What we are looking at is super-naturalism VS naturalism. Both are monergistic. Super-naturalism = born again in the Holy Spirit in order to believe. Naturalism = believe with the flesh to be born again.
See I think this is why both sides of the Calvinism vs Arminius debate are wrong. This is why the debate never ends... because they are both wrong. Both sides errantly believe that faith leads directly to righteousness or salvation... this has given you the false impression that Calvinists are super-naturalists and Arminians are naturalists.
In reality, both sides have exactly the same flaw - both incorrectly assume that faith leads directly to righteousness. It does not. Faith first qualifies the believer as a child of God, and an adopted descendant of Abraham. Once you are qualified, you INHERIT righteousness as a gift which was promised to Abraham's descendants as an everlasting covenant;
Gen 15:5-6 KJV
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Gen 17:4-8 KJV
4 As for me, behold, my covenant [is] with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
Gal 3:16 NASB
16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as [referring] to many, but [rather] to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.
Gal 3:6-9 NASB
6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, [saying,] "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU." 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
Rom 4:8-13 NASB
8 "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT." 9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." 10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
So we see first that when God said "so shall thy seed be" in Genesis 15:5 and 17:7, that according to Gal 3:8, 16 God was preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to Abraham, and when he believed the gospel, he was made righteous (prior to circumcision which is a foreshadow of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit - which is circumcision of the heart). Then God promises that the righteousness He gave Abraham would be inherited by his descendants.
So salvation is an INDIRECT result of faith, not a direct result of faith as both Calvin and Arminius pre-supposed. Our salvation qualifies us for human adoption as a descendant of Abraham. This is essential because WE ALL ALREADY KNOW that the children of Abraham (or the Children of Israel) are God's chosen, elect people. John Calvin himself said that God gave us an example of an entire people being elect in the "offspring of Abraham" ... but Calvin didn't realize that this is how ALL Christians are saved. Calvin didn't realize that this elect group - the offspring or descendants of Abraham - has open enrollment! When we have the same faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ that Abraham had, we are considered the descendant of Abraham, and are qualified as heirs to the promise.
Eph 1:13-14 NASB
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of [God's own] possession, to the praise of His glory.
So we believe, our faith qualifies us for human adoption, and once adopted, God miraculously indwells or fills us with His spirit making us born a new creature. God circumcises our heart by filling us with the Holy Spirit.
Gal 3:26, 29 NASB
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.
Deu 30:6 NASB
6 "Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
Deu 30:19 NASB
19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,
Rom 8:16-17 NASB
16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him] so that we may also be glorified with [Him.]
Both a heavenly witness and an early witness are required of the choice God commands man to make for salvation. Yet when we've made our choice, it is GOD who circumcises our heart, not our choice. Our choice or even our faith doesn't motivate God, but rather God's own promises motivate God.
Deuteronomy 7:6
For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
7 The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples,
8 but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
9 Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
Nehemiah 9:7
You are the LORD God, Who chose Abram And brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees, And gave him the name Abraham.
8 You found his heart faithful before You, And made a covenant with him To give him the land of the Canaanite, Of the Hittite and the Amorite, Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite and the Girgashite— To give it to his descendants. And You have fulfilled Your promise, For You are righteous.
