Restoring Apostolic Faith

The conversation about salvation often gets distorted when we treat it like a debate between two teams: “God does everything” versus “We must do something.” Those who lean toward theological determinism insist that if God is truly sovereign, then our choices can’t matter. On the other side, some react so strongly against that idea that they act as if salvation is mostly human-driven, as if we save ourselves by personal sincerity or effort.

Both approaches miss the point.

Scripture presents salvation as a relationship, not a mechanical system. God unquestionably initiatesthe work of salvation—but He does not believe, repent, or obey on our behalf. He draws, calls, reveals, awakens, convicts, opens doors, and gives life. But He does not force love. He never has. He never will.

The ancient Church understood this clearly. Salvation is neither self-generated nor irresistibly imposed. It is covenantal participation—God moves first, and we respond.

This is the story of Scripture.

1. God Always Moves First

Scripture repeatedly affirms that salvation begins with God’s initiative. Not ours.

• God wills (John 1:12–13; Eph. 1:5, 11)

Salvation does not arise from human self-invention. No one wakes up one morning and invents the idea of following Christ. It is God who wills to redeem, to restore, and to adopt. But God’s will is for all to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4), not only a select predetermined few.

• God draws (John 6:44)

This “drawing” is not coercion. Jesus later clarifies: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” (John 12:32). The drawing is universal, but not all follow. Drawing is invitation—not dragging.

• God grants (John 6:65)

God grants access, not automation. He opens the ability to come—He does not force it. Grace makes repentance possible; it does not replace the need for repentance.

• God calls (1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Pet. 2:9)

Calling requires answering. Many are called. Few respond (Matt. 22:14).

• God appoints (Acts 13:48)

Acts 13:48 does not mean some were eternally selected before creation. The Greek phrase tassorefers to being set in order—those who were disposed toward eternal life believed. Hearts prepared → response given. There is no hint of compulsion.

• God predestines (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:5, 11)

The text is crystal clear: God predestines those who are in Christ to be conformed to His image. Predestination describes the destiny of the redeemed, not the pre-selection of who is allowed to repent.

As Irenaeus wrote around A.D. 180:

“God draws all men, but those who follow Him do so because they are willing. Those who turn away do so because they are unwilling.”

The early church never believed that God forces faith. They believed God initiates salvation, awakens the heart, reveals truth—but leaves room for love, which means room for refusal.

2. God Does Not Believe for Us

God’s initiative does not eliminate human response. Scripture repeatedly declares that we must respond:

• We must repent (Acts 17:30)

• We must believe (John 3:16; Heb. 11:6)

• We must obey (Heb. 5:9)

• We must endure (Matt. 24:13)

If salvation required no response, these commands would be nonsense.

Paul does not say “God repents for you,” or “God obeys for you,” or “God endures for you.” He says:

“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you.”

—Philippians 2:12–13

The grammar matters:

• God works (present active)

• You work out (present active)

Not either/or.

Both/and.

This is synergy.

Not competition.

Not 50/50.

100% God’s grace empowering 100% human participation.

Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 110) wrote to the Ephesians:

“Do nothing without Christ, but also do not let Christ do anything without you. For we are His body, made to work with Him.”

This was Christianity before Rome became an empire church, before Augustine’s philosophical determinism, before Calvin systematized predestination into a metaphysical blueprint.

The early Christian mind did not imagine salvation as a cosmic script performed by puppets. It was a covenant walk.

3. The Goal of Salvation Is Transformation, Not Suspended Judgment

Romans 8:29 tells us the divine purpose:

“He predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son.”

Not merely forgiven.

Reshaped. Re-formed. Re-made.

The early church saw salvation as healing, not courtroom paperwork.

Origen (A.D. 230) taught that grace is like medicine—freely offered, perfectly effective—but only to the degree that the patient takes and lives by it.

You can refuse the cure.

You can remain unhealed.

Grace is not opposed to effort.

Grace is opposed to earning.

God rescues—

We walk out of Egypt.

God parts the sea—

We step through.

God speaks—

We listen or ignore.

This is the story of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.

4. Why Salvation Requires Response

Love must be chosen.

If God forces belief, forgiveness, or obedience, then love ceases to be love.

Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) wrote:

“We have freedom to choose life or death, and it is fitting that we choose life and walk in obedience.”

Love coerced is not love.

Faith imposed is not faith.

Obedience robotic is not obedience—it is programming.

If your child only hugs you because they’re programmed to, that’s not love. It’s compliance at the expense of humanity.

God does not want heaven full of robots.

He wants a kingdom full of sons and daughters who chose Him back.

5. The Call to Persevere

Salvation is not a moment. It is a life.

The New Testament is saturated with endurance language:

• “Let us run the race set before us.” (Heb. 12:1)

• “Fight the good fight.” (2 Tim. 4:7)

• “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10)

If salvation were fixed and irreversible at the moment of profession, none of this language would make sense.

The apostles spoke like shepherds calling followers onward—not as lawyers reciting finalized verdicts.

6. Why This Matters Now

A deterministic gospel produces passive believers:

• No urgency to repent.

• No reason to obey.

• No responsibility to endure.

• No call to grow in maturity.

If everything is predetermined, why pursue holiness?

Why pray?

Why preach?

Why resist sin?

On the other hand, a self-generated gospel produces anxious believers:

• Always trying to prove themselves.

• Never resting in mercy.

• Never secure in God’s love.

The biblical gospel avoids both errors.

God initiates.

We respond.

God sustains.

We remain faithful.

This is covenant—personal, mutual, real.

7. Conclusion — God Leads. We Follow.

Salvation is not:

• God overpowering the will.

• Nor humans achieving righteousness.

Salvation is:

• God’s grace awakening the heart,

• And the heart turning toward God in love and loyalty.

God moves first.

Then we move.

Then God moves again.

Then we follow again.

A relationship.

This is salvation:

Not a decree.

Not a transaction.

But a life—lived in Christ, with Christ, for Christ.

God’s initiative.

Our response.

Communion—forever.