The question of whether humans contribute anything to their own salvation is a complex theological issue that has been debated for centuries. At the heart of the matter is the tension between God’s sovereignty in salvation and human free will and responsibility.
On one end of the spectrum is the view that salvation is entirely a work of God, with no contribution from humans. This view emphasizes God’s sovereignty and grace. The clearest biblical support for this position is Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This verse indicates that salvation is a gift from God, not based on any works or merits from humans.
On the other end of the spectrum is the view that humans cooperate with God’s grace in salvation. This view emphasizes human free will and responsibility in responding to the gospel. Biblical support for this position includes verses that urge people to repent and believe (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 20:21), which implies that humans have a role to play in salvation. Verses about the importance of persevering in the faith also support this view (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13).
In the middle are views that see both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility at work in salvation. One view is that God enables humans to exercise faith and repentance through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Humans do not initiate faith, but they can exercise faith once God grants the ability to do so (John 6:65; Acts 11:18; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 2:25). Another view sees human faith and repentance as a synergistic work – humans contribute faith and repentance, but God provides prevenient grace to make that contribution possible.
Looking at a few key biblical passages can shed light on this debate:
John 6:44-45
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.”
This passage emphasizes God’s role in salvation. No one can come to Christ unless God draws him. Salvation originates with God, not humans.
Acts 16:14
“One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.”
Again, God is the one opening Lydia’s heart so she can respond positively to the gospel. This indicates that God initiates salvation.
Romans 10:9-10
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
This passage highlights the importance of human faith and confession in salvation. Although God initiates salvation, the human response is also presented as essential.
Philippians 2:12-13
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
This passage encourages human effort and responsibility in salvation (“work out your own salvation”) while also underscoring that God is the one working in humans to produce that willing and working.
In summary, the Bible presents both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation. God initiates salvation, enables the human response, and completes the process. But the human response of faith and repentance is also presented as necessary. There is mystery here, but Christians can affirm the truth of both realities, even if the exact nature of how they fit together eludes human understanding.
God’s Role in Salvation
The Bible makes it clear that God plays the decisive role in salvation. Here are some of the key things Scripture says about God’s role:
- God chose and predestined people to salvation – Ephesians 1:4-5, 11; Romans 8:29-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
- God calls people to salvation – Romans 8:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Timothy 1:9
- God draws people to Christ – John 6:44, 65
- God grants repentance – 2 Timothy 2:25; Acts 11:18
- God opens hearts to respond – Acts 16:14
- God gives people spiritual life – Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13
- God gives the gifts of faith and grace – Philippians 1:29; Ephesians 2:8
- God seals believers with the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30
In all these ways, Scripture testifies that God is the author and finisher of salvation (Hebrews 12:2). Salvation originates with God, is accomplished by God, and is applied to people’s lives by God’s grace.
Humanity’s Role in Salvation
Although Scripture clearly presents God’s sovereignty in salvation, it also teaches that humans have a responsibility to respond to the gospel. People are not passive or robotic in salvation, but contribute their own faith and repentance.
Here are some of the key things the Bible says about humanity’s role in salvation:
- People must repent of their sins – Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19
- People must have faith in Christ – John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 16:31
- People must confess Christ – Romans 10:9; 1 John 4:15
- People must obey the gospel – Romans 1:5; 10:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17
- People must persevere in faith to be saved – Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13
The consistent biblical testimony is that people have a role to play in salvation. The elect are those who hear the gospel and respond in repentance and faith. God’s unconditional election undergirds the human response, but the response is still necessary.
Putting the Pieces Together
When considering the human and divine roles in salvation, it’s important to avoid the extremes of either minimizing God’s role or human responsibility. Both divine sovereignty and human free will are taught in Scripture.
One helpful analogy is to think of salvation like a boat with two oars. One oar represents God’s sovereignty and one represents human responsibility. Unless both oars are rowing, the boat will just go in circles. Salvation involves God enabling the human response, not replacing it.
The timing of the divine and human roles has been understood in different ways:
- Augustinian: God’s work precedes human response. The Spirit first regenerates the heart to enable the response.
- Calvinist: God’s election is logically prior to human response, but the response immediately follows when effectually called.
- Arminian: God’s grace precedes and enables the response, but the response is chronologically first.
- Synergist: God’s grace and the human response work inseparably together.
Christians also disagree on whether human free will was affected by the Fall. But all affirm that only by God’s grace can fallen humans come to God.
In the end, it remains a mystery how an unconditional divine election fits together with a meaningful human response. But the biblical testimony supports both. As Charles Spurgeon said, “Salvation is all of grace from first to last, and yet is the sinner’s own act, and his own deed.”
Objections to a Human Contribution
Some believe the biblical view that people contribute faith and repentance compromises God’s sovereignty. They argue that if God is truly sovereign, He would not allow humans to thwart His will in salvation. And they claim that fallen humans are totally unable to respond to God without His enabling grace.
However, the Bible does teach that fallen humans can do some good things (Luke 6:33; Romans 2:14-15). While humans cannot initiate salvation or please God apart from Christ, they can exercise saving faith once granted the grace to do so. God is sovereign not by eliminating meaningful free will, but by working through it.
Others object that human contribution creates grounds for boasting. But Scripture clearly states that no one can boast in salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:27; 1 Corinthians 1:31). Humans contribute faith, but even that faith is a gift from God.
Some also object that human contribution implies salvation is merited by works. But the exercises of faith and repentance are not works that earn salvation. They are the means God has graciously ordained for receiving the free gift of salvation. Just because faith is a condition for salvation does not mean it merits salvation.
Practical Implications
The biblical view of divine and human roles in salvation leads to several important practical implications:
- Salvation is secure because it rests on God’s faithfulness, not human effort.
- Gratitude and thanksgiving, not boasting, are the appropriate responses since salvation is wholly by grace.
- Evangelism and missions are vital, since people must hear the gospel and respond in faith.
- Believers can have assurance of salvation based on the promises of God to save all who repent and believe.
- Humility and vigilance are needed, since God-enabled perseverance in faith is necessary for final salvation.
In summary, recognizing that God sovereignly works through human faith, repentance and perseverance provides a solid foundation for assurance, gratitude, evangelism and effort in the Christian life.
Conclusion
The debate about divine and human roles in salvation is complex. But the biblical testimony affirms that salvation originates with God, depends completely on God, and is applied to humans through His gift of grace. At the same time, humans are responsible before God to repent and believe the gospel. God does not believe for people or force them to be saved. His Spirit enables and leads, but the response of faith must be our own.
Charles Hodge summarizes it well: “The efficacious grace of God…is not the necessity of force, nor the necessity of compulsion of external influence, but the necessity of certainty; that is, the infallible connection between appropriate means and ends.” In other words, God infallibly brings about the human response through graciously enabling means, not eliminating free agency.
The full relationship between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation remains mysterious and paradoxical. But the twin truths of unconditional election and free human response stand side-by-side throughout Scripture. And they offer deep theological riches to those seeking to understand the mystery of divine grace.