Spurgeon on Grace
STATEMENT
“We believe that the work of regeneration, conversion, sanctification, and faith, is not an act of man’s free will and power, but of the mighty, efficacious, and irresistible grace of God.” (Charles Spurgeon, gleaned from a social media post)
RESPONSE
This Spurgeon quote is a sloppy representation of sovereign grace theology. While it is true that our eternal salvation is a work of God alone, the items that Spurgeon lumps together are a combination of works that God alone does (i.e., monergistic works associated with our eternal salvation) and works that men do in cooperation with the Spirit’s enablement (i.e., synergistic works of God and man associated with our temporal salvation). Consider:
1. Regeneration is an immediate and direct work of God alone (John 5:25) Man has no active, participatory involvement in this work. He is merely the passive beneficiary thereof. Once quickened he is in possession of eternal life in a vital sense. He has been given everlasting life and shall never perish (John 10:28).
2. Conversion is synergistic in that it involves the Spirit's enablement as well as man's willing and active participation (Acts 3:19). God does not “repent for you” neither does he “force a regenerate man to repent” or “to be converted by truth.” This too is evident from the many instances where God’s people oppose the truth, even the gospel (Matthew 16:21-23, Mark 16:14). While it is true that a man must be regenerate to be converted to the truth, the assertion that the exercise of faith is a monergistic work of God is false. Man’s will is involved in the exercise of the faith that God has given him in regeneration.
3. Sanctification is of two sorts. The first is legal/positional sanctification which is an act of God alone and is required for his eternal salvation (Hebrews 10:10). The second is ethical/practical sanctification which is a synergistic act of God and man that involves man's willing participation and is required for his temporal salvation (I Thessalonians 4:3), his salvation “from this untoward generation.” (Acts 2:40).
4. Faith is a spiritual capacity, a vital sign that is given in regeneration (Galatians 5:22). The exercise of this capacity, however, is a willing act of man under the enablement of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the proper motion of the new creature in Christ under gospel instruction. The fact of remaining sin proves beyond any dispute that God does not force us to exercise faith during our natural lives (I John 1:8).
This quote does not hold up under biblical scrutiny, regardless of the numerous affirmations it received on social media. While Spurgeon said a lot of good things, folks should be aware that his language is often more impressive than his logic. Spurgeon soundbites are often more rhetorically forceful than theologically compelling. When encountering Christian ideas on the internet, we do well to take a deep breath and ask, “Is that true?” lest we dive headlong into the pool of shallow assertions.
- Elder Daniel Samons