--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The answer to the question raised in the…" description: "\"“The answer to the question raised in the title of this essay - Is salvation a matter of divine determination or human responsibility? - is not divine ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/layton-talbert-61608_election_the-answer-to-the-question-raised-in-the_12857.jpg" --- # The answer to the question raised in the title of this… ![“The answer to the question raised in the title of this essay - Is salvation a matter of divine determination or human responsibility? - is not divine determination or human responsibility. The only thoroughly biblical answer is yes. Scripturally, it is not an 'either-or' but a 'both-and'…” quote by Layton Talbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/layton-talbert-61608_election_the-answer-to-the-question-raised-in-the_12857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/layton-talbert-61608_election_the-answer-to-the-question-raised-in-the_12857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/layton-talbert-61608_election_the-answer-to-the-question-raised-in-the_12857.jpg) > ““The answer to the question raised in the title of this essay - Is salvation a matter of divine determination or human responsibility? - is not divine determination or human responsibility. The only thoroughly biblical answer is yes. Scripturally, it is not an 'either-or' but a 'both-and' proposition. Why is this so hard? For one thing, it is logically unsatisfactory and apparently contradictory. Our insatiable appetite for order and answers makes it difficult to admit...that God's ways are not our ways, and leave it at that. (Isaiah 55:9). We don't mind applying this principle in a general, hypothetical way to God's wisdom or methods. But we balk when interferes with our theological system, our obsession with pigeonholing every Bible fact into a neat, orderly arrangement that leaves no questions unanswered. God transcends our logic. He is supra-logical. His thinking, His design, His way, His theology is infinitely above our intellect, beyond the grasp of our comprehension, out of the reach of our clever rationalizations. God is theo-logical. Man is anthropo-logical.”” [Layton Talbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layton-talbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Salvation involves both divine sovereignty and human agency; the biblical answer is a 'both-and' rather than an exclusive either-or, challenging our desire for tidy logical categories. **In simple terms:** Divine-human partnership in salvation Key Takeaway God's ways surpass human logic Themes theology soteriology philosophy of religion human agency divine sovereignty Mood reverent thoughtful humble Type theological exposition philosophical reflection When to use this quote - sermon preparation - academic theology class - personal faith reflection - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts biblical interpretation logic vs mystery anthropology of belief Practical Applications - teaching nuanced soteriology - writing apologetic essays Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging both divine and human roles affect personal responsibility? - What implications does this view have for doctrinal certainty? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) ## Related quotes > [Let's say you don't want to stress the urgency of the gospel. Imagine that you are a hyper-Calvinist, and you just figure that people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/let-s-say-you-don-t-want-to-stress-the-urgency-of-the-gospel-imagine/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I do not worship matter, I worship the God of matter, who became matter for my sake and deigned to inhabit matter, who worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/i-do-not-worship-matter-i-worship-the-god-of-matter-who-became-matter/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [The whole earth is a living icon of the face of God. ... I do not worship matter. I worship the Creator of matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/the-whole-earth-is-a-living-icon-of-the-face-of-god-i-do-not-worship/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [“Salvation is not mostly a matter of relocation; it is a matter of transformation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rankin-wilbourne/salvation-is-not-mostly-a-matter-of-relocation-it-is-a-matter-of/) [Rankin Wilbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rankin-wilbourne/) > [I know we can each do something, however small that act may seem to be. We can pay an honest tithe and give our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/i-know-we-can-each-do-something-however-small-that-act-may-seem-to-be/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [They either attach themselves to God's will, which results in their continuous progress, improvement and advancement, or they oppose God's will, are justly subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/they-either-attach-themselves-to-god-s-will-which-results-in-their/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [“Most people live life on the path we set for them. Too afraid to explore any other. But once in a while people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-adjustment-bureau/most-people-live-life-on-the-path-we-set-for-them-too-afraid-to/) The Adjustment Bureau > [I believe in free will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessa-crispin/i-believe-in-free-will/) [Jessa Crispin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessa-crispin/) > [“There is a big park in the middle of the locality. Surrounded by at least 50 houses. That those residents got