I just wonder AMR - isn't this a tacit admission that a preacher primarily using vv.14-16 for his Gospel would be misunderstood by his audience? I can't imagine anyone thinking that genuine salvation wasn't being offered.
I have explained why the view of the "well-meant" offer cannot stand:
http://theologyonline.com/showthread.php?126873-What-is-the-Gospel&p=5111379&viewfull=1#post5111379
That you "cannot imagine" this, is not an adequate response. I know you have opinions about this or that, but the expectation of the veracity of your opinions rests in some actual content that would test that veracity. You like to cherry-pick a verse or two here and there, but tend to ignore the full counsel of Scripture, when, by necessary and logical consequence, teaches something different that you assume these cherry-picked verses teach. That is how imagined contradictions appear, especially when wooden literalism is at work.
"All the people came to Him" - really, each and every person in the city?
"He took Him up and showed Him all the Kingdoms of the world" - really, did they go into orbit around the earth?
"All who came before me are thieves and robbers" - really, the prophets are thieves and robbers?
"he is baptizing, and all are going to him" - really, each and every person were showing up?
"there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed" - really, the entire earth was taxed?
"behold, the world is gone after him" - really, the entire population of the earth was present at the Triumphal entry?
"healing every sickness and disease among the people" - really, every individuals disease was healed?
"All men are liars" - really, then David was lying when he said this?
You see the nonsense that abounds when the full counsel of Scripture is not taken into account when we run across one of our favorite "go to" verses thinking we have settled the matter once and for all.
The same goes for if God wills all men to be saved, then all men will be saved, for “
He (God) doeth according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth” (Daniel 4:35). God does not fail. God cannot be disappointed in His own will, for He works all things after the counsel of his own will (Eph. 1:11).
Or, in Heb 2:9, Jesus is said to “
taste death for every man” wherein it is in the very next verse restricted to “
sons brought to glory,” followed in Heb 2:11, to “
sanctified are all of one”. Over in 1 Timothy 2:6, “
who gave Himself a ransom for all” is rendered in the parallel text in Titus 2:14, “
who gave Himself for us.” Now, who exactly are the persons called “
us” in this text? Are they not
particularized as “
redeemed from all iniquity, purified and made a peculiar people?” Clearly, for “
all” of this description are the one's for whom Christ gave Himself a ransom, and for no one else.
And so on, and so on. :AMR:
AMR