Bible Question:
I need a little help with a question: My brother (great guy) tells me that "decision theology" is wrong. I disagree because I believe that everyone must make a decision about Christ. He states that a decision would be "works", and that we are spiritually dead before the renewing/rebirth therefore we can't do anything ourselves to effect salvation. I realize that we are saved by grace through faith per Ephesians 2.8,9 and Titus 3.5, but there are MANY verses in the Bible like John 1.12, 3.16, and Revelation 3.20 that talk of "receiving Christ." I tried to tell him that he is right, it's not by works BUT making a decision (or accepting Christ) is not works. Kind of like accepting a rope tossed out to you if you were drowning. The drowning person is NOT saving himself, BUT must receive the rope. He keeps telling me that decision theology "cheapens God's grace". Who is right? I'm seriously outclassed in this debate because he's got Greek lexicons/dictionaries/commontaries ad naseum, and I'm a Bible only type guy. Thanks! |
Bible Answer: Greetings Huron! I'm from the persuasion that your brother is correct. And the use of lexicons etc. has nothing to do with who's right. I'm a Calvinist, as it sounds your brother is. It also sounds as if he believes in MONERGISTIC REGENERATION, that is that being born again is from God ALONE (did you choose to be born physically?--then how much harder is it to be born spiritually!!). People from the SYNERGISTIC REGENERATION influence, such as our friend Emmaus, who happens to be Roman Catholic (all Catholics are Synergists) believe that spiritual rebirth is contingent upon the cooperation of man with God. I don't believe the Bible presents this at all. Please read these verses and pray about them (I'm sure your brother has shared these with you before.) Salvation is dependent upon God's mercy ALONE, not the will or desire of man---Romans 9:16 (read the whole chapter) Man is not "sick" or "drowning", but is DEAD in sins (Gen 2:17, Eph 2:1-3, Romans 5:12, Col 2:13) Because of this spiritual deadness we are enemies of God and deserve eternal punishment (Rom 8:7, Eph 2:15-16) Unregenerate man CANNOT understand spiritual things, especially the Words of God (1 Cor. 2:14, John 8:47). I hope and pray this answers more questions than it creates, but if you're anything like I was when I searched the Scriptures over this issue, you will have lots of questions and little sleep. In Christ, JIBBS |