Proportion Theology Examined and Found Wanting

8/2/2019 Proportion Theology Examined and Found Wanting

1/26

Comment PT vs

Original ( for

Canons of

Dordrecht see

Appendix 2)

Calvinist

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Proportion

Theology

Arminian

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Remonstrant

Articles (See

Appendix )

Comment PT vs

Original

This is too

simplistic asummation of

sovereign grace.

God did notdecree sin, He

permitted it. Itwas His will that

it exist, but He didnot initiate it, He

merely chose notto prevent it. He

does howeverrestrain it. PT

states that manmoves within

God's sovereignty,but in other points

claims man'ssovereignty in

salvation. PTstates clearly the

alvinist!"overeig

n Grace!#eformedposition of double

predestination.

God's "overeignty

isExhaustiveGod has

determinedeverything which

will ta$e place inthe universe by

his decrees in pasteternity %

including whowill be saved and

who will be

condemned in hell

&reprobation.

!" Permissive #

Perceptive $ill %&od's Perfect

$ill for man's

volition"

The decree ofGod's exhaustive

sovereigntyallows movement

within Hispermissive will

throughautonomous

individual moralagents. God's

perceptivefore$nowledge

and grace of allevents enables

man's volitionwithin the

boundaries of His

overall sovereignplan.

The ways of God,

His presence,righteousness, and

good news ofsalvation through

(esus hrist, isrevealed to all

hearts through

faith thatac$nowledge and

glorify Him, The

conse)uences ofHis wrath is

revealed to all

who re*ect andsuppressac$nowledgment

of His presence,design in creation,

and His will forman$ind.

#omans ++-/+0

#omans ++/12/0#omans +/+/0

3ar$ 4+5+40 IIPeter 260 I

orinthians +250

God's

"overeigntySelf-Limited

God has limited

the exercise of Hissovereignty by

creating angelsand humans as

autonomous moralbeings and

progressivelydelegating

authority andresponsibility to

them. In theextreme 7rminian

doctrine of OpenTheism, God

has nofore$nowledge

and is continuallysurprised by man's

decisions.

The original

#emonstrant7rticles do not

spea$ directly to

this point,however the

logical deductionfrom what is said

there, Heapparently limits

His sovereigntyand grants man

sovereignty overhis own salvation.

PT is strawmanslaying here,

portrayinghypoarminianism

so as to positionitself better to the

human *udge ofthe human's god.

God's humans

however admit Hereigns supreme.

PT claims

completesovereignty for

God but

effectually statesman's sovereignty

in salvation. It istherefore

Arminian"

+


2/26

Comment PT vs

Original ( for

Canons of

Dordrecht see

Appendix 2)

Calvinist

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Proportion

Theology

Arminian

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Remonstrant

Articles (See

Appendix )

Comment PT vs

Original

#evelation 2/10

89e$iel +-5/52

PT has correctlysummed up the

alvinist!"overeign Grace!#eformed

position on thispoint, though

adding a personalevaluation of

depravity see$ingto ma$e it less

offensive butcontradicting

itself. "trawmanslaying to portay

itself better to thehuman *udge of

self.

2T:T7;

means total inability.

Human spiritualdeath is defined in

an extreme way asa total inability to

please God in anyway, including

inability to repentand believe the

gospel of hrist.People are seen as

spiritual corpses.

!!" Perpetal

Depravity %

an*ind is

spiritally dead+

stc* in Sin"

3an$ind is totallydepraved in

extensivecorruption, fallen

through 7dam?sdisobedience,

marred in theimage of God,

unable to pleaseGod, and cannot

see$ salvation,unless he

responds to the

pric$ing of theHoly "pirit's

convictions, and

changes his mind

to belief throughGod's faith forrepentance, and

cries out underGod's good and

prevenient graceand mercy, with

wor$ing faithgiven from the

enlighteninggospel message

delivered untohim by the Holy

"pirit.

Genesis -@-,

(eremiah +A6,Isaiah -5-,

89e$iel 25+++-,

3atthew @5254,3atthew +2+4,

(ohn -55, 7cts/2A, #omans /5

I Peter ++/#omans +1+5/+

(eremiah @/+89e$iel +// 7cts

There are diverseviews of

depravity. "omedo not emphasi9e

the full impact of7dam?s sin. God

has givenprevenient

&preceding graceto all man$ind

through the crossto enable sinners

to repent, believe,and do good

wor$s.

