In the early Church, there was only one way in which people viewed salvation, and that was predestination, well more specifically, sovereign election. Now we have widely adopted the doctrine free-will. Surprisingly enough, the concept of free-will did not even exist until about 400 years or so after Christ. (that should be a good indication that it is a man made doctrine, and is not biblical). It was common knowledge that man's will was not free, rather it was enslaved to sin because of the imputed sin of our father Adam, and unless you were effectually called by God and set free by Christ, you were spiritually dead, and were, indeed enslaved to sin. However, the church eventually encountered a very serious controversy. A controversy on the topic of salvation. This controversy was known as the "Pelagian controversy". In the 5th century, a monk by the name of Pelagius came out against the Augustinian view of the fall, grace, and predestination. He maintained that the fall only affected Adam, and that there was no imputation of original sin to the rest of mankind. He believed that anyone born after the fall, retained the ability to live holy, and righteous lives apart from the grace of God. He stated that grace could have "facilitated" righteousness but said that it was not necessary to live a sinless life. He wholeheartedly taught that man was not enslaved to sin and was actually morally capable of choosing God, apart from God's sovereign grace. Pelagianism was condemned as heresy in 418 by the church at a synod in Carthage.
Although Pelagianism was condemned as heresy, the debate never ended. New positions on the subject came up, old positions came up, even the condemned heresy of Pelagianism was brought back to the table. In the end, this whole debate left us with three main views of salvation and righteousness. Those three are:
1. Pelagianism
2. Semi-Pelagianism
3. Augustinianism
Pelagianism was started by Pelagius (obviously) and states, as I already explained earlier, that man does not need God's grace to be saved and can actually achieve righteousness without the help of God at all. It teaches that salvation is of man and God plays little or no role in it. It also teaches that man is not born with original sin, and from birth can live a holy, righteous life apart from God's grace. This, in no way, can be seen as a Christian approach to this subject at all. This is indeed a sub-Christian or anti-Christian view and approach of fallen humanity. It totally rejects the need of a Savior, Jesus Christ, and elevates man to the level of God.
Semi-Pelagianism was started by an abbot of a monastery in Gaul, named John Cassian. He came after Pelagius and formed Semi-Pelagianism. Semi-Pelagianism teaches that grace, not only facilitates a life of holiness and righteiousness, but is absolutely necessary for salvation. However, he taught that the grace of God, can be, and is often rejected. Semi-Pelagianism teaches that the fall of man is real and serious, but not as serious as Augustinianism states it to be, because a certain level of moral ability remains in the fallen creature to the extent that the fallen person has the moral power to cooperate with God’s grace or to reject it. This is also called synergism, the belief that salvation is two-handed. It displays God's hand reaching down to save the sinner, and in return, the sinner reaching up to God in response. This leaves God's sovereign will up to fallen man, and ignores spiritual death. As incorrect and heretical as this may be, going fully against Ephesians 2, it is still considered a view among Christianity (unlike Pelagianism).
Augustinianism is the third and final view on this subject. It was started by a man by the name of Augustine (obviously) and, out of the three, is the only biblical view. It states that man is totally and utterly depraved and is in full necessity of God's sovereign grace for salvation. Augustinianism states that the very cooperation with grace was the effect of God, by His sovereignty, empowering the sinner to cooperate. Augustine again insisted that all of those who were numbered among the elect were given the gift of the grace of regeneration that brought them faith. This is also called monergism. Monergism teaches that salvation is one handed. It displays God reaching down out of Heaven, saving spiritually dead sinners by Himself, giving them life with Christ. In no way does this doctrine teach man reaching up to grab God's hand, for that would defy the spiritual death of man. This doctrine comes directly from Ephesians 2: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ." (v. 4-5), "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (v. 8-9). So, clearly it is God alone, reaching down out of Heaven, and saving fallen men. Even when we were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive, He did not give us a chance to make ourselves alive, rather, He did it for us, because a dead man, being dead in sin, cannot save himself.
To put this in perspective, that would be like telling a dead man that there is a hospital down the road, and all he has to do is walk there. That there is an offer of life, and all he has to do is accept it. Of course the dead man cannot accept it or even choose to walk over to the hospital, that would be absurd because he is dead! The same applies to salvation, God does not simply provide a hospital for us then tell us we have to finish the job, and accept the offer of life. No, He does the whole job for us. He does this by giving us dead beings life in and through Christ. This means that God alone is responsible for salvation. Salvation is from the love of God the Father, through the sacrificial death and resurrection of God the Son, and by the regenerating power of God the Holy Spirit.
SOLI DEO GLORIA
Although Pelagianism was condemned as heresy, the debate never ended. New positions on the subject came up, old positions came up, even the condemned heresy of Pelagianism was brought back to the table. In the end, this whole debate left us with three main views of salvation and righteousness. Those three are:
1. Pelagianism
2. Semi-Pelagianism
3. Augustinianism
Pelagianism was started by Pelagius (obviously) and states, as I already explained earlier, that man does not need God's grace to be saved and can actually achieve righteousness without the help of God at all. It teaches that salvation is of man and God plays little or no role in it. It also teaches that man is not born with original sin, and from birth can live a holy, righteous life apart from God's grace. This, in no way, can be seen as a Christian approach to this subject at all. This is indeed a sub-Christian or anti-Christian view and approach of fallen humanity. It totally rejects the need of a Savior, Jesus Christ, and elevates man to the level of God.
