The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature

Calvinism can be read into this passage, as it can be readinto any passage (so that “sinners” can become the elect only),but if we take the words of these verses at face value, theymean that Jesus came to save sinners in general as opposed tojust a pre-selected group and that God’s salvation of Paul, thechief of sinners, is an encouragement to any sinner to come toHim for salvation. Any sinner can find encouragement fromthis passage that he can believe on Christ for salvation,because if God would save Paul He will save anyone.GOD WOULD HAVE MERCY UPON ALL -- “For Godhath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might havemercy upon all” (Rom. 11:32).If the “all” of the first half of this verse means all men, as itobviously does, then it is impossible to interpret the latter halfof the verse in any other sense. e same God who hasconcluded all men in unbelief desires to have mercy upon allmen through Jesus Christ. at is His sovereign and expresswill.JESUS MADE PROPITIATION NOT FOR BELIEVERSONLY BUT FOR WHOLE WORLD -- “And he is thepropitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also forthe sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2).is passage is addressed to “my little children” and thosewho “have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ therighteous” (1 Jn. 2:1). Obviously it is addressed, then, to thesaved or to those who elsewhere are called “the elect” (Col.2:12; 2 Tim. 2:10). erefore, when 1 John 2:2 says Christ “isthe propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but alsofor the sins of the whole world,” the Bible is obviously andplainly stating that Christ did not die to make satisfaction forthe sins of the elect only. e “whole world” means the wholeworld!JESUS GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL -- “Whogave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1Tim. 2:6).68