A Verse Misused
Whenever the Bible doctrine of election is presented to those who reject God’s sovereignty in salvation, John 3:16 will be produced in defence of their position. Peter Meney has concluded there are only two reasons for this. The first is genuine ignorance — many who quote the verse know its words but have never examined its meaning in the light of other Scripture. The second is pride: a wilful refusal to accept what one does not wish to believe. The scientist who embraces evolution rather than acknowledge an intelligent Creator, and the religionist who clings to free will against the clear testimony of God’s Word, are both demonstrating the same thing — a greater confidence in their own opinion than in the revealed truth of God.
The employment of John 3:16 as an argument against free grace fails to deal honestly with either the words or the sense of the text. Two terms are usually cited as decisive against particular grace: the word world, and the word whosoever. Both must be examined carefully.
The Meaning of “World”
Arthur Pink demonstrated from a systematic survey of New Testament usage that the Greek word kosmos carries at least seven distinct meanings. It is used of the universe as a whole (Acts 17:24), of the earth (John 13:1), of the world-system (John 12:31), of the whole human race (Romans 3:19), of humanity minus believers (John 15:18), of Gentiles in contrast to Jews (Romans 11:12), and — as Pink carefully establishes — of believers only (John 1:29; 3:16, 17; 6:33; 12:47).
Which meaning applies in John 3:16 is determined by context, by what is predicated of the world in that passage, and by comparison with parallel passages. Pink’s conclusion is that the world in John 3:16 refers to the world of believers — God’s elect — in contrast with the world of the ungodly (2 Peter 2:5). This is established by comparing every passage in Scripture that speaks of God’s love: God commendeth his love toward us — the saints (Romans 5:8). Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth — every son (Hebrews 12:6). We love him, because he first loved us — believers (1 John 4:19). The wicked God pities; to the unthankful he is kind; the vessels of wrath he endures with much longsuffering — but his own people he loves.
The Meaning of “Whosoever”
The free-will advocate’s second argument is that whosoever must mean everyone without exception. But the emphasis in the verse is not on whosoever but on believeth. Everlasting life is promised to those who believe, and to none other. Far from opening salvation to all, the word actually restricts it — to those who believe, and only to those who believe. The verse limits, it does not expand.
Meney illustrates the point: suppose a teacher tells her class that whosoever raises their hand will be given a pencil. The pencil is not for everyone — only for those who hear and respond. In John 3:16, salvation comes by faith and is received only by trusting in the perfect righteousness and complete sufficiency of Christ. No unbeliever ever receives its benefits.
John 3:16 Rightly Understood
The first clause tells us what moved God to give his Son — his great love. The second tells us for whom he gave his Son — every one that believeth. The third states his purpose — that everyone who believes should not perish but have everlasting life. This is utterly consistent with sovereign grace and with the whole teaching of Scripture. The verse does not undermine election. Properly understood, it confirms it.