Monergism v. Synergism May 3, 2008
Posted by Paul Edwards in Uncategorized.Tags: Monergism, Synergism, Regeneration, Steve Camp
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Steve Camp points us to an excellent essay by John Hendryx on the critical distinctions between Monergism and Synergism. Hendryx writes:
Monergism: The doctrine that the Holy Spirit is the only efficient agent in regeneration - that the human will possesses no inclination to holiness until regenerated, and therefore cannot cooperate in regeneration. Monergism is when God conveys that power into the fallen soul whereby the person who is to be saved is enabled to receive the offer of redemption. It refers to the first step (regeneration) which has causal priority over, and gives rise to, the spiritual ability to comply with all the other aspects of the process of being united to Christ, (i.e., the ability to apprehend the Redeemer by a living faith, to repent of sin and to love God and the Mediator supremely) It does not refer to the whole process that it gives rise to (justification, sanctification), but only the granting of the spiritual capacity to comply with the terms of the covenant of grace.
Synergism: “…the doctrine that there are two efficient agents in regeneration, namely the human will and the divine Spirit, which, in the strict sense of the term, cooperate. This theory accordingly holds that the soul has not lost in the fall all inclination toward holiness, nor all power to seek for it under the influence of ordinary motives.” This unscriptural view is the greatest threat to a true understanding of salvation in the Church today.
The essay goes on to point out how these differences affect our view of regeneration, humanity, and the gospel. I commend it to you and thank Steve Camp for pointing us to it.
Well, it is obvious that God created the chicken and then the chicken laid the egg. The egg couldn’t hatch without the hen to keep it warm. Now would that be a Reformed chicken? Or, could a chicken by any other name still lay an egg?
The chicken couldn’t do anything until *God* CREATED it.
2 Timothy 2:10 (NIV)
10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Under pondering what I believe and why… The final answer of course is Jesus…but on the way to the final answer…under monergism, at what point is salvation obtained? At the point of regeneration, or at some point after? And, if it is after, can regenerated men go to hell? When does the blood of Jesus get applied?
1 Peter 1:3-12
Salvation is not an instananeous act, though regeneration IS. Regeneration of the dead human spirit by the Holy Spirit working through the Word (Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God) is the first act leading to ultimate salvation: 1 Peter 1:3 - “Being born again unto a living hope”
Those who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit are “kept by the power of God” (1 Peter 1:5) which involves a process of sanctification and obedience made possible by the life and righeousness of Jesus Christ imputed to us (2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 8:10; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3,4). God WILL bring to ultimate salvation those whom He has called and regenerated.
Final salvation comes at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:5,9).
So salvation has three aspects: God regenerated me in an instant act when He caused His word to be effectual. God preserves me through sanctification and obedience in my present life - which is not my life but the life of Christ. God will one day in the future grant me final salvation in His presence in eternity.
To answer your question: we HAVE obtained salvation, we ARE obtaining salvation, and we WILL obtain salvation. The blood of Jesus is applied every step of the way. 1 Peter 1:2 summarizes it: God saved us in the past, the Spirit regenerates and sanctifies in the present; and the blood of Jesus is sprinkled to make the whole process effectual.
Good answer. I agree (as if that makes any real dif.) that complete salvation is a thing of degres as we are changed image to image, glory to glory until Jesus appears and we become like Him for we will see Him as He IS. (Chicken is now dancing and swaking Priase the Lord!) unfortunately in the middle of the dance, the chicken realizes she still needs some mind renewing information as she is thinking I made it, but the rest of you guys better keep your fingers crossed…
Way to go Steve and Paul, bringing the heart of Reformation Theology into focus!! Much better than Newt’s remarks on Detroit. Nothing more important than the Gospel!!
Well, putting all chickens to bed…*; ) Chapter 9 of Romans address the question of election, even though it is hard to get my partially renewed mind around it. If I meditate on this particular aspect of Calvanism-monergism, I am saddened to contemplate that some not only don’t have a desire to seek after the Lord, but indeed will never be able to do so… what then can be said about this?? Our Father in Heaven is far wiser than we are…His thoughts are not our thoughts; they are far higher than ours. To borrow a poem form from a current film:
It says what it means,
It means what it says.
God’s Word is faithful
100%.
Why I’m a Calvinist
Yesterday, after feeding the chickens. I went rumaging to find my copy of the Calvinist manifesto, dusted it off, and read it top to bottom…a good read most assuredly *: ) As I neared the end, somewhere in the distant recesses of my mind came a faint rememberance and a few strains from my favorite trubador of all time Michael Card. Somewhere on his album The Way of Wisdom, he writes these words:
You can stop pretending that it all depends on you
For it’s not how much you love,
But how much HE LOVES YOU
This being said, I think it behooves us to take a gentle hand with our brothers in Christ, all hand picked by our Loving Heavenly Father.
