeneutics, but the comment that Calvinism is a “cult”. I would challenge you to reconsider your statements and repent. You are speaking of Christ’s church and God’s people. You are talking about the majority of believing Christians throughout the history of the church until modern times (which is another topic). You are cutting off, humanly speaking, some of the most important, influential and most mightily used men of God throughout history! Should we begin to list them? What of Augustine? What shall we do with Luther? Of Calvin? Of Spurgeon and Edwards? Of Whitefield and John Newton’s “Amazing Grace”? Of Bunyan, Watts, Murray, Owen, Thomas Manton and Gill? Of the greatest theological minds, confessions and human instruments of revivals of ages past where the moving force behind the preaching was a strong conviction of the sovereignty of God in the salvation of sinners! Sir, you should repent. It is one thing to be ignorant of the Bible. It is one thing to confess that we don’t have it figured out and some truths seem contradictory. But you are kicking against the pricks. The doctrine of God’s sovereign election, the total depravity of sinners, and the effectual atonement of Jesus Christ are a battleship against whom your pitiable pebbles thrown against its hull will hardly be heard.

John 3:16 So, Kosmos, and Whoever Posted By: Dave - LISTEN TO JESUS by LISTENING TO THE BIBLE. LISTEN TO THE GREEK. The Greek phrase for whoever and whosoever is "pas ". It means everyone doing such and such a verb following it. It is limited. It cannot be taken as a general invitation as it is in English. The 'So' in John 3:16 means in this fashion in Greek. "God in this fashion loved the world that he gave his only begotn son... This so links back to 3:14 where he raised up the serpent in the wilderness. (To just the Israelites.) This so could introduce a limiting factor. A calvinist would say that the church is spiritual israel. It is too complicated to explain here. It goes into dispensationalism vs Covenantal theology. The sense of "So much" in greek is not there at all. It is a doctrinal interpretation which has merit in and of itself, even if it is not in the text itself. Calvinists also believe this.

