The whole world will be saved because Jesus came to save the whole world, right? Sorry, Wrong. Not the whole world…
But…. – If Jesus came to save the whole world, won’t the whole world be saved? No.
Although His work was complete, all mankind has not personally and willingly accepted it.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17 NKJV. Have you ever taken actual notice of the word might ? So many people skip over that word.
Anyway, Let’s take a serious look at the word ‘might’ right now.
“He
y, Billy Bob, we’re all going to the movies after work. I have some extra tickets here. Would you like to meet us there?”
Jesus has extra tickets to heaven for you (and for me) and you..and you…and you . 
Billy Bob: “I have some things I’m interested in doing first, but I just might be there,” he says with a smile. “Thanks.”
Is it a certainty that Billy Bob will be at the movies? The availability is certain. But he uses the word ‘might’.
First, Billy Bob needs not only to receive that extra available ticket… he needs take action on it. What if he receives it but does not take action on it? He doesn’t get to go in and see the movie, even though he has a ticket.
However, since the ticket hasn’t cost Billy Bob anything, he may think less of its worth. It was free and didn’t cost him.
Because Jesus’ work is free, many people aren’t willing to apply it.
Scripture lets us know that Jesus came with a desire to save the world, to make salvation available, just as that free ticket to the movie is made available.
What is our part? We get more than just an admission to a movie. How do we take action on Jesus’ free gift?
Billy Bob might use the ticket and Scripture says that Jesus came that the world might be saved.
Semantics are not being played on here because most all versions do make use of the word ‘might’ — Let’s see what other translations use for that word in the same Scripture:
John 3:17 in various translations:
“For God did not send His Son to the world that he may judge the world, but that the world may be saved through him;…” YLT (Youngs Literal Translation) …denotes availability
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.” NASB (New American Standard Bible) …should does not mean would, simply denotes intention and availability.
Might be saved, may be saved, should be saved…. Is this what an English teacher might call ‘future present tense’?
The desire to save the world is there, the price to save the world is paid, and the tickets are available.
In other words: Provision has been made; not all will accept the provision.
Will tickets go unused? We are advised of that in:
Matt 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” NIV
Luke 13:22-24 “And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” NASU (New American Standard Updated) (emphasis mine)
…will seek to enter by another way (will seek to enter without the ticket, without the inspection sticker)
If you realize you’ve sinned in your past, you are starting on the right path, 
and if you realize that Jesus Christ came to erase your sin you are on your way. If you ask that your own sins be included in those sins of the world for which Jesus died, you are arriving! He becomes your Savior if you’ve asked that of Him. 
But is He your Lord yet?
OK, thanking Him for the remission of your sins — That makes Him Savior; but to take action on that ticket and get to enjoy the movie (new life here on earth) we need to ask Him to be the Lord of our life. He wants to become your “Life Coach.”
A “Lord”, or a “Life Coach” is one who has authority and takes responsibility for us. That is actually freedom!
English Manors have ‘lords’ who manage and watch over the land. Wouldn’t you want the loving Jesus to manage your life and watch over it?
Ps 32:8
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you. ” NIV
“Billy Bob, thanks for the loan, I might be able to pay you back on Friday, indeed, I should be able to pay you back this Friday…!”
What is the probability that Billy Bob will be paid on this Friday?
In the instance of someone owing us money, are the words: ‘maybe, might, should be able’ the words we want to hear?
More practically, in this instance, we know that those very words carry a strong note of negativity.
Jesus came to save the world, not that the world would be saved, but that it should be and could be saved; that it may be saved; that it might be saved;
Let’s address a naturally occurring follow-up question:
might be saved…but saved from what?
2 Thess 2:10-12
“… and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” NKJV
Luke 13:22-27
“Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, 24″Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25″Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26″Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers,'” NASU
When you realize which sins cause Him pain, you will not want any more of your sins adding to that pain by sinning more. This is called repentance. Don’t think of it as obedience, it is rather a returning of love. We cannot be perfect, but He honors us when we make the sincere effort.
To make Him ‘Lord’ is take action on that ticket and get to enjoy the movie (new life here on earth – and in the next).
If we are to be under the authority of Jesus as Lord then we need to know what He says through the Holy Scriptures. Admittedly Scriptures can be difficult, almost locked to the insincere. But when He becomes your “Life Coach” you can actually find freedom in His training.
Try this before reading: ask Him to open the Scriptures to you — ask to have a personal relationship with Him resulting in obeying and yielding to Him as Lord. In that way, you will know Him…as friend, and He will know you! He loves you and wants you to enjoy your life and fulfill the purpose He has for each of us.
“He paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay”
“Thank you Jesus for the remission of my sins, please come into my heart and into my life and be my Life Coach from now on.”
Become part of the inside circle of the world that are saved, and no longer part of the outside circle that ‘should be’ saved.
Fo
r starters I suggest a LIVING BIBLE translation, start reading in the back of the book with Matthew, John, Luke, Mark – or if you prefer Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and continue on to Jude and Revelation before delving into the Old Testament, try reading a Psalm or a Proverb a day along with it. Underline what you like and put a ? next to what you don’t like. Feed your spirit the way you feed your body….daily…and watch to see those ?’s erased over the years. When you’ve completed it, start over, once is not enough…there is so much we miss the first time, and so much more to discover.
Turn YOUR ‘might be saved’ into ‘am saved’, today!
Ps 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
NIV
Look, Listen & Think 