1 John 5:1, The New Birth, And Monergism

By Pastor Bruce Oyen

E-mail: bk_oyen@hotmail.com

 

My Theme For This Posting

     My theme for this posting is this: "1 John 5:1, The New Birth, And Monergism."

What "Monergism" Means

    At the outset, we need to understand what is meant by "monergism." In this context, it is the belief that we do nothing to experience regeneration ( the new birth, or being born again). Monergists believe that we do not believe in Jesus Christ to be born again. They say if we are born again, it results in believing in Jesus Christ.    

    Many, and perhaps most, monergists believe God uses His Word to bring about the new birth, but not in the same way others, called "synergists," think of it. Synergists believe that the new birth happens when a non-Christian hears the Gospel, and chooses to believe in Jesus Christ because of the Gospel message.

    Many monergists, on the other hand, believe that God uses His Word in this way to  bring about the new birth: they say that when one whom God has chosen to save hears the Gospel message, it is planted in the heart somewhat like an apple seed is planted in the ground. The seed then germinates and becomes an apple tree. But the ground does not choose to let that seed be planted in itself, and it does not choose to let the seed become an apple tree.  The ground is  passive in the whole thing.

A Monergist Definition Of Monergism

    Here is a partial quote from a monergist website that gives this definition of monergism: Definition of Monergism: The view that the Holy Spirit is the only agent who effects regeneration of Christians. It is in contrast with synergism, the view that there is a cooperation between the divine and the human in the regeneration process. Monergism is a redemptive blessing purchased by Christ for those the Father has given Him (1 Pet 1:3, John 3:5,6, 6:37, 39). This grace works independently of any human cooperation and conveys that power into the fallen soul whereby the person who is to be saved is effectually enabled to respond to the gospel call (John 1:13; Acts 2:39, 13:48; Rom 9:16).

This was taken from the left side of the homepage of this website: http://www.monergism.com/

How 1 John 5:1 Relates To This Theme

    Now this is where 1 John 5:1 comes into the picture. This verse is a key verse in monergistic theology. The verse says this: Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (King James Version) Monergists say this verse proves that non-Christians are passive in the new birth. They say this verse tells us that belief in Jesus Christ is the result of the new birth, not the means to receiving it.

Some Examples of Past Monergists

    John Gill lived in the 1700's and the 1800's. He was a Baptist pastor, theologian, and author of many works, including a multi-volume commentary set on the whole Bible. He was a monergist. Here is part of what he said on 1 John 5:1: Faith in Christ is the evidence of regeneration, and where that is, there will be love to the author of regeneration, and to them that are regenerated.

    John Calvin lived long before Gill. He had a monergist-synergist view of the new birth, as the following quote from his commentary on 1 John 5:1 proves. He wrote this: Whosoever believeth. He confirms by another reason, that faith and brotherly love are united; for since God regenerates us by faith he must necessarily be loved by us as a Father; and this love embraces all his children. Then faith cannot be separated from love.

    The first truth is, that all, born of God, believe that, Jesus is the Christ; where, again, you see that Christ alone is set forth as the object of faith, as in him it finds righteousness, life, and every blessing that can be desired, and God in all that he is. ¹ Hence the only true way of believing is when we direct our minds to him. Besides, to believe that he is the Christ, is to hope from him all those things which have been promised as to the Messiah.

     Nor is the title, Christ, given him here without reason, for it designates the office to which he was appointed by the Father. As, under the Law, the full restoration of all things, righteousness and happiness, were promised through the Messiah; so at this day the whole of this is more clearly set forth in the gospel. Then Jesus cannot be received as Christ, except salvation be sought from him, since for this end he was sent by the Father, and is daily offered to us.

    Hence the Apostle declares that all they who really believe have been born of God; for faith is far above the reach of the human mind, so that we must be drawn to Christ by our heavenly Father; for not any of us can ascend to him by his own strength. And this is what the Apostle teaches us in his Gospel, when he says, that those who believe in the name of the only-begotten, were not born of blood nor of the flesh. (John 1:13.) And Paul says, that we are endued, not with the spirit of this world, but with the Spirit that is from God, that we may know the things given us by him. (1 Corinthians 2:12.) For eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor the mind conceived, the reward laid up for those who love God; but the Spirit alone penetrates into this mystery. And further, as Christ is given to us for sanctification, and brings with it the Spirit of regeneration, in short, as he unites us to his own body, it is also another reason why no one can have faith, except he is born of God.

