Monergism is one of the good "isms"…He's our friend

Have you ever began to hate all of the “isms” out there that begin to cloud and not clarify. Many of them seem to keep people away and not lure them in. We have Arminianism, Calvinism, modernism, and postmodernism and so on. Most people join a camp or a family of “isms”. Most of us do so I am equally an at large candidate for “ism” member of the year! However, some of these “isms” do help us make sense of things. They are not intrinsically bad it is our inability to put them all together and find theological and practical balance. I do like some of these “isms”. The are really nice and friendly. So, you should get to know one om my friends: Monergism.

In our study through Ephesians we are in chapter one verse four and five where we read the Apostle Paul’s divinely inspired words: “even as HE chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. In love He predestined us…”

In the text we see an introduction to our friend monergism. Monergism is simply that work the of salvation in the heart of a person is single work, the sole work of God. In other words, man does not cause his own salvation. The Century Dictionary defines it as: “In theology, the doctrine that the Holy Spirit is the only efficient agent in regeneration – that the human will possesses no inclination to holiness until regenerated, and therefore cannot cooperate in regeneration.” Furthermore, because man is unable to obtain salvation in and of himself, it is necessary that the new birth is the work that God brings about in the heart of man. It’s one sided affair. Note that this is not to be understood to mean that sanctification is a one-side affair. It requires the spirit-empowered will of man. New birth is initiated, instigated, enacted, and carried out by God’s power and grace as mans efforts cannot construct or bring the conditions necessary for new birth. Remember without Christ we are dead (Eph. 2:1-3); blind (2 Cor. 4:3-4); darkened in our minds that spiritually think with futility (Eph. 4:17-18); by nature children of wrath that only follow evil desires (Eph. 2:1-3); non accepting of the things of the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14); hostile toward God (Rom. 8:7); slaves to sin (John 8:34); ignorant haters of righteousness (Rom. 3:10-17); perpetually having evil intentions continually thinking evil thoughts (Gen. 6:5) and well you get the picture, right?

So, God quickens us through His call heard by the preaching of His Word, disarms our innate hostility, opens our eyes by dissolving our blindness, illumines our mind, creates understanding, turns our heart of stone to a heart of flesh — breading a feverish delight in His Word — all that we might, with our renewed affections, gratefully, willingly, and joyously embrace Christ. Ezekiel said it this way: “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” (Eze 11:19, also 36:26) The Apostle Paul said, “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” (1 Thess 1, 4, 5). I.e. In regeneration the word does not work alone but must be accompanied by the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. Scripture clarified this by in saying: “…you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” (1 Pet 1:23)

See how beautiful God is to take the single-handed credit for saving us! I like my friend monergism. He helps me see how much I should LOVE my God. Thank you Jesus.