A Touchstone for God-centered Salvation vs. Man-centered Salvation

10/29/2010 - Alan Kurschner

The "Calvinist vs. Arminian" debate is substantially a debate between what is called "synergism" and "monergism." There is no third option (unless one is willing to affirm Pelagianism). For those who are new to the Calvinist-Arminian debate, the following is a primer on the two perennial branches of theological systems in Christianity. Or to put it another way, there are two very different ways for believers to view their salvation.

In general, the first type (the Arminian-Synergist) affirms what is called "synergism." Synergists believe that two forces in the universe are necessary to bring about regeneration in the life of the sinner. In specifics, the two forces at work (cooperation) that are necessary to bring about regeneration, or spiritual life, is the will of man and the Holy Spirit (grace).

To put it another way, the work of the Holy Spirit is dependent on the creature’s will, hence, “synergism” (working together). These individuals will sincerely say, “I believe in grace alone.” But in reality, they believe that grace is not alone (sufficient), but that man’s will is necessary for regeneration to be effective.

It could be said that these individuals are “functional” Arminians because even though some will deny the label, their theology functions synergistically (thus, how they identify themselves is inconsistent with what they teach and believe).

The second group of believers (the Calvinist-Monergist) affirm what is called “monergism.” Monergists believe that there is only one force in the universe (grace alone) that brings about regeneration in the life of the sinner. In specifics, because of the deadness of man’s spiritual state, his moral inability, the Holy Spirit performs the miracle of spiritual resurrection (regeneration) in that person, hence, “monergism” (one work). Grace is sufficient to be effective, and does not depend on some action of man.

In other words, the Holy Spirit does not merely whisper in the hardened sinner’s ear, hoping that the rebel sinner will “cooperate”; rather, while the sinner is in a state of hardness and rebellion, the Holy Spirit penetrates in the will of man and performs the miracle of spiritual life (regeneration). That is grace alone. Faith does not precede regeneration, regeneration precedes faith.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions– it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13

He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” John 8:47

Arminians cannot affirm monergism (grace alone); they must always have the creature’s will as the final determiner of their destiny, not God. Inconsistently, Arminians pray (without knowingly) Calvinisticly, “God, change my unbelieving relative’s heart.” I have never heard them pray, “God, only whisper in my relative’s ear, but don’t change their heart unless you’ve been given permission.” But the Calvinist prays and affirms biblical truth consistently.

James White comments on Rick Warren

http://nocompromiseradio.com/podcastupload/?p=episode&name=2010-10-07_nc10-07-10.mp3

RC Dogma and the Biblical response

Council of Trent
on justification
CANON IX.-If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that itis not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.

CANON XI.-If any one saith, that men are justified, either by the sole imputation of the justice of Christ, or by the sole remission of sins, to the exclusion of the grace and the charity which is poured forth in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, and is inherent in them; or even that the grace, whereby we are justified, is only the favour of God; let him be anathema.

CANON XII.-If any one saith, that justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sins for Christ's sake; or, that this confidence alone is that whereby we are justified; let him be anathema.

CANON XIV.-If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because that he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema.

CANON XXIV.-If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema.

in response:
Ephesians 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

On the Eucharist
CANON I.--If any one saith, that in the mass a true and proper sacriflce is not offered to God; or, that to be offered is nothing else but that Christ is given us to eat; let him be anathema.

CANON III.--If any one saith, that the sacrifice of the mass is only a sacrifice of praise and of thanksgiving; or, that it is a [Page 159] bare commemoration of the sacrifice consummated on the cross, but not a propitiatory sacrifice; or, that it profits him only who receives; and that it ought not to be offered for the living and the dead for sins, pains, satisfactions, and other necessities; let him be anathema.

