In the Gospel of John we have the prayer of Jesus. He communed often with his Father which we read in the gospels (Lk.6:12;Mt.14:23). But we are not told what our Lord Savior prayed for. So the prayer as given in the gospel of John is special for the intimacy of Father-Son relationship it gives us. Considering he had not much time left it requires our special attention. Jesus was concerned about those whom God had entrusted under this care.
Here we need to take a few steps back in order to place it in proper context of his earthly ministry. God is love and he sent his Son so whosoever believed in him should have everlasting life. God has infinite agencies to get his Will done. Leading to the Advent the Spirit has been busy indeed. A clue of this is the ministry of prophets notably Isaiah who had spoken of the coming of Messiah, his passion and Millennial Reign so on. Then we have John the baptist who was anointed specially for preparing the way. (Here we have the prophesy of Isaiah ‘Voice in the wilderness’) The epistle of Apostle Peter speaks of the Holy men of old who were informed by the spirit of Christ about the salvation that were to come. Coming closer the Advent we read of the Angelic host that appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus. This was similarly part of the divine plan. News about the coming of Messiah was not only for the palace but for the hovels as well. We can infer from the Samaritan woman (mentioned in Jn.4) the coming of Messiah had gained currency among people in Samaria . Why God had caused these several incidents across the passage of time and all classes in Palestine attests to the God is love principle.. Coming of salvation was not for a few. It is the jump off point and the Great Commission of Jesus was the signal,’Go!. It was intended to touch the ends of the earth. Jesus did not have to travel east or west but principle of Association between God the Father and Son worked through the so many disciples shall achieve it. Now we can appreciate the words of Jesus, ” I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor (Jn.4:38-NIV)”. Jesus sent the apostles and the other disciples 70 in number for spreading the gospel. Whosoever believed in him were saved. Jesus came into his own but ‘his own did not received him not (Jn.1: 11) Great many who rejected him were content with Law of Moses and were complacent.
Predestination according to the Will of his Father was entrusted with the Son .”The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands (Jn.3:35-NIV). This is what St Paul terms as Mystery of his Will (Ep.1:9-12).
When we read that God had placed everything in his hands, it is not merely a few but the whole mankind. It ties up with the nature of God and when He sent his Son with a mandate we have this word, “For God so loved the world…(Jn.3:16). Those who hated the light lest they be shown what they really are would not receive the Son. neither would they who are self-righteous of whom were the elders of the local synagogues.
Without this whole world included in his divine Plan the theological concept of free will divine quality of love of God would not run as natural and transparent as existing between the Father and the Son. Perfection of the Father is exemplified in the rain that He sends for the good and evil alike; the sun shines on all since God’s faith is stronger than man’s wisdom. He first trusted in the Son and he as Servant-King was willing to reconcile all to his Father.
Whoever received the Son by Association is adopted into the family quality of which is light. Children of light and children of darkness are settled by response of man.
Calvinism bases limited atonement on this basis John 17:9 where Jesus in prayer interceded for the ones given Him, not those of the entire world; Acts 20:28 and Eph. 5:25-27 which state that the Church was purchased by Christ, not all people; and Isaiah 53:12 which is a prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion where he would bore the sins of many (not all). (Calvinistcorner.com/Tulip) ‘Calvin interpreted the Scripture literally and his doctrine of Predestination is wrong. Like the buttons of a shirt front if one is out of place all the other naturally would be misplaced. Unlimited Election by the same token seriously suffers on account of it. So is Total Depravity. Without free will man shall not come to the light lest their works of darkness be reproved. For those who confess God is righteous to forgive them. Fullness of the atoning work of the Son is the key. Even those who have been called and made sons of God need to make sure their election(Make your calling and election sure’ we are warned.). Those who reject the light grow deeper into a worse condition. Despite of sexual permissiveness the world cannot get enough. The naturalness of love when debased (examples of which is a social phenomena of our times) do spiral into violent brutal bestial perverseness. They are so addicted. It is what happens to anyone who hold the truth in unrighteousness (Ro.1:20) . If it is the case of an individual what about the churches? Look what s making news in the American churches to which Calvinism made a phenomenal impact. Has it given a good role model? Earlier activism of evangelicals was to condemn abortion and gay life style. When churches have come loose from the teachings of Jesus and become self-satisfied what animates the Christians now? The churches that blanched at the idea of a gay pastor now brazenly defend a pedophile and child molester. They even (as the pastor in an interview with CNN the other day) speak of grace and the pastor from Alabama defended that the man had not been found guilty? The culprit against whom the victims have spoken does not feel he needs grace and outrageously defends himself as an example of white evangelicalism; He has support from churches. What is behind this? At this rate much more perverseness shall be tolerated under specious reasons and the congregation shall simply accept it.
Benny
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