Monergism/Synergism

[Scott Downey]

Jesus Christ did say He would build His church.
It is He that has done this and God does marvelous works, not man.

 

[Scott Downey]

psalm 100:3
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

God made us and not we, we did not make ourselves to be believers and followers of Christ, He taught that to us. Look to Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith.
He showed that to us. ALL those God has taught come to Christ in belief.
John 6
36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will [f]by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

All here is the group Christ aid God has given to Him, all of them, not all of the world.

 

[Dave G]

Augustine coming up with ideas on how to have God causing belief .

I don't see Augustine mentioned here, but I do see that the Lord had David write this.

" Blessed [is the man whom] thou choosest, and causest to approach [unto thee, that] he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, [even] of thy holy temple." ( Psalms 65:4 )

I love this passage...
Probably for the same reason William Tyndale and many others have.

It not only tells me that the Lord chose me to salvation ( 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 ), but that He was the direct cause of my belief ( John 6:29, John 6:64-65, Acts of the Apostles 16:14, Acts of the Apostles 13:48, Romans 8:29-30 ).
Even though He did not do the believing for me, without the calling of the Spirit through the Gospel, I would not have known about my need for a Saviour, and His love for me.

He gave me a new heart, eyes to see and ears to hear.
When He revealed Himself to me ( Matthew 11:27 ), I saw Him and I heard His words ( John 8:43-47 ).

 

[Alan Gross]

Found this on Monergism.com

Objection: The terms "monergism" and "synergism" ain't in the Bible

Visitor:
The terms "monergism" and "synergism" ain't in the Bible. The Bible is an invitation to man, he has the free-will choice to either accept or reject. (Isa. 45:22; Jn. 3:19; Rev. 22:17). Frame it as the Bible does or not at all. God does not save by fiat. That's what monergism means.

Response
The concept of "free will" is not found in the bible. So your argument is self defeating. We affirm that the gospel is to be proclaimed indiscriminately to all people. God does not hold anyone back from believing. Their rejection of Christ is because men love darkness, hate the light and will not come into the light (john 3:19). To claim man has a free will assumes the unbiblical idea that fallen man is willing to come to Christ apart from the Holy Spirit. But no one can say Jesus is Lord apart from the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3) so we cannot ascribe our faith and repentance (even partly) to our own humility, wisdom, good intentions, or sound judgment but to grace.

Jesus declared, "the Spirit quickens, the flesh counts for nothing...that is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me grants it" John 6:63, 65

And if no one comes to faith in Christ unless God grants it then no one by their natural free will ever comes to him.

The Apostle Paul said, "we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Cor 1:23-24

The call of the gospel is universal but, according to Paul, all men reject it (folly, stumbling block) but to those among them who are called by God, the power and wisdom of God.

Monergism does not mean people are saved simply because they are elect. Election by itself saves no one. People are saved by the gospel of Jesus Christ. We cast the seed of the gospel indiscriminately but only God can take it from their ears to their heart. Only God can disarm mens hostility, open their blind eyes, unplug their deaf ears and turn their heart of stone to a heart of flesh. That is called mercy.

You teach that salvation depends on human will, but the Bible teaches (and I quote) 'it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." (Rom 9:16)

Yes we all agree that God commands us to trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ. But a command does not presuppose a willingness on our part. That is something you are adding to the scripture that simply isn't there. So the concept of monergism (salvation by grace alone) is there clearly taught in the scripture, but free will isn't anywhere to be found. We do indeed have a will ... and TO WILL is something we all do naturally, but to will ARIGHT is by grace, and grace alone.

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Note: the word "monergism" is from "mono" which means "one" and "ergon" which means "work". In other words, salvation is of the Lord... it is His work, not ours. Nothing could be more biblical.

Objection: The terms "monergism" and "synergism" ain't in the Bible | Monergism

Chapter 3 - Of Original Sin -Introduction -Clemens Romanus. A.D. 69. -Barnabas. A.D. 70. -Ignatius. A.D. 110. -Justin. A.D. 150. -Irenaeus. A.D. 180. -Clemens Alexandrinus. A.D. 190. -Tertullian. A.D. 200. -Origines Alexandrinus. A.D. 230. -Gregorius Neocaesariensis. A.D. 240. -Cyprian. A.D. 250. -Arnobius. A.D. 290. -Lactantius. A.D. 320. -Eusebus Caesariensis. A.D. 330. -Macarius Egyptus. A.D. 350. -Athanasius. A.D. 350. -Hilarius Pictaviensis. A.D. 360. -Victorinus Afer. A.D. 365. -Optatus Milevitanus. A.D. 370. -Cyrillus Hierosolymitanus. A.D. 370. -Basilius Caesariensis. A.D. 370. -Gregorius Nazianzenus. A.D. 370. -Gregorius Nyssenus. A.D. 380. -Hilarius Diaconus. A.D. 380. -Ambrosius Mediolanensis. A.D. 380. -Epiphanius. A.D. 390. -Marcus Eremits. A.D. 390. -Joannes Chrysostomus. A.D. 390. -Hieronymus. A.D. 390.

https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/gill/The_Cause_of_God_and_Truth_-_John_Gill.pdf