Most Christians talk about the salvation of man, but they see this work of salvation in different ways, some actually denying that man even needs saving. We begin by looking at this group first.
The first group’s position, simplified, is this. God created us in love. He loves all of us so much that He would never consign a soul to hell. Jesus came to this earth, not to pay for our sins, but to show us how best to live. But no matter what, in the end, no matter how one lives their life, God will show everyone the way and bring everyone to that point where they will become one with Him. Many in this group do not even believe there is such a thing as sin, or that death is a punishment for sin.
In the more progressive churches, as opposed to the more historic views, this is fast becoming the predominate view of salvation. This is despite the fact that historically, their own churches would have categorically rejected this progressive position.
This leaves the two historic positions on this question. We explore first what almost all Christian churches taught about 100 years ago, and then look at where they differ.
Historic Christianity teaches that man, due to sin, deserves death; that man due to that sin, could not, on their own fulfill God’s perfect law. They see Jesus, the Christ (Christian means little Christ) as the one who came to this earth, lived the perfect life, and went to the cross bearing our sins. In his death He paid the price of sin, so that man can be saved. They all agree that man, by faith, lays hold of the gift of salvation, won for us by Jesus.
We now look at how these two historic positions differ. The most common of these positions is synergism. In synergism, man works with God, both doing their part, that man can be saved. Less common is monergism, which is the belief that man can do nothing regarding his salvation, but that God does everything, both in earning man’s salvation and in working that faith that clings to the word in the hearts of all who believe.
Most churches today teach a form of synergism. They teach that God offers man the forgiveness of sins Christ won for them, and the tools they need to live for Christ. A person who repents of their sins, and amends their life, living more in keeping with the words of Christ, will be saved, and those that do not, will be lost. Some make man’s part greater; some consider man’s contribution to their own salvation to be but a minor part. Some limit man’s part simply to being an act of the will choosing to trust in God.
Others place salvation totally in the hands of God. This is called divine monergism. If you are saved, it is because Christ worked that faith in your heart that led you to see Him as your Lord and Savior. He not only gives you the gifts you need, but the very motivation which causes you to use those gifts to live for him. In essence, it is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me. This view holds that if a person is saved, it is totally the work of God, but if lost, it is his own sinful resistance. How this can be true is seen as a mystery of the faith.
Dr. James Kennedy, Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (PCA) from 1960 until his death in 2007 came up with 2 questions that He used as the basis for an evangelism program called “Evangelism Explosion”. The two questions? 1: If you were to die today, would you go to heaven? 2: If you were to be asked, ‘Why should I let you in’, how would you answer?
Answering these questions shows whether you are leaning more towards monergism or synergism. We look at these questions. Christians would answer the first question, are you certain you are going to heaven one of 2 ways: Monergists would answer: ‘Yes! Absolutely!’ Where generally, synergists would answer: I hope so / I think so. Since synergists always feel they must do their part, there is always the question, have I done enough? Is my faith strong enough?
The second question makes this distinction even more clear. If you were to be asked, ‘Why should I let you in?’, how would you answer? Synergists would point to themselves. ‘On June 8th, 1987, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior’; or, ‘I have always tried to live a good Christian life. I’ve gone to church my whole life, tithed, helped others, visited those in prison, or in the hospital, etc.’
The answers of a monergist would point not to what they have done, but what Christ has done. ‘Jesus has paid the price for my sins, you cannot keep me out.’ ‘On August 30th, 1952 God made me His own in the waters of Holy Baptism.’ They would always point to what Christ has done.
My church teaches divine monergism. We teach this because the Bible clearly teaches that natural man is spiritually dead and cannot respond positively to God, unless God works faith in him (1 Cor. 2:14, Eph. 2:1-9). There are many difficult questions on all sides of this issue. There are also many shadings of how different churches talk about these questions. For example, some of the more liberal churches still teach of sin and our need for salvation. If one is trusting in Christ for forgiveness and salvation, even though one may be in a synergistic or progressive church, any error they still hold is cleansed in the blood of Christ, and that person would still be saved. Sadly, if one does not believe they are a sinner, and are not in need of Christ’s blood shed for them, that person does not have saving faith and would be lost, no matter what church body to which they belong.
If you have any questions or would like to explore this further, feel free to call me, Rev. Randolph Schnack, at 307 343-2314.
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