I’m not sure that’s the right title, I do like our celebration of Resurrection Sunday as an appropriate term.
Mike Ratliff made a very long post on two theological terms.
I found Mike’s Covenant discussion and quoting of the Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Hebrews passages to be particularly helpful. In our M’Cheyne Bible reading my wife and I are in the Book of Leviticus, admitted understanding all the rules and offerings is tedious. Particularly those passages that say these are an everlasting covenant. The Old Testament Prophets give a good historical prelude to the work of Christ on the Cross and the Resurrection, further explained by Paul in Hebrews.
In the article he mentions another term also: Synergists. I looked it up on AI:
AI Overview
A theological synergist believes that salvation is accomplished through the cooperation of both God’s grace and human will. They typically believe that God initiates the process of salvation, and then individuals must cooperate by choosing to believe and respond to that grace. This contrasts with monergism,which teaches that salvation is entirely God’s work.
Key Beliefs of Synergism:
- Human Cooperation:Synergists believe that individuals must actively cooperate with God’s grace to be saved, rather than being passively recipients of it.
- Free Will:They emphasize the role of human free will in choosing to believe and respond to God’s grace.
- God’s Initiative:While synergists emphasize human cooperation, they also acknowledge that God initiates the process of salvation through his grace.
- Various Forms:Synergism can manifest in different ways, with some forms placing more emphasis on human effort than others.
Examples of Synergistic Beliefs:
- Arminianism:Arminian theology (often held by Methodists) emphasizes the role of prevenient grace (a monergistic act of God) followed by a synergistic act of human cooperation in salvation.
- Pelagianism:This form of synergism emphasizes human freedom and willpower over God’s grace, viewing humans as basically good.
- Semi-Pelagianism:This form acknowledges sin but believes that humans can initiate their own salvation with God’s assistance, according to GotQuestions.org.
As you read the article I think you will agree Mike properly defines it….
Who limits the atonement? Both Monergists and Synergists limit the atonement. Synergists limit the effectiveness of the atonement by denying that it purchased the promises of the New Covenant for irresistible grace. Monergists, on the other hand, affirm this purchase of the promises of the New Covenant for irresistible grace. By this, they limit the full blessings of the atonement to those God irresistibly brings to saving faith.
I personally don’t care for the term “Limited Atonement.” It brings a negative connotation to our faith that angers many people unnecessarily. I prefer to call this doctrine either Definite Atonement or Particular Redemption. Most of the authors I enjoy who write about these things lean towards Particular Redemption and I do as well. Definite Atonement means that it is designed for definite individuals who are effectively saved by it. Particular Redemption means that God has particular people in view in the design of the atonement. Through it He purchased all the blessings of salvation for His people.
Rainbow Trout 