Thank you for explaining, I did not even know what monergism and synergism was.
I understand that is one of the two big differences, I believe the second would be losing/not losing your salvation.
I believe that one can not lose their salvation, pursuant to Ephesians 1:13: the Holy Spirit seals the believer.
Now would if an Arminian would say God looked in time to see who would choose him, that still does not change they are synergists rather then the monergist calvinist?
Anytime, it is my pleasure! I love talking theology!
Monergism and synergism explained simply:
Monergism: Comes from two root words: Mono (single) ergos (work). "single work" or "one work". Similar words: "Monocle" (eyewear with one glass piece). Monotheism (theism with one deity).
Synergism: two root words: Syn (together) ergos (work). Similar word: Synchronize
Monergism is the idea that one party, or one input, is the active agent in a human beings regeneration (ie, being born again) God's input alone is required for the regeneration of a man.
Calvinism says man is spiritually dead, thus cannot act or assist in his own resurrection. God does it alone. A corpse cannot help itself be resurrected.
Synergism is the idea that two parties are working together, cooperatively, for the human being's regeneration. (God and man cooperating)
In synergism, if man does not cooperate, God is powerless to regenerate the man because the process requires input from both God and man.
Arminianism says that man is not spiritually dead, only spiritually sick. God is like a doctor, offering you medicine, but it's up to you to reach out and grab the medicine and swallow it. Thus, you and the doctor both took actions that caused you get well from your illness.
The reason Arminianism views it this way is because the gospel is preached to all people. So they view the gospel as merely God's offering assistance.
Calvinism views the gospel as more than God merely offering people salvation. In Calvinism,
God actually works through the gospel to visit sinners and regenerate them. The gospel is merely the vehicle, the tool, that the holy spirit uses to reach people so that he can monergistically regenerate them, change their heart, remove their blindfold, etc.
In Arminianism, God doesn't do any of this. He only offers the gospel (God's part) and sits back and waits for man to do his part.
So Arminianism is completely missing out on a huge portion of God's activity. Thus, in Amrinianism, there is a lot less reason to worship God, and a lot less activity that God gets any credit, thanks, and adoration for.
You could say Arminianism has God as a lifeguard, and he tosses a flotation device to a person who is struggling to swim. The person must cooperate and grab the floaty, and hang on for dear life, with their own strength, as the lifeguard pulls them to the safety of the boat. Synergism
In Calvinism, the person is already drowned and dead and has sunk to the bottom of the sea. God is not just a lifeguard, he's a miracle worker and dives into the sea and drags the person to the shore and miraculously resurrects them from the dead. Monergism
The Bible plainly tells us that the Holy Spirit works through the gospel message and to rescue sinners from spiritual deadness:
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
And in this passage we see both election and the "effectual call" (ie, the spirit saving people through the vehicle of the gospel)
2 Thess 2:13-14
But we ought to give thanks to God always concerning you, brothers beloved by
the Lord, that
God has chosen you from the beginning unto salvation in
the sanctification of
the Spirit, and
by faith of
thetruth;
To this
He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
