in this discussion i want to go over two opposing veiws .. God centred theology and the man centered theology .. the basis can be summed up as follows monogism vs synergism basically how we come to understand the biblical teachings
the God centered theology (monogism)
the sovereignty of God is the center of scriptural truths ... everything starts and ends with God -- every act, every choice, every step the very place we are in is all governed by God -- nothing happens without Gods will being involved either command or decree
what we need to understand is that every attribut God possesses whether his justice, mery, freedom, love it all begins and is expressed by his soverign will -- our salvation is determined by God every step of it .. even the end result is fixed --
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it(acts 2 :22 -24) and "This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (acts 4 :11 -12)
it starts with God and ends with God -- God predestined man unto salvation through his son .. he chose the ones who would come, his spirit is the one who regenerate and sanctifies the believer to the image of Christ Jesus
this is a free gift .. no effort of man involved
basis .. God does that which he decrees to come to pass in salvation of man ... and saves based on his own will and does not seek the humans permission
the man-centered theology (synergism)
God can only save those of whom allow him to save -- he does not work against mans will .. it is optional -- you can choose to be saved or to walk away since God gave you that freedom
Gods grace is not free since he had to as it said "look down the corridors of time and see who responds to the gospel -- it is only a gift in as far as it is given, but man must choose to accept it or reject it
but this is a choose given to all men ....
"This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 timothy 2 :3 -4) and "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance".(2 peter 3 :9)
the basis God can not save outside mans willingness and co - operation in the effort, and God wants all men to be saved
many men have take both sides, but only one is biblically honouring and God honouring which is the calvinist position which approaches the bible with God at the centre of all things, the arminianist does not do this ... as they have a roman catholic understanding of free will of men
