This is the one point that monergism establishes and synergism in all its forms denies: namely, that sinners are impotent to lift a finger toward their own salvation, but that salvation, from first to last, whole and entire is of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory for ever; amen
Remember, divine election, by itself, has never saved anyone. It marks out certain individuals for salvation; it is God's "blueprint" of what he intends to do in time through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. God the Father elects, the Son redeems them, and the Spirit applies the work of Christ to the same. The Trinity works in harmony to bring about God's purposes of election... and He gathers them through the preaching of the gospel, the seed which the Spirit germinates and brings to life. Again, salvation is of the Lord.
Synergists teach that 'salvation depends on human will', but the Bible teaches that 'it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." (Rom 9:16) and that we "were born, not of...the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13)
Steve Brown tells a story about a time his daughter Robin found herself in a very difficult English Literature course that she desperately wanted to get out of. She sat there on her first day and thought, "If I don't transfer out of this class,...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Four approaches for interpreting Revelation have been distinguished by their understanding of the relationship of the visions to one another and the relationship of the visions to the events of history: (1) Historicism understands the literary...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Rhetorical QuestionsStepping down from the pulpit, the author bends over backwards to join the gallery of those who have been burned by the church. “Lots of people” with questions are just told “‘We don’t discuss...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
"Salvation isn’t just about your soul going to heaven when you die." AnswersImplied already in the “questions” are the following answers the pre-determine Bell’s assertions. At the heart are the following assumptions:1....[ abbreviated | read entire ]
This Christian Life R. Scott Clark Next to The White Horse Inn, one of my favorite radio programs is This American Life starring Ira Glass. I stumbled across this show several years ago, and for a while I did not understand why I was so attracted...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
The notes of the true Kirk, therefore, we believe, confess, and avow to be: first, the true preaching of the Word of God, in which God has revealed Himself to us, as the writings of the prophets and apostles declare; secondly, the right...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
The mark of a true Christian is genuine love for one another (Rom 12:9). Christians abhor what is evil according to the revelation received in the Holy Bible. Therefore, unlike unbelievers, Christians love one another in ways that are similar to...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
We believe, according to Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer Number Fifty Four, “That out of the whole human race, from the beginning to the end of the world, the Son of God, by his Spirit and Word, gathers, defends, and preserves for...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Should we feel miserable about our sin? From where do we know about our sin and misery? We know about our sin and misery from the Law of God, because Paul says “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no...[ abbreviated | read entire ]