I see it as the story of the bible. From beginning to end.
Thank you for your thoughtful response and for sharing your perspective on justification by grace through faith. I appreciate your passion for Scripture and your view that the Bible tells one unified story of God’s redemptive plan from beginning to end. I’m glad we agree on this! Let me address your points and questions, seeking to clarify where our interpretations align or differ, always aiming to honor the truth of God’s Word.
I do apologize for the extra time my response has taken, I am rather unfocused this last week (wars can be distracting) and I apologize for it as it brought to bear on our conversation. I willl attempt to be more focused and provide faster response times in the future.
John 1: 11: 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12. But AS MANY AS HAVE RECIEVED HIM, to THEM he gave the right to become children, even TO THEM WHO BELIEVE (His own rejected him, But those who did recieve him, he gave the right..)
You cite John 1:11–12, emphasizing that “as many as have received him” are given the right to become children of God. However, your rendering of the text deviates from Scripture. The accurate translation is:
“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:11–13, ESV)
This passage shows that we “receive” Christ through faith, a core Reformed doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. Crucially, verse 13 clarifies that this faith is not of human origin—“not of the will of man, but of God.” Even the “natural children” (Israel) are not God’s children until adopted into the New Covenant through faith, which is provided by God alone. This underscores that faith is a divine gift, not a human initiative (Ephesians 2:8).
John 3, FOR God so loved the world he gave his only son that WHOEVER BELIEVES (trusts) in him will NEVER PERISH, and LIVE FOREVER (eternal life) for the son was not sent to judge, but that the world might be saved, he who BELIEVES is NOT CONDEMNED, he who does not believe is condemned already
You cite John 3:16–18, emphasizing “whoever believes” is not condemned, while those who do not believe are “condemned already.” but your rendering again paraphrases the text, so here’s the accurate translation:
John 3:16-18 "
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (ESV)
I agree that unbelief is the proximate cause of final condemnation, as it rejects the only remedy for sin—Christ’s righteousness (John 16:8–9; Romans 10:3). However, your view seems to imply that salvation is a universal offer that humans accept through their own initiative. Scripture however, teaches that the gospel is preached to all (Matthew 28:19), but it is effectual only for the elect, whom God draws (John 6:37: “All that the Father gives me will come to me”). John 6:44 reinforces this: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them.” Faith is the means by which God applies justification, not the cause of it (Romans 5:9; Galatians 2:16).
(Believe, look to the cross will never perish. are born again, this new life being forever. )
You liken faith to looking at the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8–9; John 3:14–15), suggesting that “anyone who seeks out this healing” by looking in faith is saved. I agree that this analogy beautifully illustrates salvation through Christ. However, it underscores God’s initiative: God provided the serpent, commanded the Israelites to look, and enabled their response.
Not everyone looked, despite the innate human instinct to survive, because not all were enabled by God’s grace. Similarly, faith in Christ is a gift (Philippians 1:29), given to the elect, who then look to Him in faith and live. If faith were a human initiative, why didn’t everyone look at the serpent, especially after witnessing its healing effects? This shows that even the act of “looking” is a response rooted in divine grace, not a self-generated act.
You didn’t directly address John 6:28–29, but I raised it in my previous post, and it’s worth revisiting. When the crowd asks, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus replies, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (John 6:28–29, ESV). If belief were a human initiative, Jesus would have said, “You must believe,” but He attributes faith to God’s work. We know Christ because God reveals Him to us (Matthew 16:16–17), not because we are wiser or make better choices than others. Without divine revelation, we would remain lost (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Scripture repeatedly teaches that true knowledge of Christ as the Son of God requires divine revelation. For example, Jesus tells Peter, “This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). Similarly, Paul’s faith came “by revelation from Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:12; cf. John 6:44–45; 1 Corinthians 2:10–14). This keeps us humble, grounding our faith in God’s initiative, not our effort (1 Corinthians 4:7).
the question is, does this offer go to all the world. Or only a select few? It seems Odd that both Jesus and paul speek of what we are to do to recieve all these things which Christ paid in full and offered us. If we do not have to act in faith and come to him and receive him.
I’m grateful for your zeal for God’s Word. However, Scripture teaches that faith is a divine gift, ensuring that salvation is entirely of God’s grace (1 Corinthians 1:30). The gospel is preached to all, but it is effectual only for the elect, whom God draws to Christ (John 6:37). We don’t boast in our faith but praise God for revealing Christ to us (2 Corinthians 4:6). Salvation is by God’s grace, not man’s effort, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:9)
You asked:
where does sin come in? If sin condemns us, why are they judged because of lack of faith and not sin?
Look at the great white throne. are they judged because of sin. or because of works.
Remember jesus says they come and profess of their great works. And Jesus tells them to depart.
why? They never repented and came to faith.
it would take alot to really get deeper into this.. I answered last night quickly. so probably get into great detail. if you have specific questions. Please ask.. This is deep stuff
You ask why unbelievers are judged for lack of faith rather than sin (John 3:18) and whether the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11–15) is based on works or faith.
Sin is the root cause of condemnation (Romans 3:23; 5:12), incurring God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:3). Unbelief seals final condemnation by rejecting Christ’s righteousness (John 16:8–9; Hebrews 2:3).
At the Great White Throne, the unsaved are judged “according to their works” (Revelation 20:12), which reflect their lack of saving faith, as true faith produces good works (James 2:17). In Matthew 7:22–23, those boasting of “great works” are rejected for lacking faith in Christ’s righteousness (Romans 10:3).
In Christ's unfailing love,
Hazelelponi