No person can come to Christ by their own freewill !

Believing is an evidence of ALREADY having eternal life
Not according to John 3:16. God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only son in order that whoever believes in him should not perish but should have life everlasting.

The hina clause, “in order that whoever believes in him” becomes the contingency of what follows . This is due to the use of the subjunctive mood used in the final clause, namely, “should not perish” but “should have life everlasting.” The use of the subjunctive expresses the result is contingent upon the believing occurring first. Believing precedes eternal life being given. Eternal life is the consequence of believing occurring.

The language can mean nothing else, period!


Doug
 
Believing is an evidence of ALREADY having eternal life
This is from NTGreek.org:
(See “Purpose Clause)

If the subjunctive mood is used in a ‘purpose’ (or in a ‘result’) clause, then the action should not be thought of as a possible result, but should be viewed as the stated outcome that will happen (or has happened) as a result of another stated action. The use of the subjunctive is not to indicate that something ‘may’ or ‘might’ result from a given action, but it is stating the ‘purpose of’ or ‘reason for’ an action.

In other words, the purpose of believing in John 3:16 is to receive everlasting life instead of perishing.

Doug
 
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