To answer this question look at the text: what is meant by the word “world”? Does it mean that Jesus died for everyone without exception? If that is what the word “world” means in every instance, then Jesus died for everyone, and everyone will go to Heaven. God being a just God cannot punish your sins on the cross, and then punish you forever in Hell. Rather, based on the context of the passage above, the word “world” means everyone without distinction, not everyone without exception. In other words, Jesus purchased salvation for all sorts of people, “from every tribe and language and people and nation”, not just Jews. Revelation 5:9.

The New-Testament word cosmos that we translate “world” doesn’t have just one meaning. In a recent audio podcast on Definite Atonement, Dr. Steven Lawson lists ten different uses for “world”, all from the Gospel of John. The audio is found at www.ligonier.org/rym/ but since the folks at Renewing Your Mind rotate their audio off after it has been on about a month, you may not find it available on the free side by the time you read this. This particular episode comes from a new series entitled The Doctrines of Grace in John, and can be purchases on DVD at http://www.ligonier.org/store/the-doctrines-of-grace-in-john-dvd/

For a helpful resource here is the list of the ten uses for “world” in John’s Gospel:

1. Universal, or all of creation: John 1:10
   He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
2. The physical earth: John 13:1
   Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
3. This world system: John 12:31
   Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
4. All of humanity minus believers:  John 7:7
   The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
5. A large group: John 12:19
   So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
6. The general public: John 7:4
   For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”
7. Large groups, both Jew and Gentile: John 1:29
   The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
8. The human realm in general: John 3:16
   “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
9. The non-elect: John 17:9
   I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
10. The elect: John 3:17
    For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

In thinking about fathers…my father, my father-in-law, my children’s father, and our grandchildren’s fathers…each man has had his own unique role as a father of the next generation. All of these men provide/provided for their children in all the ways good fathers do. They were/are not “typical” men after hours of work at their paid jobs. Each one of these men met the emotional needs of their children in different ways…each era’s expectations have played a role in this, and yet none of them have met/are meeting these needs in the typical ways of many of their peers.

These fathers have done their best within the limitations of their Adamic falleness…they are types and shadows of the perfect Father God. Eventually children have to realize that they must put their ultimate hope in God. God has used these men as they are in the lives of their children.
It is a good day to remember to give thanks to God our Father for the blessing of fathers everywhere who strive and have striven to honour God with their lives.

Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 49:20

Even the death of a family pet should remind us not to be proud.

If you are not a subscriber to Table Talk these posts won’t be of much use. Next month when the February issue appears online, you may be able to read some of the articles. The best bet is to see if you can order the February issue online, or find a friend who has it and is willing  to share.

Happy Reading

If I ever get some free time in 2010, I would like to concentrate my posts on church music. Much of my thought has been provoked by posts this last year by Douglas Wilson on the subject. Rather than comment on his comments, here is a link to his category page on Musical Exhortation which lists all all of them, the first beginning in April of 2009. Start at the bottom (there are two pages at present) and work your way up for best results, although they can be read randomly with similar results. Much of what Wilson has to say will stretch your mind a good bit, but don’t shut him out just because he may step on your toes. He will make you think, and that’s good. I know many connected to leading and creating (and singing) church music don’t think so, but trust me, you will get use to it in time. It might do us all some good, eventually.

127. What is the sixth petition?

• And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. That is: Since we are so weak in ourselves, that we cannot stand a moment; while our deadly enemies, the devil, the world and our own flesh, assail us without ceasing; be pleased to preserve and strengthen us by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may make firm stand against them, and not sink in this spiritual war, until we come off at last with complete victory.

128. How do you close this prayer?

• For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. That is: All this we ask of Thee, because as our King, having power over all things, Thou art both willing and able to give us all good; and that thereby not we, but Thy holy Name may be glorified for ever.

129. What is the meaning of the word Amen?

• Amen means: So shall it truly and surely be. For my prayer is much more certainly heard of God, than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of Him.

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126. What is the fifth petition?

• And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. That is: Be pleased for the sake of Christ’s blood, not to impute to us, miserable sinners, our manifold transgressions, nor the evil which still always cleaves to us, as we find this witness of Thy grace in us, that it is our full purpose heartily to forgive our neighbor.

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125. What is the fourth petition?

• Give us this day our daily bread. That is: Be pleased to provide for all our bodily need; that we may thereby know that Thou art the only fountain of all good, and that without Thy blessing, neither our care and labor, nor Thy gifts can profit us; and may therefore withdraw our trust from all creatures, and place it alone in Thee.

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