All, Without Distinction

Christians today, if they read the Bible at all, fail to rightly divide its truth, filtering it through their traditions rather than studying what it actually says.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -- John 3:16

Their common understanding of this passage is that whoever believes -- as in makes the choice to believe -- is saved. From this and other sundry passages is born the notion that Christ has simply made it possible for people to be saved but the choice is still up to the individual. "Christ has done his part, now you do yours".

Never mind the passages that clearly contradict the doctrine of "free will". Since the passages that show God is sovereign in all things are so numerous, and it is not my purpose in this article to defend what the Bible so clearly teaches, I will move on to the notion of "whosoever" and "all".

The word "world" is kosmos (02889): "probably from the base of 2865; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally)):--adorning, world. see GREEK for 2865". It need not mean everyone because the word may be taken in a "wide or narrow sense". This is clearly the use when the Pharisees said the "world is gone after him".

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive you how you prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. -- John 12:19

The word "whosoever" in these passages is pas (G3956): "all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever." So we must also note that "whosoever" need not mean everyone.

Who are these believers? They are established at the very beginning of the New Testament:

And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. -- Matthew 1:21

Throughout Christ's ministry and through most of the Acts period, His "people" were only Jews. But starting with Cornelius in Acts 10, the "mystery" or secret "which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God" (Ephesians 3:9) started to unfold, that the Gentiles would also be included and that all believers would form the Body of Christ:

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church: -- Colossians 1:24 (See also Ephesians 1:23 and 5:30).

Notice the similar sentiment of John 3:16 to Romans 10:11:

For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. -- Romans 10:11 (quoted from Isa. 28:16)

The following verse is:

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. -- Romans 10:12

And in Colossians:

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all. -- Colossians 3:11

It should be clear enough from these passages that "all" and "whosever" means "all, without distinction" as to race, status, etc. To apply this to the whole world of believers and unbelievers alike is a gross error and casts shame on the work of Christ. Because if Christ died for everyone, He has failed in His work because some people die unsaved.

But you may say they are unsaved because they did not believe. But isn't unbelief a sin?

And he that doubts is damned if he eat, because [he eats] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin. -- Romans 14:23

And Christ did not die for sin? He did indeed die for the sins of His people and He keeps all those given to Him.

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. -- John 10:28, 29