CANON IV.--If any one saith, that, by the sacrifice of the mass, a blasphemy is cast upon the most holy sacrifice of Christ consummated on the cross; or, that it is thereby derogated from; let him be anathema.

in response
Hebrews 10:1The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,



but a body you prepared for me;
6with burnt offerings and sin offerings



you were not pleased.
7Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—



I have come to do your will, O God.' "[a] 8First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). 9Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

I will remember no more."[c] 18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

The rottenness of the Roman Catholic confirmation

So my littlest brother David is getting confirmed in May to be a Catholic. He let me know this today by saying he knew what saint name he was going to pick. Obviously I said that none would be the best. Mainly i say that because of what the Roman Catholic church does to keep their pews filled and their followers ignorant of the faith. They just send them through a production line like a check box of things they gotta do to be saved (which is the essence of their religion of doing things, Faith + Works). Sometimes I think it is not even faith anymore and that it is just works. Reason being is this very thing of confirmation. They were baptized... check, they went through first communion...check, they are confirmed... check... ok they are in only after they go through purgatory! I can't stand it. I am not bashing my brother in his ignorance. But that he is ignorant because of the deception given to him. Like I know they kind of teach the Roman Catholic doctrine, but comon do you think they are all listening. My experience is that they taught very little doctrine and more about service and this and that, I barely even knew I had to believe in anything. And so they say well you did all the requirements to get confirmed, lets confirm you. Instead of saying you know this this and this about the faith... do you believe it or not? and the this this and this are the important things like how are you saved and how one is made righteous. They might even tell you that and yet not back it up with scripture and say here believe this instead of this is what the Church believes and why do you believe it too?

So I asked my brother, who the pope is and what does he represent? and he had no reply. NONE! not his fault, its the Roman Catholic Church who has either left it out, or forgot to mention its importance. They dont even display the other sides view to say this is what other believe that is different to even give a choice, they just present it and that is the only choice. I also told him about works based salvation like I mentioned above and he didn't know that either. That the Roman Catholic Church says you can lose your faith if you don't do enough works, ultimately needing to go take the Eucharist to be given the perfect sacrifice and to tarnish it week after week and needing it over and over again...what blasphemy to downplay the perfect work of Christ! But David does not know these things and he is going to confirm himself into that faith? what faith? he doesnt know. He is just going through the process like all the others, just like I did.

Just to be honest though about what I am saying and what I am not. I am not saying my brother will not be saved because he will be a Roman Catholic, because I know no one is perfect and it is the perfect work of Christ imputed to you by faith that justifies you. And there are those who probably do have a saving faith regardless of the blasphemies taught to them or believed. But, because of the incorrect doctrine of what is being taught, the possibility is a lot higher that that faith cannot even be known and received and believed because it is not the belief of the RC church or taught to its members. I say this because I know my mom slung a emotional mud ball at me one time while talking to her saying "Does that mean my mother (my grandmother) is not in heaven because she was Catholic?" All I would say is I don't know if she is or not and that is up to God to know her faith whether it was a saving one or not, and mine and my moms and everyone else's as well. But I can say scripturally what a saving faith is and what it means for those who have it. Which unfortunately is unscriptural by the standard of the Ecclesiastical hierarchy who has no way to prove their power to determine the meaning of scripture except for saying "because we say so".

Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Christus, Soli Deo Gloria!

Gettin Back...

So this is my first post in a couple of months. I stopped posting this summer because I was at camp and basically was confined to the world i was in and not the outside world.

I am getting back into running. After 6 months off from having IT Band syndrome, I am finally getting back into running. Wow I am out of shape! I believe though that I got a lot out of taking that time off. I found myself in a different world with different people and learning to live without running. But, now that school has started back up, I find myself alone and nothing else to do but work class and try to get fit again. I really miss running and I know it will be a long slow process to get back to where I was, I will enjoy it because I have nothing to get ready for soon!

I am not going to be running Track this year even though I have eligibility. I may not be in shape or healthy by then so I don't want to stress out over it. I want to just relax and just train for a while and see where I am in a few months and go from there.

I am planning on moving to Virginia to move closer to my girlfriend Jen. So I figure it would be a great opportunity to establish some relationships and contacts with Liberty University's team down there and other runners and coaches. the weather down there is gorgeous and so training will be amazing! I cannot wait to see how things work out.

I will have hopefully updates on what is going on while I get ready to make that move.