Monergism and Synergism

The debate over monergism vs. synergism concerns who is decisive in salvation. Monergism teaches that salvation is entirely the work of God’s sovereign grace from beginning to end; man contributes nothing but receives grace. Synergism teaches that God and man cooperate, making man’s decision the decisive factor in salvation. In practice, synergism shifts sovereignty from God to man. If man’s will is decisive, salvation can be gained or lost by human choice, and revival techniques, psychology, and emotional appeal replace God’s Word and Spirit. Monergism, by contrast, upholds God’s sovereignty and leads to confidence in the perseverance of the saints. Though synergism claims cooperation, it ultimately enthrones human will, echoing the temptation of Genesis 3:5. Scripture allows no shared sovereignty: either God saves, or man makes himself god.