I came across this interview for a book “Why I’m Not an Arminian”. I think these two co-authors put forth an admiral view point. You can listen here:
http://www.covenantseminary.edu/resource/PetersonWilliams_20030221.mp3
Ephesians 4: 11-13 NIV
Unity in the Body of Christ
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
I think today, I will change my lapel button from the all to often chosen “I see dumb people” to the one that reads ” I see LOVED people.”
Baptist historian Thomas Armitage wrote: “William Carey’s ‘Inquiry into the Obligations of Christians to use means for the Conversion of the Heathen’ was published in 1792, but found few readers and produced little effect. To most of the Baptists his views were visionary and even wild, in open conflict with God’s sovereignty. At a meeting of ministers, where the senior Ryland presided, Carey proposed that at the next meeting they discuss the duty of attempting to spread the Gospel amongst the heathen. … Ryland, shocked, sprang to his feet and ordered Carey to sit down, saying: ‘When God pleases to convert the heathen, he will do it without your aid or mine!’”
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Psalm 2:8 (King James Version)
8Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Now the question;
How many of us have been around lately to see that which we discuss, transpire? I mean if it still pleases God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe …. have any of us been present at the occasion? If there is still joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth, is there any rejoicing going on on earth? Charles Spurgeon, the Calvinistic Baptist, were the subject of great ridicule in his day for the giving of open invitations to receive Christ as Savior. I would have loved to have been there!!
Too Armenian? Certainly not Charles Spurgeon.
Just wondering, any one have any input?
Roman 10:8-11 NIV
8But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[d] that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
God must and does take care of the heart…we then do the speaking…the invitation makes the opportunity.
Thanks Nancy for the responce.
May I complete the qoute;
8But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[d] that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]
*: ) Endless posting…is this equivalent to wasting time…or, redeeming the time when we have nothing much to do??? I wonder how long it will take to post the entire Bible…I think Bible Gateway has already done that…*; )
It is true that this could go back and forth forever but I might as well add my 2 cents. The historic and orthodox presentations of the monergistic position do not do so at the expense of all human responsibility (or freedom scripturally defined). A more precise discussion requires us to resort to more precise explanations (rather than simply exchanging verses out of context). The scripture both affirms that God is the sole efficient agent in regenration, which is necessary for saving faith to take hold, and that real and true human decisions are made regarding the acceptence and rejection of the gospel. Consider for a moment that in many instances the scripture presents in the same contexts a compatible view of the determinitive nature of both God and man. Take the time to work out the implications of an exegesis of the 10th chapter of Isaiah or Peter’s explanation of the crucifixion in Acts (I could mention many dozens more). The points Nancy raises are good points but miss the root of the issue. Certainly the offer is real, must be made, and must be reacted to. The question is regarding the efficiency, responsibility and timing of the responses.
Kevin…read Paul’s post, I belive all the answers are there spelled out beautifully. *: ) in Post #4… I’m sorry if I confused the issue with the chickens, it was actually a reference to the auto post on Regeneration and Faith listed above Post #1. In reality, I think we covered in pretty well. However, I’m sure we would all love to here your 5 points as well, just in case I don’t really understand. *: )
Theological discussion is very interesting and all Our posts indicated that we are among those who feel a need and actually enjoy taking the clock apart, examining all the geers and shiny pieces, then putting it back together and seeing if it still tics, some of us read the manual during the process. *: )
But, when all is said and done, salvation is by grace alone. Theology never saved anyone.
Nancy,
Now you’re on to something!
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Salvation is of the LORD.~~~~But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation:
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The Lord’s my Rock, in him I hide!
(I love him because He first loved me.)
Ed in Eastpointe - I agree that nothing is more important than the gospel, but this is NOT the gospel. Not even close. This is like arguing about the nature of the spoon that carries the ice cream to your mouth: who f-ing cares – it’s about the ICE CREAM!
Let’s not dissect gnats. Let’s get to LIVING the good news, BEING the good news, and doing our part to see the Kingdom of God increase as we embody the teachings of Jesus and let our good works shine like lights before men so they can glorify our Father in Heaven.
1 Timothy 4:16 (KJV)
16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
I saw this scripture as I linked to the article on REGENERATION above. And felt it important for this spot, especially in the light of Bob’s comment.
In working out our salvation with fear and trembling… in the MIND RENEWAL era, which we enter AFTER our regeneration… doctrine DOES play an important part. We continue in this era until Jesus returns, or calls us home.
2 Corinthians 3:18(NIV)
18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Footnotes:
1. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or contemplate
And…Father God loves to hear His children talk about Him…
16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
17And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Paul,
I was just listening to your discussion for Thursday, May 22, 2008. I think that was SO great about discovering you were a Calvinist. *: ) Same here! I never put a name to it…until recently, but I am definitely a Calvinist!