Salvation: Who Can Be Saved?

Question: Does John 3:16 actually mean that anyone can be saved if they believe in/call upon Him?

Answer: I’m not sure why you would question the word “whoever” in John 3:16. As the old Bible expositors used to say, “If the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense.” In passage after passage, the gospel invitation is extended to all–though the Bible is equally clear that not all will be saved.

Christ paid the debt for all the sin of all men for all time. But the payment has to be accepted, by faith. We understand that in daily life. Someone rich and generous person can say, “Here’s a cheque to cover the cost of your new car.” And we can either accept the gift or reject it.

But let’s check out a few passages that indicate all are potentially included in the work of salvation, and the payment of our debt (italics mine, for emphasis).

“The Lord has laid on Him [Christ] the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). He is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). Eternal life is granted to “whoever believes in Him” (Jn. 3:16). The Father’s desire is “that the world through Him might be saved” (vs. 17).

With the Samaritan woman at the well, “living water” is used as a picture of the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit. And “whoever drinks of the water” will have everlasting life (Jn. 4:14). And “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (Jn. 7:37-39). “Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).

“Whoever calls on the name of the Lord [i.e. in faith] shall be saved” (Acts 2:21, and Rom. 10:13). “Whoever believes in Him will receive remission [forgiveness] of sins” (Acts 10:13). “All that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:39).

Christ Jesus…gave Himself a ransom for all” (I Tim. 2:5-6). “That He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9). “The Lord…is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (II Pet. 3:9). “He Himself [Christ] is the propitiation for our sins [the full satisfaction of God’s justice], and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (I Jn. 2:2). “The Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world” (I Jn. 4:14).

Seems pretty clear to me! It is an open invitation to all who are willing to receive it.