The Bible Teaches Predestination And Salvation By Faith Alone

Thanks to my opponent for challenging me to this debate. I look forward to an edifying exchange, and hope that I can do justice to the doctrines of Grace, and the Gospel of Christ, which is the the only source of our salvation.My job in this debate will be to simply prove that Predestination, and Faith alone for salvation, are not only taught in the bible, but the primary tenants of the Gospel itself. What is Predestination?Though there are many denominations of Christianity, there are but 2 forms of belief. The synergistic form, and the Monergistic form. Synergism[1] - The position of those who hold that salvation involves some form of cooperation between divine grace and human freedom.Monergism[2] - The position in Christian theology of those who believe that God, through the Holy Spirit, works to bring about effectually the salvation of individuals through spiritual regeneration without cooperation from the individual.My opponent, is a syngergist, and believes that God cannot save someone, unless they cooperate; unless the accept his gift of grace. This, is what we call, a condition. Though God may know who will be saved, he plays no active part aside from providing to these individuals a gift upon acceptance. Once they choose God, they are accepted. In other words, they save themselves. I hold to the monergist view. Not only does God not require acceptance, but is fully aware that man is incapable of acceptance without being regenerated. I believe this act of regeneration, is a free act. One that is not willed nor desired by those who receive it. Not only is this gift unmerited, but it is also predetermined. Predestination, is the act of God using his sovereignty and mercy to choose whom would be saved, and who would not. Not, that God knew who would accept him and who wouldn't, but that he knew no man would accept him, and out of love chose to save some, and reserved them to be called his children in Christ. Since this debate is about whether or not such a thing is taught in the bible, I will provide a few passages which clearly establish predestination as true.Rom 8:29-30For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.(NKJV) 2 Thess 2:13But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.(NIV) Eph 1:3-6Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace(NKJV) Eph 1:11In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will(NKJV) In this debate, we must both consider the word of God to be infallible and harmonious. Since this is so, we cannot simply discredit predestination, at the cost of creating contradiction. If my opponent fails to reconcile these passages with his synergistic beliefs, we must conclude that his position is incorrect, and if I fail to do that same, I expect my opponent to be awarded the points. The bible, clearly teaches predestination, and I believe this will be the least challenging part of my position to demonstrate, so I will proceed on to the second matter: Faith Alone. Faith alone, or faith + [insert work here]The Synergist believes, that God expects man to react to his offer. That his grace is based on the condition that man accepts his son, and places his trust in him. At first look, this may seem like faith alone is what saves, but when we take a closer look, we see that faith becomes a work, a LAW; an act of man. The monergist believes that man is incapable of accepting God, and incapable of faith without being renewed by God; being given a heart of flesh. This belief stems from the doctrine of Total Depravity. Man is utterly, and totally depraved of righteousness. Counter-intuitive? Very much, and intentionally so. One can dispute this, and say "well I see much good in the world!", but I remind you, we are discussing whether or not such a thing is taught in the bible. So let us return then to what the word of God says:Romans 310 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;11 there is no one who understands;there is no one who seeks God.12 All have turned away,they have together become worthless;there is no one who does good,not even one."To cut straight to it, accepting God is "good", Faith is "good", and good is something NO ONE does. So then, does no one have faith? Not so, but it is by the will of God, that men have faith, and it is by this faith that men are saved.Romans 123 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.So, can a person repent and believe before having faith? Does that even make sense? Not at all. Regeneration is faith, and this is an act of God, not man. God distributes faith to those he predestined. As Christ says in John:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. So we have it shown, that God distributes faith, but, is this all that is required for salvation?Rom. 3:28-30 - "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.Rom. 4:5 - "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,"Rom. 5:1 - "therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"Gal. 2:16 - "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified."Gal. 3:5-6 - "Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 6Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."Eph. 2:8-9 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. 9Not by works, lest any man should boast."For those who don't know, to be justified, is to be declared righteous, and to be declared righteous, is to be saved. Acceptance is a work, belief is a work, and even faith is a work when it is a condition from God to man. Since God distributes faith, it is not a work, and since it is not a work nor a condition then it is Grace, which is FREE. In order for grace to be grace, it must be free. As you can see above, I've provided much scripture to support both Predestination and Faith alone for salvation. I look forward to my opponents argument in the next round, and hope you can see the obviousness of both these teachings, and vote PRO.[1]http://en.wikipedia.org...(theology) [2]http://en.wikipedia.org...