Against the Synergists
Pride is the mother of all sin. Simply put, man thinks more highly of himself than he ought (Rom 12:3). The Bible contradicts the misguided opinion of sinners. In fact, we are told on the pages of holy writ that the natural man is blinded by the devil from seeing the Gospel truth (2 Cor 4:4), as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21). Blind guides, always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth, lead others into the pit of destruction (Mt 15:14; 2 Tim 3:7). What about the errors promulgated by Christians?
At the root of all false teaching is man-centered theology, which insists that man must do something in the work of salvation. In the Bible, salvation encompasses the entire ordo salutis: election; Gospel call; regeneration; effectual call; repentance; faith; justification; sanctification; adoption; death; and glorification. The Bible teaches that it is only by God’s grace (His work) that one is saved (Eph 2:8–9; 1 Pet 1:10). This means that every element in the ordo salutis is a work of God, not man. This, however, does not sit well with many Christians.
There are those who teach that a man must do good works in order to be justified before the holy God. This is the essential teaching of all works-based religions, conceived by men. It is man trying to win favor with God/gods, by his or her own meritorious endeavors. This is not what the Bible teaches; but many Christians embrace the idea, anyway.
This doctrine insists that man should labor to be good, in order to be accepted by God. In some systems of religion, innumerable works are expected, with zero assurance that anyone has done enough good works to be saved. This is the basis for Roman Catholicism’s unbiblical declaration of who has achieved sainthood. Following Rome, but with a huge reduction in the workload, Arminian Protestants insist there is only one work required of sinners.
Arminians deny that this one work of deciding for/accepting/inviting/asking Jesus is a work at all. They promote that accepting Jesus is man’s free will at work, but then deny it is a work. In truth, for them, deciding for Jesus is a required work, regardless of whether they will or will not confess that it is a work of the flesh. Arminians only deceive themselves and others when they claim it is not a work of one’s flesh. If decision-making is not a work, then, what is it?
In their marketing scheme, the Gospel is “offered” to all people like a product or service that will benefit the prospective customer. By deciding to accept or reject the offer, the Arminian remains oblivious to the fact that he has just positioned himself as the judge of God and of Christ.
Which system, innumerable works or one work, is more wicked and insidious? It can be argued that the more devilish preacher or priest is the one who is most clever in his or her deception. Roman Catholics are immersed and fully committed to their false teaching of works-based justification. They do not pretend that God’s grace unto salvation is sufficient, although they claim it is necessary to help out the sinner. They insist the works of men must be added.
The Evangelical Arminian is more wicked than that, in his desire to deceive sinners into doing that one work of accepting Jesus as Savior. Yes, everyone must decide for himself whether he or she will permit Jesus to save them. One thing each soul must do is judge God to be worthy or not. In reply, we ask the prudent decision-for-Jesus maker, “Who made you, O man, to be the judge of God and of Christ Jesus?”
The truth is that Jesus Himself is the righteous Judge of sinners (Mt 19:28; 28:18; Jn 5:22; 2 Cor 5:10). The Judge has declared that no one is good (Rom 3:12). He has determined that none of the sons of Adam are righteous (Rom 3:10). None of them seek after God (Rom 3:11); but every inclination of their deceitful hearts is only evil all the time (Gen 6:5). Further, God’s judgment of every man’s works finds them to be filthy rags (Is 64:6). No man understands the plight of man (Rom 3:11); unless the Lord Himself illumines him to understand that no aspect of man-centered theology is valid, either for the unregenerate or the regenerate.
When a Christian man, woman, or even pastor does not understand salvation, they will make sinners to be responsible for some part of the work of salvation. Those who understand the necessity and sufficiency of grace in justification must preach total depravity (Gen 6:5; Is 64:6; Jer 17:9; Rom 1:18–31; 3:10–12, 23; Eph 2:12) and total inability (Rom 8:7). Otherwise, sinners, dead in their trespasses and sins, are purportedly alive enough to work for their salvation, even before the Spirit makes them alive. How is that even possible?
Woe to the Christian who imagines that salvation belongs to the flesh, especially following the regeneration of the soul. This confused soul hypothesizes that the body of sin and death of the born again is every day, in every way, getting better and better. Further, this false teacher will enslave Christians with the doctrine of responsible good works, in a scheme of progressive sanctification. He asks, “What must I do to improve my flesh?”
