Does John 3:16 mean that Muslims and non Christians will parish?

Question

Or Does it mean that no matter what the religion, God loved the world so much that Jesus death covers all people who are sincerely trying to be good people?

Answer 1

That’s not what I was told, Some may quote John 3:16, which says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (King James Version) However, ‘What, then, must we believe? That Jesus actually lived? Of course. That he is the Son of God? By all means! And since the Bible calls Jesus “Teacher” and “Lord,” must we not also believe what he taught, obey him, and follow him?

Here the problem arises! Many people who have been told that they are “saved” seem to have little intention of either following or obeying Jesus. In fact, a Protestant clergyman wrote: “Of course, our faith in Christ should continue. But the claim that it absolutely must, or necessarily does, has no support at all in the Bible.”

On the contrary, the Bible lists immoral practices that are common among some people who think that they are “saved.”

What does it mean, then, to follow Jesus, and how can we do that? Well, what did Jesus do? Was he immoral? a fornicator? a drunkard? a liar? Was he dishonest in business? Of course not! ‘But,’ you may ask, ‘do I have to clean all those things out of my life?’

For the answer, consider Ephesians 4:17 through 5:5. It does not say that God will accept us no matter what we do. Instead, it tells us to be different from the worldly nations who have “come to be past all moral sense, but you did not learn the Christ to be so, Put away the old personality which conforms to your former course of conduct, Let the stealer steal no more, Let fornication and uncleanness of every sort or greediness not even be mentioned among you, just as it befits holy people. For you know this, recognizing it for yourselves, that no fornicator or unclean person or greedy person, which means being an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and of God.”

Answer 2

John 3:16... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life

Begotten is from "monogenes" which means

1) single of its kind, only

a) used of only sons or daughters (viewed in relation to their parents)

b) used of Christ, denotes the only begotten son of God

Believe is from "pisteuo" which indicates

1) to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in

a) of the thing believed

1) to credit, have confidence

b) in a moral or religious reference

1) used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul

2) to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith

This does not mean we simply know and believe what we are told about Jesus. It is not a matter of understanding that Jesus died for our sin and that saves us. We are told that satan knows this but satan does not have salvation.

Christians do not go to heaven, neither do Muslims, or any other religion. There is no religion that can save anyone. Only a relationship with God through Jesus Christ can. Read the first link below for an easy to understand way of knowing how to have eternal life.

Answer 3

John 3:16 is stating that for all who call upon the name of Jesus and believe in him and confess him as Lord shall be saved....so if anyone doesn't believe in Jesus then they are lost and His death was in vain for them....

John 3:16,17
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son...so that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life..

Answer 4

Nope, i don't think John 3:16 means that non-Christians will perish.

Christ came into the world to save everyone, saints and sinners alike. All of us are His creation and he loves every single one of us, even if we have sinned against Him.

There's a chapter in Revelations (i believe, but sorry if i'm wrong) that speaks of Judgement Day and how we would all be divided into 2 groups - the sheep (which will go to Heaven) and the goats (which will end up in Hell). Although the chapter didn't explicitly say that non-Christians may still receive salvation, it is said that "whatever you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto me".

This clearly means that salvation is through deeds and not just through faith alone. Amongst the sheep on Judgement Day, i am positive that there will be muslims, buddhists and non-christians who have led a good, charitable life.

Jesus is the messenger to the world but LOVE is his ultimate message. People who are called to be christians are messengers hand-picked by God, so that the world receives the message of love. As long as a person lives by this message of love, he/she will be saved even if he/she is not a christian.

Think about this - would God create people just to have them condemned to hell? Would God banish a person to Hell even if he/she has led a good life - let's say it's a person living in the rural parts of Africa, who had no chance of even knowing Jesus' name, BUT had dedicated his/her life to taking care of children in an orphanage? I don't think so. I think that God is fair, just, merciful and forgiving and ultimately i think He wants to save all of us.

God Bless!

Answer 5

Curious, how this verse cannot be plain to some people. John 3:16 very clearly says that those who have faith in Jesus Christ are saved. Period. Those who don't are not saved. I'm absolutely astonished how satan deceives people, even when the bible is perfectly clear there is only one way to God.

Answer 6

God did give His Son for the entire world but then in many places it speaks about Jesus being the only way.He gave His Son so that people would come to Him.

Answer 7

Sincerely trying to be a good person means nothing, God demands moral perfection. Either be morally perfect yourself (impossible) or trust in God's perfect sacrice to cover your imperfection. If you attempt to jump a mile wide gulf sincerely trying to reach the other side you still fall to your death. Faith in the risen savior who Is himself God is the only way to bridge the gap.

Have you examined your life in the light of God's holiness? These hypothetical good people that unbelievers use to call into question God's fairness don't exist, my mother, my father, my children, myself, all are unworthy of God's mercy, but deserve God's Justice. BUT,

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Answer 8

If they believe , they will come out of darkness into the light.If they love darkness more than the light they will perish.You need to finish the rest of of John 3.The Bible also says "Judas went out and hung himself" then turn a few pages and read "go thou likewise and do the same" , don't really do this at home okay?

Answer 9

God loves the whole world and that is why he sent Jesus to die for our sins! Anyone regardless of religion who accepts what Jesus has done for us will have eternal life and those regardless of religion who do not accept what Jesus has done for us will not have eternal life!

Answer 10

Jesus loved all people. All it requires to enter the kingdom of heaven is a good heart and a desire to help others. "Judge not that ye be not judged." John could not speak for anyone but himself.