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Reaching forth...

By God's grace, still presenting the same old message from the same old Book...

Monergism is the position that conversion is wholly by the grace of God. God’s Grace is the only efficient cause in beginning and effecting conversion. Faith that receives this grace is itself the gift of God. Conversion is altogether an operation, gift and work of the Holy Ghost alone, who accomplishes and effects it, by his virtue and power. Using the instrumentality of the word, the Holy Ghost acts immediately upon the soul of man in accordance with the decree of God (Ephesians 1:4; 2:1-2). Ye must be born again (John 3:7). The will of sinful man has not the least inclination towards holiness, nor any power to act in a holy manner, or act in spiritual accord until it has been acted upon by divine grace (Psalm 110:3; 1 Corinthians 2:14); and therefore the will of man absolutely cannot cooperate with the Holy Ghost to bring about conversion, since it acts in conversion only after it is quickened by the Holy Spirit (Romans 9:16). Monergism allows that Salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the Triune God. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them, the Holy Spirit makes Christ's death effective by bringing the elect to faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the gospel. The entire process (election, redemption regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone. Thus God not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation.

Ephesians 1:4
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
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Ephesians 2:1-2
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
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John 3:7
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
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Psalms 110:3
3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
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2 Corinthians 2:14
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
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Romans 9:16
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
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Synergism is the teaching popular in our day, that there are two efficient agents in regeneration: the human soul and the divine Spirit cooperating together. Synergism proclaims conversion is accomplished through the combined efforts of God (who takes the initiative) and man who must respond by his will, man’s own goodness applied by free will giving himself over to God’s grace; i.e., works), man's response being the determining factor. God waits on man. Man’s own goodness manifests when faith is exercised to cause conversion. This is Pelagianism, emphasizing man's ability and moral responsibility, and has been modified by Roman Catholics, Protestants and some so called Baptists. This position stresses the freedom of the will, imagining by the power of free will man applies oneself to grace. Man is fallen in sin yet able to choose God because of their own goodness by ordinary encouragement. Conversion is accomplished through an invitation that waits to be accepted. God has provided salvation for everyone, but His provision becomes effective only for those who, of their own free will, "choose" to cooperate with Him and accept His offer of grace. At the crucial point, man's will plays a decisive role; thus man, not God, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation. Jesus is one that will not save but by the decree of sinful men.

Synergism is shown to be false teaching. Unconverted man is wholly unable of doing good (Mark 10:18; Psalm 14:2-3; 53:2-3; Eccl 7:20; Rom 3:10-18). Regarding free will, in external things (secular matters) there is free will, yet here God is active in the affairs of men turning hearts where He will (Revelation 17:16-17), yet with the turning of the heart man is not turned to act contrary with their nature or contrary to their will. Men sin because they are sinners, and sin is what they want to do. There is no free will in spiritual matters. 

Mark 10:18
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
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Psalms 14:2-3
2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
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Psalms 53:2-3
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
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Ecclesiastes 7:20
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
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Romans 3:10-18
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
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Man must receive a new heart, i.e., ye must be born again. 

The Formula of Concord (1577) rejected synergism, teaching "through . . . the preaching and the hearing of his Word, God is active, breaks our hearts, and draws man, so that through the preaching of the law man learns to know his sins . . . and experiences genuine terror, contrition and sorrow . . . and through the preaching of . . . the holy Gospel . . . there is kindled in him a spark of faith which accepts the forgiveness of sins for Christ's sake." Many today would say this history from 1577 is nothing to them. But I ask you, what say the Scriptures about this matter? The saints recognized the importance then. 

To the unconverted this is a strange thing, about how a man is converted wholly by the work of God, and fosters questions and doubt. What is the solution to this problem? The problem is solved by those that have actually been converted for they hear and follow (John 10:11, 14-15, 26-30), for salvation is of the LORD (Jonah 2:9; John 4:22; Acts 17:18-23). To the unconverted, this is foolishness, as man is imagining they have merited salvation by their will and goodness, condescending to their god, their being willfully ignorant, as they follow on after another Jesus whom they think is more like them, and whereby they think they receive greater promises and encouragement: let them follow that (Matthew 15:13-14; John 10:31; John 6:66; 2 Corinthians 11:4).

John 10:11
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
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John 10:14-15
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
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John 10:26-30
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
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Jonah 2:9
9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
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John 4:22
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
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Acts 17:18-23
18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
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Matthew 15:13-14
13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
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John 10:31
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
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John 6:66
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
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2 Corinthians 11:4
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
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Fear God

Acts 10:35
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
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Job 28:28-29:1
28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
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Psalm 19:9
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
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Psalm 85:9
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
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Proverbs 1:7
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
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Proverbs 16:6
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
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Ps 115:11
11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
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December 16, 2003
Bob Krajcik
Bible Study Letters
Mansfield, Ohio
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Bible Study Letters

A message of comfort from the Scriptures,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Come and hear, all ye that fear God,
and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
Psalms 66:16

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