AG STUDY GUIDE FINAL - The Forerunner

Will. He considered it in many respects to be his most important work (besides
the Bible and the Catechisms) because it clearly defended, against the challenge
of the Roman church and Erasmus, one of the key foundations of the
Reformation: that man is so in the thrall of sin that salvation is impossible apart
from the monergistic work of God’s grace.
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2. Luther’s book drew a line in the sand between the Roman Catholic view of
justification and the Reformed view. And the debate that followed became
known as the ___________________________________ controversy.
Dr. Thomas Nettles: In this book Erasmus opted for a view of salvation that says
that God offers us grace but we still have some elements of freedom in us by
which we can choose this grace or reject it. And it is our choice that God then
rewards with salvation.
Dr Tom Ascol: Erasmus’ main thesis in his treatment of the will, his Diatribe on
the Will, is that man has the ability to initiate the relationship with God through
faith in Jesus Christ. He has the ability within himself to believe and through
that faith then access all that goes with faith in justification and reconciliation
with God.
3. Etymology of synergism: syn- _______________ ergos- ____________
“Synergism” comes from a compound word in Greek meaning “together,
working together” and basically teaches that man and God cooperate in the
initiation of faith; that man does his part and God does his part. And so it is a
cooperative work.
4. What does monergism mean? ___________________________________________
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5. Did the reformers believe the Bible taught that being born-again and being
justified were the same thing? ________________
6. Eric: The prefix syn means, “with,“ “together with,” or “at the same time.” It
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