to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-paula/there-is-a-big-park-in-the-middle-of-the-locality-surrounded-by-at/) [Andy Paula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-paula/) > [“Mastema prefers absolutes. He wants fences on the world and everything in its place, neat and tidy as a churchyard garden. God is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirby-crow/mastema-prefers-absolutes-he-wants-fences-on-the-world-and-everything/) Kirby Crow > [The goal of the Creator is for each entity to make a conscious choice to again seek Oneness, out of our own free will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilcock/the-goal-of-the-creator-is-for-each-entity-to-make-a-conscious-choice/) [David Wilcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilcock/) > [Only when he voluntarily chooses that which he inexorably must do, has man any free will at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-when-he-voluntarily-chooses-that-which-he-inexorably-must-do-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Failing to meet your true destiny is a tragic act of free will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/failing-to-meet-your-true-destiny-is-a-tragic-act-of-free-will/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Layton Talbert > [“Think about how much of your Bible, Old and New Testaments, is in the form not of doctrinal statements but of stories. Statements declare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layton-talbert/think-about-how-much-of-your-bible-old-and-new-testaments-is-in-the/) [Layton Talbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layton-talbert/) > [“God rules and governs all events, including the free acts of men and their external circumstances, and directs all things to their appointed ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layton-talbert/god-rules-and-governs-all-events-including-the-free-acts-of-men-and/) [Layton Talbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layton-talbert/) > [“God's fundamental goal for believers is not to protect us from harm or suffering, to make us comfortable, or to benefit from our service.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layton-talbert/god-s-fundamental-goal-for-believers-is-not-to-protect-us-from-harm/) [Layton Talbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layton-talbert/) > [“You do not have opportunities for influence by accident. God-given opportunities bring God-intended responsibilities. Do all the good you can wherever God puts you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layton-talbert/you-do-not-have-opportunities-for-influence-by-accident-god-given/) [Layton Talbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layton-talbert/) [Explore all 5 Layton Talbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layton-talbert/) ## More Election quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. 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This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [There's more than 1700 emails out of the thirty three thousand Hillary Clinton emails that we've published, just about Libya. It's not that Libya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/there-s-more-than-1700-emails-out-of-the-thirty-three-thousand/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [It's not clear in the U.S. at the moment, either. We're going through another election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-kerrey/it-s-not-clear-in-the-u-s-at-the-moment-either-we-re-going-through/) [Bob Kerrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-kerrey/) > [I always lose the election in the polls, and I always win it on election day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/i-always-lose-the-election-in-the-polls-and-i-always-win-it-on/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [Elections are not a beauty contest. It is all about tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-franz/elections-are-not-a-beauty-contest-it-is-all-about-tolerance/) Vladimir Franz > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. 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Election and power are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/one-of-the-reasons-people-hate-politics-is-that-truth-is-rarely-a/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [If Republicans vote in big numbers, we win a statewide election. It's just that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kobach/if-republicans-vote-in-big-numbers-we-win-a-statewide-election-it-s/) [Kris Kobach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kobach/) [Browse all 3,344 Election quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The answer to the question raised in the title of this essay - Is salvation a matter of divine determination or human responsibility? - is not divine determination or human responsibility. The only thoroughly biblical answer is yes. Scripturally, it is not an 'either-or' but a 'both-and' proposition. Why is this so hard? For one thing, it is logically unsatisfactory and apparently contradictory. Our insatiable appetite for order and answers makes it difficult to admit...that God's ways are not our ways, and leave it at that. (Isaiah 55:9). We don't mind applying this principle in a general, hypothetical way to God's wisdom or methods. But we balk when interferes with our theological system, our obsession with pigeonholing every Bible fact into a neat, orderly arrangement that leaves no questions unanswered. God transcends our logic. He is supra-logical. His thinking, His design, His way, His theology is infinitely above our intellect, beyond the grasp of our comprehension, out of the reach of our clever rationalizations. God is theo-logical. 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