Big words that will mean nothing to most of you, I’m guessing. Well, Monergism happens to be what most of us believe; that God is solely responsible for the salvation of ones soul. Synergism shows that while God is involved in salvation, yet must work in tandem with His creation to achieve redemption.
The essence of the Monergistic argument is that God is in the business of actually saving people and not merely making them “savable.” Monergism starts with an enemy of God, seemingly unsavable, and, by the grace of God, brings that spiritually dead person into saving faith and union with Christ. Synergism starts with a person who has at least a spark of spiritual life. This person has the natural ability to take a step toward God apart from grace and thus meet God in the middle. God may do most of the saving work, but He must somehow also depend on the work of the individual being saved. This concept is found nowhere in scripture, but Monergism is.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)
“And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is — free and undeserved.” (Romans 11:6 NLT)
It is solely God’s doing to save us. We can do nothing in and of ourselves to achieve forgiveness, heaven or even come into God’s good graces on our own. While atonement is available to all, only those who are drawn to Him can receive God’s redemptive work. In other words, man is not ever inclined to come to God on his own, although it may on the surface appear that way. It’s a spiritual encounter that our spirit recognizes and latches onto.
So believing in the biblical rendering that God alone is responsible for the salvation of man would make you Monergistic in your beliefs. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
RL Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
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