Some Examples Of Current-Day Monergists

    Those men lived long ago. So, some readers might wonder if anyone believes this now, in the year 2011. Well, the answer is "Yes!" John Piper and R. C. Sproul teach that the new birth precedes faith in Jesus Christ, and results in faith in Him. And so do many other Christians.

    As proof of this, here is a link to the previously-mentioned website that is devoted to the promotion of monergism: http://www.monergism.com/. On the website, you will find past and current authors and preachers who are monergists.

Pastor John MacArthur's View Of The New Birth Is Good

    Pastor John MacArthur is a 5-point Calvinist. But he does not believe that the new birth comes before faith.  I am in agreement with his view on the new birth, as found in his 1-volume commentary on the Bible. In his comments on John 3:3 he wrote, "New birth is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the believer (2Cor. 5:17; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5;1,4,18). John 1:12, 13 indicates that 'born again' also carries the idea 'to become children of God' through trust in the name of the incarnate Word." 

    In his comments on John 3:11- 21 he wrote, " The key word in these verses is 'believe,' used seven times. The new birth must be appropriated by an act of faith."

Some Thoughts On 1 John 5:1

     Now, let me give some thought on that key verse of monergists: 1 John 5:1. Here it is quoted again: Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (King James Version).

     Does this verse really mean what the monergists claim it means? Does it really prove what they say, that the grace of regeneration works independently of any human cooperation and conveys that power into the fallen soul whereby the person who is to be saved is effectually enabled to respond to the gospel call?     My answer is a definite "No!" And here is why: Monergists tell us we must have spiritual life before we can believe in Jesus Christ. They tell us this spiritual life comes to us through the new birth or regeneration, which they say works independently of any human cooperation and conveys that power into the fallen soul whereby the person who is to be saved is effectually enabled to respond to the gospel call.

    However, and this  is a very important "however,"  John 20:30 and 31 says this: ³⁰And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: ³¹But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (King James Version) John 20:30 and 31 clearly tells us that spiritual life comes to us as the result of believing in Jesus Christ, in contrast to what the monergists tell us.

    Though John Calvin held to a puzzling monergistic-synergistic view of the new birth, he is a safer guide on this subject than any strict monergists. Here is part of  what Calvin said on John 1:12 and 13:  It may be thought that the Evangelist reverses the natural order by making regeneration to precede faith, whereas, on the contrary, it is an effect of faith, and therefore ought to be placed later. I reply, that both statements perfectly agree; because by faith we receive the incorruptible seed, (1 Peter 1:23,) by which we are born again to a new and divine life.

Some Conclusions About 1 John 5:1

     Therefore, as we think about 1 John 5:1 we can come to these conclusions:

• First, the verse could not support strict monergism because the verse would then contradict other Biblical statements such as John 1:12 and 13, and John 20:30 and 31. The Bible is God's infallible Word, and therefore it does not contradict itself.
• Second, John's first letter (epistle) was written partly to counteract false teachers/teachings. Therefore, it is only logical that John would say in 1 John 5:1 that Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. If anyone denies that doctrine, it shows that they have not been born of God. Don't we consider the so-called Jehovah's Witnesses to be non-Christians because of their false doctrines about Jesus Christ? Wouldn't we tell them their false doctrines prove they have not been born again? Don't we say that verses 7 - 11 of John's second letter apply to them? The verses say this: ⁷For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ⁸Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. ⁹Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: ¹¹For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (King James Version)
• Third, even if 1 John 5:1 means that believing that Jesus is the Christ is a result of the new birth, it does not have to mean what the monergists say it means. They say it means we have no part in our new birth. They say we are strictly passive in it. But they are wrong to draw this conclusion from the verse, and here is why: it is only logical that those who have been born again by believing that Jesus is the Christ would continue to do so after they have been born again.
• Fourth, if someone claims to have believed the truth about Jesus Christ, and claims to have been born again, but then departs from the truth, we could justifiably apply 1 John 2:18 - 22 to those persons. Those verses say this: ¹⁸Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. ¹⁹They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. ²⁰But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. ²¹I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. ²²Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (King James Version)