Let godly readers weigh carefully the apostle's words. He does not say that we are assisted by God. He does not say that the will is prepared, and is then left to run by its own strength. He does not say that the power of choosing aright is bestowed upon us, and that we are afterwards left to make our own choice. Such is the idle talk in which those persons who do their utmost to undervalue the grace of God are accustomed to indulge. But the apostle affirms that we are God's work, and that everything good in us is his creation; by which he means that the whole man is formed by his hand to be good. It is not the mere power of choosing aright, or some indescribable kind of preparation, or even assistance, but the right will itself, which is his workmanship; otherwise Paul's argument would have no force. He means to prove that man does not in any way procure salvation for himself, but obtains it as a free gift from God. The proof is, that man is nothing but by divine grace. Whoever, then, makes the very smallest claim for man, apart from the grace of God, allows him, to that extent, ability to procure salvation. -- John Calvin, Commentary on Ephesians 2:10.
Calvin clearly implies that even sanctification is a monergistic work of God in the hearts of the elect. If not for grace the elect would not make any progress. Just as regeneration is completely a grace of God, so is sanctification.
Click here to see the original post: The World's Ruined: Not "only" Justified, we are Sanctified by grace
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8 comments:
No need to make any effort then.
No one makes enough "effort." Try harder and harder and you would still fall short of God's holiness and glory. Unless you are perfect you will never enter heaven in your own righteousness. (Matthew 5:17-20, 48; Romans 3:23; Romans 10:1-4). Lowering God's standards in the moral law so you can externally "appear" to be perfect before men only demonstrates the principle that the self-righteous are outwardly white washed tombs but inwardly they are full of dead men's bones.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 "Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:27-28 NKJ)
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15 NKJ)
And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." (Mark 2:16-17 NKJ)
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13 NKJ)
But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. (1 Chronicles 29:14 NKJ)
Great, I won't be worried then when I'm doing all that wicked stuff. I'll just wait for God to deal with it.
"But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said,`Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' 29 "He answered and said,`I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 "Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said,`I go, sir,' but he did not go. 31 "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. (Matthew 21:28-31 NKJ)
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:1-4 NKJ)
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