- The Foundational CORE Soteriological Difference Between Authentic Biblical Reformed Theology, and ALL other Theologies (eg, Arminianism, Catholicism, Pelagianism, etc...),is THIS : Divine Monergism VS. Human Synergism.
Technically, Divine Monergism specifically refers to REGENERATION (i.e., "Born-Again" John 3:3, 1 Peter 1:23), And Is Nothing Less Than An Absolute Miracle Of GOD Alone (John 1:13, 3:27, 6:63-65, 15:3, Titus 3:5-7, James 1:18), In Which HE Makes A Spiritually Dead Sinner Spiritually Alive (Ephesians 2:1-5, Colossians 2:13), By Giving A New Heart And A New Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27), Thus Setting The Sinner Free From Sin (John 8:34-36), And Causing The New Creation In Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10) To Accordingly Respond To HIM (Psalm 65:4, 110:3/KJV, John 6:37, Acts 9:1-21, 13:48, 16:14, Romans 8:29-30, 9:23, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 12:13, Philippians 1:6, 2:13).
*The LORD Miraculously Opened Lydia's Heart So That She Could Respond (Acts 16:14, cf. 14:27, Luke 24:45)
*The GRACE Of Regeneration Always Comes BEFORE Faith (Not AFTER Faith) -Luke 1:15 (Regenerated In The Womb/BEFORE Birth & Faith, cf. Jeremiah 1:5, Galatians 1:15) Acts 9:1-21, 10:44, 13:48, 16:14 Romans 3:24-25 Ephesians 2:1-10 Colossians 2:13 2 Timothy 1:9 (Grace BEFORE Time) Titus 3:5-7 (The Grace of Regeneration BOTH Precedes AND is Distinct FROM the Hope of Eternal Life)
*GOD Regenerates Us Through HIS Word (NOT Through Faith) -Psalm 119:50 John 6:63-65; 8:31-32; 15:3; 17:17 Romans 10:17 (First The WORD, Then HEARING, Then FAITH) 1 Corinthians 4:15 Ephesians 5:26; 6:17 (The WORD Of GOD Is The SWORD Of The SPIRIT)2 Timothy 1:10 James 1:18 1 Peter 1:23
*GOD Is The Sole CAUSE Of Regeneration (NOT our Faith) - Deuteronomy 30:6 Psalm 51:10, 65:4, 110:3/KJV Ezekiel 11:19-20, 36:26-27, 37:4-14 Jeremiah 24:7, 32:39-40 John 1:13, 3:3-8 (Literally,"Begotten From Above" cf. 3:27, 6:63-65) Acts 16:14 Romans 4:17, 9:16 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 Ephesians 2:1- 10 Philippians 1:6, 2:13 James 1:18 1 John 3:9
*GRACE Is The Foundational ROOT (2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 3:5-7), and Faith Is The Resultant FRUIT (Galatians 5:22/Literal, cf. Acts 13:48). FAITH Is The RESULT Of HEARING, And HEARING Is The RESULT Of The WORD Of GOD (Romans 10:17, cf. John 6:63).
*According to Hebrews 12:2/Literal, Jesus Is BOTH The Originator & The Perfector of our Faith, Which proves that Faith does NOT Originate with us (cf. John 1:13, 3:27, 6:63-65), That's Why It is NOT of us (Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 9:16, James 1:18), But It is a Gift that HE Gives to us (Philippians 1:29, cf. 2:13, Romans 12:3, 2 Peter 1:1).
*Regeneration Is 3 Dimensional Triune GRACE In Action -
- GOD Is The Sole CAUSE (Psalm 65:4, Ezekiel 36:26-27)
- The Holy SPIRIT Is The AGENT (John 3:8/Greek Text, John 6:63)
- The WORD Is The INSTRUMENT - The SWORD Of The SPIRIT (Ephesians 6:17, cf. John 6:63, Hebrews 4:12).
*Scripturally (cf. Ephesians 2:1-10), It Is Important To Carefully Distinguish Between Regeneration (SAVED BY GRACE = The ROOT/2 Timothy 1:9), And Conversion (THROUGH FAITH = The FRUIT/Galatians 5:22-23). This Distinction Is Logical (As To Order : ie, Cause & Effect), But Not Necessarily Chrono-Logical (As To Time).
*3 Very Common/Popular But UN-Biblical Synergistic Theories Of Regeneration -
Baptismal Regeneration (cf. Luke 23:43, John 6:63-65, Ephesians 5:26, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23)
Decisional Regeneration (cf. John 1:13, 6:63-65, 15:16, Acts 9:1-21, 16:14, Romans 9:16, James 1:18)
Faith Regeneration (cf. John 1:13, Acts 9:1-21, 16:14, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23).
*Salvation is OF THE LORD (Jonah 2:9), and It is BECAUSE OF HIM that we are in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30), for HE Chose us in Christ BEFORE the Foundation of the World (Ephesians 1:4-11, cf. 2 Timothy
