Bonerges,

You have quoted Packer:

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Regeneration was a momentary monergistic act of quickening the spiritually dead. As such, it was God's work alone. Sanctification, however, is in one sense synergistic--it is an ongoing cooperative process ins which regenerate persons, alive to God and freed from sin's dominion are required to exert themselves in sustained obedience. God's method of sanctification is neither activism nor apathy, but God dependent effort.

Then you said:

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Packer affirms that our cooperation, even though it is powered by God, is in fact a synergistic work.

Packer does not say "is in fact" but clearly says, "in one sense". This means to me that in other senses our sanctification IS NOT synergistic. BTW, J. I. Packer, much to my dismay, has signed the ecumenical document, "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" which confuses our justification and sanctification even more so. You asked in another post what should be done with this verse from Phil 2:12.

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"work out your salvation with fear and trembling"

All Reformed confessions affirm that our salvation is by grace, Christ and faith (Spirit) Alone. If it were possible for believers to work or earn their own salvation, this verse would be a contradiction, would it not? IMO, the focus of this verse is not working out our own salvation but "with fear and trembling". This verse in context, is a warning to any and all who would take lightly or in vain the meritorious work of God's perfect and precious Son.

Faith is work, but our work is totally "God dependent" just as Packer says. His burden is indeed light, as the Master tells us in Scripture.

There are a multitude of books written on this subject. It is impossible to speak of all the fine points in a short post or two. When all is said and done I believe we are left only with this.

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"If you love me, you will keep my commandments"

Denny

Romans 3:22-24

Last edited by Adopted; Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:47 AM.
Denny

Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." [John 6:68]