carlgobelman
Puritan Board Freshman
I don't think the Arminian/Semi-Pelagian/Synergistic view necessitates a false gospel.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Anything other than this is a false gospel.
Monergism: "In theol., The doctrine that the Holy Spirit is the only efficient agent in regeneration - that the human will possesses no inclination to Christ or holiness until regenerated, and therefore cannot cooperate in regeneration." In this view, the new birth (or regeneration) precedes faith"
Synergism: "In theol., the doctrine that there are two efficient agents in [that are necessary as precursors for] regeneration, namely the human will and the divine Spirit, which, in the strict sense of the term, cooperate." In this view, faith precedes new birth (or regeneration)." From Monergism.com
If man cooperates and has a part in salvation then it is not a gift of God but is earned by man and is a work. It is as the Scriptures say "not of yourselves."
So now we're back to the "how can a false gospel save" dilemma. If the gospel being preached is false, then people cannot be saved through it. You can't have it both ways. If people are being saved in Arminian SBC churches, then they are not preaching a false gospel; it may not be a complete gospel, but it cannot be false.
The gospel that Paul was anxious to defend in Galatians can be summed up here:
Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Gal. 2:16)
I think if you were to poll Arminians and Calvinists, there would be general agreement on the classic interpretation of this verse. I defy you to show me an Arminian that teaches that we can be saved by "works of the law." I agree that the Synergistic view is logically and Scripturally inconsistent, but it is not equal to salvation by works of the law; which is rightly to be condemned.