I have been re-posting the top three blogs from the past three years. Last month I re-issued the third most-read post, "Post 24 - This Changes Everything".
Today's reposting is the second most-read blog-post titled "Post 5 - Synergism".
Post 5 - Synergism
Recap: In the last post I made a statement that I know would be considered heresy to many. What did I say that was so heretical? I said that the success of God's eternal plan of salvation depends, in no small measure, on us!
I don't know of any other way to interpret the words of Jesus who said that "all the Law and the Prophets" depend on us loving God, and loving others (Matthew 22:37-40). Since the Law and the Prophets, in its essence, is the revelation of the eternal plan of God to save the world through his Son, the implication is that the plan fails/collapses if we don't love.
(If you missed that post, I encourage you to go back to Post 4. If you feel that you have a true faith in Jesus and believe the Bible is the word of God, but you have not been experiencing the blessings and promises of God in your life, the previous post will offer a possible explanation/suggestion to ensure that your faith becomes effective.)
Heresy?
Many will feel that the statement that God's eternal plan of salvation depends on us impugns the sovereignty of God. "God doesn't need us for anything," they would say. "We don't pull God's chain.'" They would argue that such a God is a man-made god, not the sovereign God of the Bible.
To the first objection, I would say, "Amen". God definitely doesn't need us for anything. The apostle Paul makes that abundantly clear in his speech to the folks at the Areopagus in Athens.
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17:24-25 ESV)
To the second objection, the comment that "we don't 'pull God's chain'," I would defer to the scriptures. I don't deny that God could have arranged to accomplish his plan without us, but Jesus' statement in Matthew 22 is really only one in a long list of passages where human actions sway/impact/thwart the actions of God. I know that, although the picture of God as a reactive God - reactive to human actions - bristles the sensibilities of some, there is no way to explain away many clear texts without a lot of linguistic gymnastics and oratorical sophistry. While there are dozens of examples in the Old Testament, here are three such passages from the New Testament:
(1) And he (Jesus) could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. (Mark 6:5 ESV)
And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. (Mark 6:6 ESV)
The implication here (and the consensus of many biblical scholars) is that the unbelief of the people thwarted Jesus' ability to do "mighty works". His miracles depended on their faith.
(2) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV)
This verse to the Church at Philippi describes a clearly mysterious and somewhat enigmatic, co-laboring (synergistic) aspect of salvation, specifically, of the sanctification process. While the verse clearly reveals that there is a presence of God in the lives of Christians, the verse does not support the Calvinistic interpretation that God alone determines a person's salvation, but implies a cooperative effort. God plays a part, and we play a part. The working together of both "partners" seems to be required for successful sanctification.
(3) Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! (2 Peter 3:11-12 ESV)
Peter exhorts the elect exiles of the Dispersion to live holy and godly lives, "waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God... ." While there are differing opinions on how the believers can "speed up" the coming of the day of God, what isn't in dispute is that their faithfulness can play some role in effecting God's plan. While some believe that this is an encouragement to the saints to spread the gospel, others feel that Peter is exhorting them to mature in their own faith. There is likely truth in both thoughts. A good harvest should be both ripe and plentiful.
Summation
When Jesus prays in John 17, he asks the Father for unity for his disciples, "that they may all be one" (John 17:22). Then he clarifies that the unity he seeks is not a superficial, spiritual/ideological unity, but a true melding together of Father/Son/disciple. "just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they may also be in us."
So, what are we to make of these verses (and many others) where our actions seem necessary to God's eternal plan of salvation; our love, our faith, our faithfulness? I believe that what we are being taught is that, as part of the "body of Christ", we become an integral part of the "organism" of God. We become part of Him and He makes us both effective and necessary in his plan.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33 ESV)
Next post: Next month we'll look at the #1 most-read post of the past three years.
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