Some respond to the doctrine of election by saying "that's not fair!"... Well, that's right. We couldn't agree more. Because if God did what was fair He would let us all go on in our own way to destruction. If God operated on the basis of fairness there would not be a single person reading this today.
Furthermore, synergists declare that God choose us because he foresaw that we would believe. But if God saw something in us that moved him to choose us (because we had the wisdom, sound judgment, or good sense to believe) then grace is no longer grace. Therefore synergists deny salvation is by grace alone. By grace maybe, but not by grace ALONE. In this case grace would only be necessary but not sufficient.
Therefore, we thank God for our salvation because we cannot ascribe our believing to our own good sense or wisdom. Even these blessings are a gift of God. Can we thank God for everything else, but not thank Him for the wisdom to believe? Did we find the desire and wisdom to believe from within our own native resources?. If that were the case, God would get most of the glory but not all the glory.
As a result of this confusion, Arnminian theology cannot honestly declare "Soli Deo Gloria" because it cannot declare "sola gratia"
The following quote shines further light on this:
1. Grace is Alone by Definition - Sola Gratia is Redundant!
There is a sense in which "sola gratia" is redundant! If grace is not "alone" it is not grace! "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." (Romans 11:6) The grace of God by definition will not admit of any admixture of debt! "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt." (Romans 4:4)
2. Grace is Alone as Sovereign - God Will Not Share His Glory with Another!
If grace is not sovereign it is not grace, because God will not share His glory with another! "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." (Isaiah 42:8) "For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another." (Isaiah 48:11) Grace is depicted in Scripture as reigning as a sovereign: �That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.� (Romans 5:21) The God of grace is the giver of every good and perfect gift, �Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.� (Jas. 1:17) He actually reigns as the absolute Sovereign, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. �Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords� (1 Tim. 6:15) �These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.� (Rev. 17:14) �And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.� (Rev. 19:16) The nature of His grace is determined by His nature. The grace of a sovereign is sovereign grace, and the grace of God is absolute in its sovereign nature. It cannot be otherwise. Therefore, it is also redundant to describe God's grace by the modifiers "sovereign" or "free". If God's grace is not sovereign, then it is not grace at all. If it is not free, then it is not grace, and it most certainly is not God's grace.
3. Grace is Alone as Glorious - Pure Unmixed Grace, Sovereign Non-Contingent Grace is Praised by the Redeemed!
It is only such non-contingent, unmixed, sovereign grace of God that elicits the praise of His people: "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence" (Eph. 1:6-8) Sola Gratia, Soli Deo Gloria,
John T. �Jack� Jeffery Pastor, Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, Pennsylvania"
The flip-side is that we blame God if someone isn't saved, because that must mean He didn't give them the faith or whatever they needed to believe. In truth, God has already done everything He can to give everyone the chance to believe and accept the gift of salvation - but He won't override your free will to choose. And choose you must. It must be 100% your OWN decision to accept Christ or not otherwise you haven't given your life over to Jesus, He's taken it.
James replies:
You made good and reasonable points in your reply, and I just snipped this part out to reply to it, because we don't have to blame God is someone isn't saved. And also, because of your statement on Free will.
Adam and Eve were chosen as the Federal HEAD of the human race.
They were our perfect representatives. This means we would have done the same thing.
It is because of Adams sin, and all our own personal sins, that a person goes to Hell.
Also, Adam had a perfectly free will, and lost it when he ate of the fruit. God told Adam that the very day he ate of the fruit, that he would die spiritually, and that was what happened.
Since then, ALL MANKIND is born with a will enslaved to sin.
Yes, we are not robots, and we make choices all the time, but because of The Fall, every part of our being became enslaved to sin, and that INCLUDES our will.
There are probably 50 verses of Scripture that say what I just said. These Scriptures are ignored by most christian churches today, and they can be quite shocking when viewed as just a list of verses.
So, you made a lot of good and reasonable points 255, it is just that Fallen mankind has no perfectly free will, and people go to Hell, because of the Sin of Adam, and the sins they actually committed personally.
And notice that Doctrines do not stand by themselves.
If you believe one thing, then that forces you to believe another.
"Irresistible grace presupposes particular redemption. There is no such grace apart from Christ and His work. (Eph 1:3, 1 Pet. 1:3) Therefore, so-called four-point Calvinism is untenable."
If you honestly think agreeing with the Holy Spirit and accepting Jesus is a "Work" that nullifies Grace, then don't do it and see how far that gets you!
