John 12:47
“If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”
This is reminiscent of John 4:42, in which the people said of Jesus: “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Question: Do Calvinists wish to allege that this is just speaking of the world of the elect or do Calvinists wish to infer a nuanced meaning to the term “Savior”?
Answer: Does the Arminian understanding of John 3:16, inevitably lead to Universalism, and if not, how can a Calvinist say that it inevitably leads to Universalism here either? Arminianism is not Universalism, but it makes for great rhetoric to drop the accusation. At any rate, Calvinists have only two options, in order to interpret this passage.
John Calvin: “The word ‘judge,’ as is clear from its antithesis ‘save,’ is used here for the word ‘condemn.’ This should be understood as referring to the proper and genuine office of Christ.” (John: Calvin, The Crossway Classic Commentaries, p.317, emphasis mine)
Man is already judged and condemned under the weight and penalty of the Law. (John 3:18) Therefore, Jesus had not come to condemn those already condemned, but to seek and to save all in need of rescue: “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:5) If you were condemned under the Law, then Jesus bled and died to set you free.