Wow, I hate this "calvinism" you describe too Posted By: Dave - Too bad it is ficticious. It has more strawmen than I can count. First, let me pull out the Westminster confessional just so we get a clear comment on free will with respect to predestination. "II. Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly, yet, by the same providence, he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently." This means that everything that happens has a second cause that is traced to man, freely, necessarily, or contingently. Yet, man is not the sole cause. Everything that happens must first be something God approves to let pass. God cannot let things happen that He cannot change without his own self-restraint. C.S Lewis even wrote and agree with self-restraint model. Self-restraint is the only option if the free will exists as you see it is even true. Man can also act sovereign in his choices in order to thwart God of his purpose. Calvinists say there is no self-restaint because God according to his infinite and unsearchable wisdom works the universe for the good of all those who love him. His purposes cannot be thwarted. It is tied to his eternal love for accomplishing what he intends for true believers. God is invinicle in always fulfilling his plan because of his mighty power. Although we cannot understand it, like Job we dare not even question things. For God not control the world be an affront to his own goodness and wisdom. It would be God acting foolishly. The majority of Calvinists believe Adam alone had a completely free will. Even to the point of your own position. Your argument to the contrary is false. We are suffiecently judged guilty in Adam's sin for his representation of humanity. (Romans 5) We inevitable sin as well because of this original sin. God also knew before creation that Adam would sin and still created him. He also created Adam as perfect but by nature weak and limited. God also knew and planned of redemption "before the foundations of the world". Free will as a calvinist sees it today is bound by sin. Free will is also defined as the freedom to follow the strongest desire of the heart. This means that when two things are weighted one is always desired more. Thus only one can be ever choosen. Since the desires are internal to a person, it depends on the person. Yet, they only still can make but one choice with the given knowledge and desires at a given time. Evidence of desires enticing are shown to be plentiful from experience as well as described in James 1. We are equally guilty because our wills desire the sin. It is a problem with us, the motive not just the act. The problem is with our choice making faculty, the original sin-corrupted will itself. I ask you which is more likely to be done. Throwing money out the window or spending it on food because you are hungry. Well you are free to spend it as you like but that doesn't mean that your options of what you will actually do are free. No sane person would throw it out the window. Rational desire thus restricts choice. In fact all internal desires effecting choice. Any other choice from a desire is forced and irrational. This does not deny choice but denies differing outcomes. It does not do damage to the will either since it still acts. It is no C3PO. God ordering steps is not an impossible belief. We still walk them. This definition of free will says that the past inevitable came about. It is exactly as it would be because of our free wills. While applying this principle to the future and the path we will take, there is but one future. Next, Christian Freedom is seen as the freedom to follow that which is the most satisfying out of everything. This means God himself and holiness. By the very nature of God, there is nothing else that satisfies. (Eternity is in the hearts of man.) Christian freedom consists of not being bound with the power of sin as we once were. Not being bound by ignorance. Not being bound by death. It is freedom from the law. It is freedom to enjoy life as a believer. It is freedom to enjoy God. Finally, everyone is judged already deserving hell. Including any little girl you come across. A sinful man does not even deserve a chance at heaven, let alone enterance. He is GUILTY. The unsearchable ways of God are plentiful. It is a strange thing but Job shows that it is not man's place to even question God's plan. There is no doubt in this judgment. Man did sin. It is God alone who can make him innocent. It is God alone who can cause him to be born again too. In this God determines salvation. Yet, again it is not apart from using earthly means or desires. Reformed thought says that God implants a desire for godliness into a believer. It is called regeneration / being born again / sometimes spiritual baptism. This is also essential to salvation. (because it brings it about, duh) Regeneration is also before faith unlike any arminian equivalent which brings whatever power and renewed desires after the decision. The decision itself must be based on a preexisting faith. Either way, the Gospel has much power it in when preached. Arminians would do well to follow the calvinist example and throw off any conversion theories that deny the gospel power. Namely, any individualistic choice from a pre-existing grace given to even nonbelievers to decide. God is not obligated by it to dispense grace. Regeneration will even bring about true faith in Christ that works. It will envitably bring it to completion. God always finishes the good work he starts. Regeneration says that God uses his powers of creation to change a sinners heart from one of stone to one of flesh. He alone does the impossible. It influences his conversion and is practically simultaneos. In this believers are considered are new creations consisting also of spirit besides just flesh. It is miraculous. There is no life preserver salvation here. No, you are dead at the bottom of the sea. Why? Because you are unwilling and unreasonable to the terms of the Gospel. You do not love God but love evil. The only amazing thing still is that anyone would even reach heaven. It is amazing until you look at the man who bore and paid the ransom for the sins of believers. That is love as vast as the ocean. Calvinism and reformed thought is no crackpot idea. What is dangerous is people who have faith in their choice rather than faith in God himself. Repent.

Calvinism Posted By: Eric Dowell - Gilbert, AZ My dear nephew. You are so wrong. You are making arguments that no Calvinist would ever make. Go down through the annals of history and see who believed what you believe and see who believe what Calvin believed. Not that this makes the case but don't you think that all of these people thought this through? Why is it that the majority of Christian martyrs, down through the ages, have believed in the doctines of grace? Have you read the writings of the early church fathers? How did they all get it wrong when they were present at the time the apostles were alive and heard for themeselves what they said about these things? You say that the doctrines of Calvin and Spurgeon are man made? Please. Do you know that most of what is taught at Calvary Chapel, and what you believe is no place to be found or accepted for centuries other than in the Catholic Church? Did you know that your belief in the election mirrors not only the Catholic Church but the Mormon, and JW church as well? I too chaffed at these doctrines for many years until I attempted to look at them without my Calvary blinders on. I spent a few years studying and studying just to try to disprove those doctrines. Low and behold, I found myself agreeing with them, little by little. Why? Because they are biblical. You have to throw out whole swaths of scripture like Romans 9, and Ephesians 1 and 2. Quite a bit of John 6 has to be butchered and discarded as well. Nobody says that you don't have a will but that without God intervening, you would never choose him. You can't choose him apart from him choosing you first. No man has ever sought after God. Take the time and read and meditate on the texts and pray that you wouldn't be brainwashed. Yes brainwashed. What goes on at Calvary is nothing short of brainwashing. You talk about man made doctrines, Calvary is has a truck load of them, starting with the "Moses Model" of Church government. The Pre trip rapture is another. I could go on and on. Trust me, Calvinsits aren't your enemy. The enemy is the easy believism and worldliness that is associated with Arminism and Calvary. Best Regards