ARE YOU A MONERGIST OR A SYNERGIST?

[restoretruth]

ARE YOU A MONERGIST OR A SYNERGIST?

Source: < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monergism >

[restoretruth]

ARE YOU A MONERGIST OR A SYNERGIST? (part 2)

[Soli Deo Gloria]

Restore
You have raised good questions.

The position of Reformers such as Martin Luther was clearly on the side of Monergism.

Luther had a formal debate with Roman Catholic scholar Erasmus which is recorded in the classic work "Bondage of the Will" which can be found online.

The Council of Trent pronounced Anathemas on Luther for holding to Monergism.

Classic Protestantism taught Monergism as opposed to Rome's Synergism view.

The primary scripture that strongly suggests and virtually proves Monergism is found in John 1:13,14

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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It is very easy to pass over the above scripture quickly.

But read it very carefully. How are we born of God? Does the text above say we are born of God by our own human will?

No, it says we are born of God, and not by our own will. This is where Luther got hs argument for Monergism.

I see no way for this scripture to support the Roman Catholic position of Synergism.

Do we use our human will to be born physically?  Is it any different with regard to being born again spiritually?

All the glory for our salvation belongs to God alone. Rome wanted to give some of the glory to man. Great men of God such as Luther, John Bunyan (Pilgrims Progress ), and Charles Spurgeon all held to Monergism.

The Puritans also were Monergists, and early American Protestantism was Monergistic, But, Rome sent Jesuit Missionaries to America and changed the views to more of a man centered view of salvation which says that man helps God save us.

All the glory belongs to God.  At the same time, we are responsible for our choices. We must make a choice to serve God, but this only comes after we are born of God.

Stan