Nevertheless, when it says "world" in John 3:16 it is speaking of His created world, as well as all nations (for that is where the gospel went, and is going) and there is no way to legitimately say it means every human being. God does have a general love for all humans as His creation, but it is a special love that He holds for His covenant people alone. And none of what you say changes the fact that you began by saying Calvinists say "world" means the elect, not only in that scripture but in every scripture.
The majority of your posts are consistent, well thought out and supported, and presented with precision. So I know you are talented in that area, have much knowledge, support your arguments and articulate well. It is hard to face when we flub, and harder to admit, but this time, when you were coming against something (Calvinism) you did just that. Why? It is the usual thing that happens when a person hates Calvinism and the idea of it, and that view of God, and they want to tear it down. To do so, they have to make up something, and so their argument won't hold together, if an actual Calvinist sets the record straight. (It should give a person pause to wonder why things have to be made up and misstated in order to tear it down.) A person certainly doesn't have to agree with it, but neither do they have to misrepresent it in order to make it known that they hate it. Best to stick with what you know.
if you care to read the OP again, you will see that the person after whom "Calvinism" takes it name, John Calvin, is very clear in his comments on John 3:16. He is certainly not a believer in "Limited Atonement".
Here are some more of his comments
John 1:29;
“
Who taketh away the sin of the world. He uses the word sin in the singular number, for any kind of iniquity; as if he had said, that every kind of unrighteousness which alienates men from God is
taken away by Christ. And when he says,
the sin Of The World, he extends this favor
indiscriminately to the whole human race; that the Jews might not think that he had been sent to them alone. But hence we infer that
the whole world is involved in the same condemnation; and that as
all men without exception are guilty of unrighteousness before God, they need to be reconciled to him. John the Baptist, therefore, by speaking generally of
the sin of the world, intended to impress upon us the conviction of our own misery, and to exhort us to seek the remedy. Now our duty is, to embrace the benefit which is
offered to all, that
each of us may be convinced that there is nothing to hinder him from obtaining reconciliation in Christ, provided that he comes to him by the guidance of faith.”
Romans 5:18;
“He makes this favor
common to all, because it is propounded to
all, and not because it is in reality extended to
all; for though Christ
suffered for the sins of the whole world, and is offered through God's benignity
indiscriminately to all, yet all do not receive him”
Commenting on Mark 14:24, where Jesus says that His death is a “ransom for many”. Calvin says:
“
Which is shed for many. By
the word many he means
not a part of the world only, but
the whole human race”
If, as the “Calvinists” teach, that they get their “limited atonement” from John Calvin, then they are clearly deluded! Here is a text that Jesus says that He died for “many”, and yet, you would have expected Calvin to have said, “only for a part”. But in fact, he says that it does not mean this, but Jesus’ words mean, “the whole human race”! I expect there are still those who will hold on to their lies about this doctrine and what Calvin actually taught. The context here includes Judas!
The last context is very important, because Judas is here included!
Now try to get out of these FACTS!
