The third of our doctrinal standards is the Canons of Dort, also called the Five Articles
against the Remonstrants. These are statements of doctrine adopted by the great Reformed Synod of Dort in 1618-1619.
This Synod had an international dimension, since it was not only composed of the delegates of the Reformed churches
of the Netherlands but also attended by twenty-seven representatives of foreign churches.
The Synod of Dort was held in view of the serious disturbance in the Reformed churches
caused by the rise and spread of Arminianism. Arminius, a theological professor at the University of Leyden, and
his followers departed from the Reformed faith in their teaching concerning five important points. They taught
conditional election on the ground of foreseen faith, universal atonement, partial depravity, resistible grace,
and the possibility of a lapse from grace. These views were rejected by the Synod, and the opposite views were
embodied in what are now called the Canons of Dort or the Five Articles against the Remonstrants. In these Canons
the Synod set forth the Reformed doctrine on these points, namely, unconditional election, particular atonement,
total depravity, invincible grace, and the perseverance of the saints.
Each of the Canons consists of a positive and a negative part, the former being an exposition of the Reformed doctrine
on the subject, and the latter a repudiation of the corresponding Arminian error. Although in form there are only
four chapters, occasioned by the combination of the third and fourth sections into one, we properly speak of five
Canons, and the third chapter is always designated as Chapter III/IV. All office-bearers of our churches are required
to subscribe to these Canons as well as to the Belgic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism. |
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First Head of Doctrine
Divine Election and Reprobation
|
|
Article 1
|
All Mankind
Condemnable Before God |
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Article 2
|
The Sending
of The Son of God |
|
Article 3
|
The Preaching
of the Gospel |
|
Article 4
|
A Twofold
Outcome |
|
Article 5
|
The Cause
of Unbelief, The Source of Faith |
|
Article 6
|
God's
Eternal Decree |
|
Article 7
|
Election
Defined |
|
Article 8
|
One Decree
of Election |
|
Article 9
|
Election
Not Based on Foreseen Faith |
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Article 10
|
Election
Based on God's Good Pleasure |
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Article 11
|
Election
Unchangeable |
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Article 12
|
The
Assurance of Election |
|
Article 13
|
The
Value of this Assurance |
|
Article 14
|
How
Election is to be Taught |
|
Article 15
|
Reprobation
Described |
|
Article 16
|
Responses
to the Doctrine of Reprobation |
|
Article 17
|
Children
of Believers Who Die in Infancy |
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Article 18
|
Not
Protest But Adoration |
|
|
Rejection
of Errors |
|
|
|
|
Second Head of Doctrine
Christ's Death and Man's Redemption through It
|
|
Article 1
|
The Punishment
Which God's Justice Requires |
|
Article 2
|
The Satisfaction
Made By Christ |
|
Article 3
|
The Infinite
Value of Christ's Death |
|
Article 4
|
Why His
Death Has Infinite Value |
|
Article 5
|
The Universal
Proclamation of the Gospel |
|
Article 6
|
Why Some
Do Not Believe |
|
Article 7
|
Why Others
Do Believe |
|
Article 8
|
The Efficacy
of the Death of Christ |
|
Article 9
|
The Fulfilment
of God's Counsel |
|
|
Rejection
of Errors |
|
|
|
Third and Fourth Heads of Doctrine
The Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner in Which It Occurs
|
|
Article 1
|
The Effect
of the Fall |
|
Article 2
|
The Spread
of Corruption |
|
Article 3
|
Man's
Total Inability |
|
Article 4
|
The Inadequacy
of the Light of Nature |
|
Article 5
|
The Inadequacy
of the Law |
|
Article 6
|
The Need
for the Gospel |
|
Article 7
|
Why the
Gospel Is Sent To Some and Not To Others |
|
Article 8
|
The Earnest
Call by the Gospel |
|
Article 9
|
Why Some
Who Are Called Do Not Come |
|
Article 10
|
Why
Others Who Are Called Do Come |
|
Article 11
|
How
God Brings About Conversion |
|
Article 12
|
Regeneration
Is the Work of God Alone |
|
Article 13
|
Regeneration
Is Incomprehensible |
|
Article 14
|
How
Faith Is a Gift of God |
|
Article 15
|
The
Proper Attitude With Respect To God's Undeserved Grace |
|
Article 16
|
Man's
Will Not Taken Away But Made Alive |
|
Article 17
|
The
Use of Means |
|
|
Rejection
of Errors |
|
|
|
|
|
Fifth Head of Doctrine
The Perseverance of the Saints
|
|
Article 1
|
The Regenerate
Not Free From Indwelling Sin |
|
Article 2
|
Daily
Sins of Weakness |
|
Article 3
|
God Preserves
His Own |
|
Article 4
|
Saints
May Fall Into Serious Sins |
|
Article 5
|
The Effects
of Such Serious Sins |
|
Article 6
|
God Will
Not Permit His Elect to Be Lost |
|
Article 7
|
God Will
Again Renew His Elect to Repentance |
|
Article 8
|
The Grace
of the Triune God Preserves |
|
Article 9
|
The Assurance
of This Preservation |
|
Article 10
|
The
Source of This Assurance |
|
Article 11
|
This
Assurance Not Always Felt |
|
Article 12
|
This
Assurance Is an Incentive to Godliness |
|
Article 13
|
This
Assurance Does Not Lead To Carelessness |
|
Article 14
|
The
Use of Means in Perseverance |
|
Article 15
|
This
Doctrine Is Hated By Satan But Loved By the Church |
|
|
Rejection
of Errors |
|
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
to Canons of Dort |
