Justification by Grace, Monergistic

Sanctification by Grace, Synergistic

One of the great misunderstandings of our day has to do with the difference between Justification and Sanctification. It is imperative that we teach the biblical principles that explain justification by grace through faith alone. The great ‘Solas’ of the Reformation have to do with justification. Luther’s emphasis on justification by faith was exactly the message a Christendom steeped in works salvation needed to hear and heed. Calvin’s emphasis on justification by the pure grace of God was exactly on target for a pseudo Christianity that was obsessed with earning salvation. The need was so great that the cure offered by these men (coming straight out of the word of God) has been the emphasis of all doctrinally sound evangelicals for the past 500 years. Salvation by grace through faith is monergistic. It is all the work of God in overwhelming grace. It is grace plus nothing.

But, because of this Reformation emphasis, the doctrines of salvation by grace alone have been applied to sanctification as well leading to, in many cases, a passivism and irresponsibility concerning sanctification. I define sanctification as the process of the Holy Spirit forming Christ’s character in the inner man of the one who has trusted Christ alone for salvation. The Holy Spirit does this using the written word of God, providential circumstances, acquaintances and friends and so forth. But the individual is commanded to participate in this process as well. It is synergistic.

The reason justification is monergistic is because the sinner is broken, depraved and totally unable and unwilling (and unable to be willing) to move toward God on his own. Therefore, God in mercy secretly implants the word in his undeserving heart that turns him from sin to the Savior. Why God does this for some and not others is lost to us in the mystic regions of God’s perfect wisdom. Mortals must be satisfied with that or must find themselves in a position of prating against God.

Sanctification is a wholly different matter. It begins with God’s gracious act of salvation but it is carried on in a synergistic way. The recipient of Grace is no longer just a broken, depraved individual with his will wholly in bondage to his lower nature or to the world and to the devil. He has been set free. He has been born from above. His will is no longer in bondage. He can now cooperate with God and he is expected …yea commanded to do so.

The greater part of the New Testament is taken up with instructing Christians on holy living and godly character. It is imperative to wait on God to perform a work in us. It is just as imperative to obey the things God has told us to do toward our own sanctification. See Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3 along with Matthew 5-7 as examples of what I am talking about.