Semi-Pelagianism was started by an abbot of a monastery in Gaul, named John Cassian. He came after Pelagius and formed Semi-Pelagianism. Semi-Pelagianism teaches that grace, not only facilitates a life of holiness and righteiousness, but is absolutely necessary for salvation. However, he taught that the grace of God, can be, and is often rejected. Semi-Pelagianism teaches that the fall of man is real and serious, but not as serious as Augustinianism states it to be, because a certain level of moral ability remains in the fallen creature to the extent that the fallen person has the moral power to cooperate with God’s grace or to reject it. This is also called synergism, the belief that salvation is two-handed. It displays God's hand reaching down to save the sinner, and in return, the sinner reaching up to God in response. This leaves God's sovereign will up to fallen man, and ignores spiritual death. As incorrect and heretical as this may be, going fully against Ephesians 2, it is still considered a view among Christianity (unlike Pelagianism).
Augustinianism is the third and final view on this subject. It was started by a man by the name of Augustine (obviously) and, out of the three, is the only biblical view. It states that man is totally and utterly depraved and is in full necessity of God's sovereign grace for salvation. Augustinianism states that the very cooperation with grace was the effect of God, by His sovereignty, empowering the sinner to cooperate. Augustine again insisted that all of those who were numbered among the elect were given the gift of the grace of regeneration that brought them faith. This is also called monergism. Monergism teaches that salvation is one handed. It displays God reaching down out of Heaven, saving spiritually dead sinners by Himself, giving them life with Christ. In no way does this doctrine teach man reaching up to grab God's hand, for that would defy the spiritual death of man. This doctrine comes directly from Ephesians 2: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ." (v. 4-5), "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (v. 8-9). So, clearly it is God alone, reaching down out of Heaven, and saving fallen men. Even when we were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive, He did not give us a chance to make ourselves alive, rather, He did it for us, because a dead man, being dead in sin, cannot save himself.
To put this in perspective, that would be like telling a dead man that there is a hospital down the road, and all he has to do is walk there. That there is an offer of life, and all he has to do is accept it. Of course the dead man cannot accept it or even choose to walk over to the hospital, that would be absurd because he is dead! The same applies to salvation, God does not simply provide a hospital for us then tell us we have to finish the job, and accept the offer of life. No, He does the whole job for us. He does this by giving us dead beings life in and through Christ. This means that God alone is responsible for salvation. Salvation is from the love of God the Father, through the sacrificial death and resurrection of God the Son, and by the regenerating power of God the Holy Spirit.
SOLI DEO GLORIA
Your last paragraph is about the only thing that actually makes sense. While I enjoyed all the factual support for your argument and learned a lot from it, none of your argument clarified anything. Free will was not mentioned in any of your argument but for one sentence in which you refuted it and said it was not Biblical. Please read Luke 15:11-32 in which Jesus gives the parable of the prodigal son. Yes Zach, Jesus was set to die so that we could be forgiven of our sins and God is the only one who can save us. However, it is our choice to accept that salvation and forgiveness. Do you not agree? We have the free will to choose life or death, if we choose life we must go to God and ask for it, and only then will he forgive us and purify us. If we had no free will, with our innate sinful behavior than God would choose to free us all from it, he loves us correct? He wants the best for us right? Than if we were mindless zombies without options or free will than why aren't we all saved? God would willingly forgive us all and he does if we choose to go to him for repentance. Everything you have said in the above argument goes against repentance and the fact that we have a choice of life or death.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I was discussing the "Historical" debate for free will, and in case you are unaware, semi-pelagianism is and was the first known argument for free will. I may not have said the words "free will" but the concept of semi-pelagianism is free will. Its also called synergism. So, I absolutely did talk about free will, I just didnt use your cute words. Also this is just the beginning.. I am going to make more posts on the topic and will elaborate on this doctrine later. What troubles me, is your lack of scripture to defend your point. All I have heard is your opinion. Now let me give you my scriptural point. It is not man who chooses but God. Salvation does not depend on free will, but simply the sovereign grace of God. Romans 9:16 says, "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." the human will has no say in it. And God only wants what is best for those who love God and "are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) And furthermore, the human will is not free, rather it is enslaved! "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." Romans 3:10-12. Also, in my post I already quoted Ephesians 2, that we are dead in our trespasses.. DEAD. And to answer your question, why aren’t we all saved? Because God does not owe man salvation. It would be completely just for God to have decided not to send Christ and to send everyone to hell. Because that is what all of mankind has earned (Romans 3:23). Now, my question for you is.. Did Pharaoh have a choice to be saved or not? How about Esau? I would like to hear your answer..
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for being so argumentative. I'm just a passionate person and it comes out wrong sometimes. What I meant was that I agree with your statement to an extent. I just want you to clarify something. Are you trying to say that we humans have no free will? That our lives are already set in stone and we have no control over it? That we have no control over whether we go to heaven or hell? If THAT is what you are saying than i disagree. If that were the case than what would be the point in witnessing? What is the point in forgiveness? Why would God have sent his only son Jesus Christ down to earth to die so that we could all be forgiven of our sins through him, if God controlled who could be saved and who couldn't. He does control salvation; however, it is up to us to go to God and ask for that salvation. "For whosoever believeth in me will not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16. Such a simple verse we have all memorized, yet it says so much. "Whosoever" means whoever will believe. It doesn't say that there will be only a select few that will have everlasting life. HE says simply whoever will believe in me. :He must take up his cross and follow me". That means we have a part in this whole equation. He created us to be able to choose because he didn't want us to be mindless robots. He wants us to want him. And for your questions about Pharaoh and Esau. I believe that in the old testament God saw that the laws of Moses were unattainable. Many did not follow the strict laws and that is exactly why Jesus was sent. Because he knew we were all enslaved and innate sinners. Therefore he made it easier for us to come to him, through his son and not animal sacrifices. I am just saying that what you have argued says to me that our witness isn't important, forgiveness ad repentance is not important. And i do not agree.
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