Truth101, said:This scripture you quote is not saying God only loves those who listen and obey.
It is saying that while the WORLD was yet in sin Christ did for the WORLD.
Please read the Scripture again carefully : The scriptures says:
John 14:21 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be LOVED OF MY FATHER, and I WILL LOVE HIM, and will manifest (make known) myself to him.
Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, Lord, how will you show yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus answered and said to him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and MY FATHER WILL LOVE HIM, and we will come to him and dwell with him.
John 14 Context: verse 2-3 That Christ would be departing this world through his death and that he would be preparing a place for them in His Fathers house. They would be soon following him there because they knew the way.
In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you.
Provision for the whole world is not found in this verse. But very specifically a place prepare for you according to context.
Verse 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.
Again the context is specifically addressed to those that know, no mention that the whole world would know the way. ( which later he says that He is the WAY)
Verse 5 Thomas said to him, Lord, we know not where you go; and how can we know the way?
Here Thomas is reasoning with his human intellect in which can never please God, but more to the point his human understanding of what Christ was saying left him not knowing what Jesus was trying to point out. So Christ gives him clarity when He defines the word way. Thomas was thinking in some earthy use of the word way. Jesus declares how he would use the word WAY, that is being identified with himself.
Verse 6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you should have known my Father also; and from here on YOU know him, and have seen him.
Again the context very specifically declares YOU (not the whole world) now know the WAY to the Father.
Verse 8 Philip said to Jesus, Lord, show us the Father, and it will be sufficient.
Here Philip also is having a hard time understanding what Jesus is saying, because again he is using his human intellect, his human reasoning , his human perception of truth. Christ is very plainly declaring that he and the Father are the same and the proof will be the works that he has done. However it goes right over his head, because with his human understanding there is no bearing in which he can identify with. They are being confronted with Eternal concepts in which the human brain cannot grasp or even comprehend.
Verse 10 You dont believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very sake of the works. Truly, truly, I say to you, he that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father. And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Verse 15 If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, because it sees him not, neither knows him: But you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.
Again if one uses their human reasoning theyll never understand the salvation plan of God, that says, God only loves those (His people, a remnant chosen by grace) whose sins have been paid for by His Son Jesus Christ.If one continues to let their own wisdom teach them, then they will be led down a wrong road of reasoning and in a WAY that is contrary to the whole of scripture. If one continues to rely on what makes sense to them, formulating ideas that are pleasing to them, then most certainly one can come up with teachings that falsely promote that Christ paid the sins of every single person that would ever live throughout time. When in fact Christ clearly states in Verse 15 that those that keep His commandments, notice the ones that He PRAYS for. Again notice that Christ doesn't pray for the world. And then Jesus states that the WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE ( notice it does'nt say will not). Why can't the world receive the Spirit of Truth, because they are blind by their own human reasoning. They cant see Him because their wisdom has them looking at another WAY. Neither can they KNOW HIM, because the way that they invented is based on teachings that please their own intellect. They can NEVER KNOW HIM, because those facts are based of mans knowledge that has been contrived. Who according to scripture declares: 2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.