The Bible refuses to let sinful flesh glory in the presence of the holy God (Phil 3:3). Christian, you must acknowledge you remain in a body of death. You are dying in your body of sin. Your flesh has failed; and yes, you are responsible for your sin. What you are never responsible for is your salvation…ever. Salvation belongs to the Lord (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1); and the flesh of all men hates that fact because it removes every opportunity for men to glory in themselves.
Salvation includes sanctification (see the ordo salutis). God never sanctifies (sets apart) the actual work of sanctification unto sinners, whether they are regenerate or remain dead in sin. In other words, God never asks for your help in any aspect of His saving you or other sinners. Salvation (sanctification) is God’s work from beginning to end. We must ever remember that it is the devil’s work to convince sinners to be like god — little saviors, who do their own will and produce their own works for their own glory (Gen 3:5).
Christian, repent of your false doctrine and practice of thinking you are wise and powerful to set yourself apart by your good works of the Law. You must know for sure your works of the flesh failed to reposition you into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. God did that (Col 1:13). So, who has bewitched you into this perverse thought that He who began His good work in you, needs your help to finish His good work in you (Phil 1:6)? It is His Spirit in you that wars against your flesh (Gal 5:17).
Drop your weapons, O foolish Christian. Humble yourself before Almighty God (Jas 4:10). It is Christ dwelling in you, who is willing and working (Phil 2:13). It is no longer you (Gal 2:20). You are dead to sin (Rom 6:11; Col 3:3); and you must mortify the flesh and its selfish ambitions (Rom 8:13; Col 3:5).
Hint: when a biblical imperative confronts you…pray. Christ is alive; and you live in the newness of His Spirit (Rom 6:4; 7:6). You read the imperative in the Bible. You confess to God you cannot do what is required of you. You repent of trying and you pray. God answers and does what is required. You rejoice. You repeat the process all day, every day. The alternative is ugly.
Will you actually boast in yourself and in “your” good works (1 Cor 1:31; Jas 3:5)? Are you even a believer…or just a worker of iniquity? Will you steal glory from God? You will indeed be found out, if you think that you are responsible for your good works done “for” God.
Here is your alternative, O mighty worker of so much good. Here is something better than what you imagine that you can add to Christ. First, start from the place and viewpoint of God, not the viewpoint of man. At no point in your sanctification (salvation) are you ever called, “savior” or “helper to the savior.” God performs all our works for us (Is 26:12); and He who does all the work gets all the glory. O wretched man that you are, will you claim what does not belong to you?
Second, you claim that God requires so much of you that you must do the works of God. Men came to Jesus with the same inquiry. Our Lord told them that the work of God is to make men believers (Jn 6:29). Without the faith He gives you (Eph 2:8–9), you cannot please Him (Heb 11:6). Still, you persist in thinking that your good works will win the favor you so desire for yourself to earn your own way into God’s grace. That is not how grace works.
Understand this: if God requires something of you, you must reject the notion that you have the will or the ability — even when claiming to be a Christian — to do what is required of you. Instead, you must remember Christ in you (Gal 2:20; Col 3:11). He has prepared works for you (Eph 2:10). He will perform them (Ps 57:3; 138:8; Is 26:12). Even when you come to realize this truth and begin to bear witness to Christ and not yourself…you will realize it is His Spirit bearing witness…not you.
Christian, finally understand that all things are from Him, not you. All things are through Him, not you. All things are to Him…not you. To Him, not you, be the glory. Great things He, not you, has done (Rom 11:36; 2 Pet 3:18; Rev 1:6).
Synergist, I trust that when you finally realize the error of your man-centered view of sanctification that you will grieve the days you spent in pride and vanity, when you forgot that nothing good dwells in you, that is, in your flesh (Rom 7:18). On that day, it will be Christ who opens your eyes to see that it is all Him and nothing of you.
Monergists lament our own days of synergistic beliefs regarding sanctification; but we also confess, were it not a work of God — entirely God — we would have never believed that it was all God. May God grant this grace, for you to know this truth revealed in His Word; and may you soon rejoice and glory in Him, alone…not in yourself.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
February 18, 2025
