It seems as if your view is not partial to Synergism, as you tend to embellish or slant what it means for man to operate by the power of grace.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16
To me Synergism is man operating by the grace (power) of God to accomplish what he could without it.
Man is given the grace first, then he is now empowered by that grace to operate in faith.
JLB
I listed a proper theological definition from theopedia and can provide more from credible sources.
And to suggest that my view is not partial to synergism is an understatement. That's like saying that there's only a minor difference between Catholicism and Protestantism. Theological discernment is knowing what is almost right and what is right.
Let's examine the rank heretics and apostates that adhere to Synergism: All Pelagian and Semi Pelagian bodies, Roman Catholics, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, and Arminians. Basically, everyone that follows Semi-Pelgainism or Arminianism in soteriology. They all have a common denominator which separates them from strict Protestants (Lutheran) and Reformed (Presbyterians). And that common denominator is works righteousness.
Now lemme back up a bit. Who is he? Man or God?
"To me Synergism is man operating by the grace (power) of God to accomplish what he could without it. "
Surely you don't believe that man can accomplish salvation without God? And surely you don't believe that God cannot accomplish salvation without man's cooperation? If you reject to the latter then that should lead to dialogue about the theological meaning of the term regeneration and what Jesus meant when He said one cannot see or enter heaven without God's monergistic work of regeneration let alone approach the object of faith Christ Jesus.
Man is incapable of first choosing God (synergism) without being regenerated. Why? Because they are enslaved to Sin.
- John 8:34 - Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin."
- 2 Peter 2:19 - They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
- Titus 3:3 - For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
- Galatians 4:8-9 - Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
- Romans 6:6,16,17,19,20 - We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey...? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed... For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
- Romans 7:14 - For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.
- 2 Timothy 2:25-26 - God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
The natural unregenerate man doesn't desire God nor seek Him.
- Psalm 14:3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
- Romans 3:9-11 “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands no one seeks for God.
- John 3:20 - "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed."
- Romans 8:7-8 - For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God
- Colossians 1:21 - And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds.
The natural man's desires are perverted:
- Romans 1:24-27 - Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
- Ephesians 2:3 - we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
- Proverbs 21:10 - The soul of the wicked desires evil
- John 3:19 - And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
- John 8:44 - "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires."
- Titus 1:15-16 - to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
- Romans 7:18 - For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.
- Isaiah 1:5-6 - The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.
The natural man cannot turn away from sin and to God first or by himself for that act in itself would be righteous and there would be no need of Christ Jesus:
- Jeremiah 13:23 - Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.
- 1 Samuel 24:13 - "As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.'"
- Matthew 7:18 - "A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit." (c.f. Luke 6:43)
- Matthew 12:34-35 - "How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil."
- Romans 8:7 - For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
- Genesis 6:5 & 8:21 - The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually... from youth.
- Titus 1:15-16 - to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
God must initiate salvation. He (God) who began a good work shall bring it to completion. This should bring an appropriate response to praise, glorify, and enjoy God.
Why is it so difficult for people just to proclaim Soli Deo Gloria? Christianity is supposed to be an exclusive religion that is separated from others in that works are required in all other religions but Christianity for salvation.
