I actually had no idea for a title to this post, but I wanted to say something about an ‘interesting’ statement I read a couple of days ago, for which I needed some semblance of closure – or at least stop the annoying bouncing.  

This was a very serious statement I came across in the comment thread of a blog concerning ‘tolerance’, complete with scripture to support the statement and delivered with utmost sincerity:

“God has willed that all men be saved.”

Supporting scripture:

John 6:40 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

The matter at hand in the discussion thread was the “all men” phrase in John 12:32, and after another commenter had mentioned that God’s actions in drawing and saving men revolve around His ‘elect’ from every tribe, nation and people, the eisegetical big guns came out. Among the artillery shots was the above statement, that probably caught my eye because I am employed as a technical writer/editor and such things do tend to hit my brain in boldface font.

“Everyone who sees and believes” is plainly NOT “all men”. Why is it even important?

I can think of several reasons, from the original “all men” issue to the Arminianism/Calvinism debate, and points in between. At this point in time, what struck this old soldier (was military in a former life) is the importance of personal Bible reading and study under two beginning assumptions:

1.  Receive the meaning of the text for what it says, not what you want it to say.

2.  What is says is truth. Any seeming contradictions sort themselves out over time.

Just read it and take it for what it says.  It was reading it for a high school ‘advanced’ English class that caused me to notice that being a Christian wasn’t about what I did on Sunday morning (attend the Lutheran Church down the road), but it was who was supposed to ‘be’ with my whole life. Unfortunately it was the late ’60s and I went AWOL from perceived hypocrisy and spent seven years in ODF status. (AWOL is Absent WithOut Leave and ODF is Out Dere Flappin’). It was picking it up and reading it again that caused the prodigal to want to ‘come home’). It’s been personal Bible study that has helped me grow the most.

Through the years it has been personal Bible reading and study that have been the mainstay of my Christian walk. Occasionally it has been very helpful to have an original language concordance and a commentary or two, but for the most part an accurate translation will suffice for growth in godliness and righteousness. I attribute that opinion to the dynamic of the indwelling Holy Spirit working in direct contact with the regenerated human mind and heart.

By the way, I do have a couple of bookshelves filled with the likes of Augustine, Calvin, John Bunyon, Spurgeon, John MacArthur (to name a few), Bible dictionaries, concordances, and commentaries. Then there are all the ‘tools’ that modern technology has to offer – entire biblical research libraries on CDs (got that), with more available on the Internet.

But guess what? In most cases, all of the ‘big ones’, for whom I have the utmost admiration and respect, tell me what the Bible already told me. (I read them anyway, but not primarily.)

I just wanted to share that. Thanks for listening.