Outline.
Lesson 21. (The Canons of Dort and our Historical Opposition to Arminian Doctrine.)

Canons of the Synod of Dordt (1619)

Intro.
i. The nature of heresy and the necessity of precise language.
ii. The danger of heresy. What is a damning error? Any error touching the fundamentals of the faith, so as to deny the truth. 
iii. Faith vs unbelief. Faith is to believe the truth in the word of God, especially concerning man’s salvation. Faith is a gift of God and therefore believes the promises of God. 
Unbelief falls short of salvation because it springs from man, it conjures up another god, a false image or idol in the form of man’s darkened understanding to replace God. Rom 1… “they worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator”, “professing themselves to be wise they became fools” Unbelief in the form of heresy wrestles with the scriptures and justifies itself by it rather than God.
Luke 16:15

i. Historical and theological background of Dort. 
They convened for both religious and political reasons. Holland was Protestant, Spain was Catholic. Arminianism was seen by the Reformed as a threat to Protestantism and an aide to Catholicism. The Arminians protested the Reformation and made complaints about the statements in the Reformed confessions concerning Predestination, and militated against the teachings of Calvin and Beza.  They formulated what are now known as the five points of the remonstrance. 
1. Conditional election. Hid chooses man based on man’s free will choice to believe in Christ.
2. Universal atonement. Christ died for all men and made it possible for them to save themselves by their free will act. 
3. Partial Depravity. Man is by nature a sinner, but grace makes him able to perform good without regeneration or guarantee of salvation. 
4. Prevenient Grace. God gives grace to all men and wants them to be saved. 
5. Conditional preservation of the saints. Those who are saved may fall away from the faith and perish everlastingly. 

Anyone with a fundamental (beginner’s) understanding of the faith can see that this is NOT the faith. John Owen, “a doctrine so opposite to that truth our church hath quietly enjoyed ever since the first Reformation”

They were particularly offended by the doctrine of reprobation. 

Doctrinal app. The doctrine of reprobation is from a certain point of view, the key to the whole gospel. Election they make to be established on foreseen faith. Faith they make to be the cooperation of man’s free will. Christ’s atonement they make common to all. Reprobation is hated by the natural man because it forces them to acknowledge salvation as the free grace of God which they cannot abide. 

Five points of Reformation theology from the Canons of Dort to refute them. (arranged in this order after the Synod to match the acrostic TULIP) 
1. Total Depravity. Man is totally unable to please God by works. 
2. Unconditional election. God freely chooses whom He will save according to His own will. 
3. Limited atonement. Christ died for the elect. 
4. Irresistible Grace. Those whom God wills to save shall efficaciously be delivered out of their sinful ignorance and willful disobedience despite their rebellion.
Subsequent app. 1. God saves us against our enslaved will. 2. God saves us by making our wills compliant with His in regeneration. 
5. Perseverance of the Saints. Those who are saved are kept by grace in the faith and so shall be everlastingly saved. 

Following the Synod, the Arminians formulated their own confession (but not a confession) in response to 1. Demonstrate their orthodoxy (heresy) and 2. Not to bind their opinions on others. (the opposite of the purpose of a confession of faith). 
Dr. Mark Ellis a Baptist historian of Remonstrant theology and typical Calvinist (undercover Arminian) wrote, 
“Many [Remonstrants] were hesitant, fearful of establishing the same type of creedalism which had resulted in their persecution and banishment. The Preface to the Confession, which the Remonstrants considered an integral part of the document, emphasized its non-binding character.” 
And also in the Preface to his work (an English translation of the Arminian confession of 1621),” Some will think it strange that one not from the Arminian tradition would undertake the translation of this first and very important Remonstrant confession”
We do not think it strange because we know what modern Calvinism is.

iii. A review of the Canons of Dort.
FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE. DIVINE ELECTION AND REPROBATION

REJECTION OF ERRORS

SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE. THE DEATH OF CHRIST, AND THE REDEMPTION OF MEN THEREBY

REJECTION OF ERRORS

THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE. THE CORRUPTION OF MAN, HIS CONVERSION TO GOD, AND THE MANNER THEREOF

REJECTION OF ERRORS

FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE. THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

REJECTION OF ERRORS

CONCLUSION. 

First head, Article 7. Article 9. Article 10. Article 15.

Rejection of errors of the fourth head, paragraph 4, 5, 9.

Conclusion. 

Salvation is called in scripture the free gift of God. Our DOCTRINE proves that we believe this.  You shall know them by their fruit. 

This is a singular comfort to the saints to be known by their works. This is threefold. 
i. Before God. And they know it not. 
ii. Before their own conscience which confirms their faith. 
App. Would you be in a state of comfort? Practice holiness. If we are constantly in the practice and pursuit of God our own conscience will affirm this and take pleasure in suffering for God’s cause. If we are cold and dry in our fellowship and communion with God, even the smallest falling of a leaf will move us. 
iii. Before others. “Let your light so shine before men…”
App. Let us be public in our fear of God and clinging to His doctrine and worship. 

YouTube Audio: https://youtu.be/VqEo35M0Tdo