Bone of the#emonstrant

7rticles directlyaddress this point.

"ee comment.

The logicalconclusion to the

7rminian positionis "emi

Pelagianism, thatis, the

unregeneratedecides to be

regenerate andcan do this

multiple times inboth directions.

PT claimsprevenient grace

wor$ing on theunregenerate, but

remains

Arminianin that

it is the decision

of theunregenerate to

repent and

believe.

/


3/26

Comment PT vs

Original ( for

Canons of

Dordrecht see

Appendix 2)

Calvinist

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Proportion

Theology

Arminian

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Remonstrant

Articles (See

Appendix )

Comment PT vs

Original

/4/A II

orinthians 55 I"amuel +1+6

;u$e +1+- (ohn

22- 7cts A26 IThessalonians 54

I Timothy ++6 IITimothy 24

8xodus 2/4Psalms 41+5+6

(eremiah 4@(eremiah +@-

(eremiah +A+2+-3atthew /5+1 II

hronicles 21489e$iel +421

PT has correctly

summed up thealvinist!"overeig

n Grace!#eformedposition on

unconditionalelection, however

neglects to informthat the reprobate

are condemned on

account of theirsins.

3

UB:B


4/26

Comment PT vs

Original ( for

Canons of

Dordrecht see

Appendix 2)

Calvinist

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Proportion

Theology

Arminian

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Remonstrant

Articles (See

Appendix )

Comment PT vs

Original

2/2 (ob +2+ (ob

5/@ Proverbs/1+/ Isaiah ++2

Isaiah 524

#omans ++/+/ +(ohn 5+6

3atthew //+53ar$ +2/1 (ohn

+@+6 7cts +/5 +orinthians +/A

/4 8phesians +5++ &in Him

olossians +/A IThessalonians +5

I Peter /56#evelation +A+5

(ohn +/54 (oshua/5+@/5


5/26

Comment PT vs

Original ( for

Canons of

Dordrecht see

Appendix 2)

Calvinist

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Proportion

Theology

Arminian

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Remonstrant

Articles (See

Appendix )

Comment PT vs

Original

eternity. light. (esus

hrist's paymentfor sin, through

His blood

atonement, issufficient for all

but efficient onlyfor those under

His cross,personally

converted throughhrist's direct

salvation.&scripture

references from(=

Proverbs 4+A;eviticus +-+5

8xodus +/++2Isaiah ++4

#omans @6#omans +++4

3atthew AA ;u$e

++6+2 (ohn+@5- I

orinthians /A4

I orinthians @A

Hebrews 6+2//Hebrews +1+6Hebrews +2+/

#omans 2/+/@8phesians +A

8phesians /+2olossians ++5 I

(ohn +A6 I (ohn@4 #evelation +@

+ Peter ++4#evelation +/++

believeth in him

should not perish,but have

everlasting life.F

7nd in the irst8pistle of (ohn

// E7nd he isthe propitiation

for our sins andnot for ours only,

but also for thesins of the whole

world.F

PT has correctlysummed up the

alvinist!"overeign Grace!#eformed

position on this

point.urthermore,

nobody can evensee the ingdom

of God prior torebirth. The

reprobate has afalse god who

must await the

5I##8"I"TIC;8

G#78The EelectF are

directly and

irresistiblyregenerated before

they believe, sincethey cannot first

exercise savingfaith.

-" Progressive&race % &eneral

grace given to

all+ Specific grace

applied to some

The Holy "pirit

constantly see$sthe lost, pursuing

and pric$ing theirconscience,

through generalrevelation of

nature and the

#8"I"TIC;8G#78

Prevenient graceenables sinners to

believe, but they

must themselvesrespond.

7rticle 2

That man has notsaving grace of

himself, nor of the

energy of his freewill, inasmuch as

he, in the state ofapostasy and sin,

can of an byhimself neither

thin$, will, nor doany thing that is

truly good &such

#emonstrantsstate prevenient

grace, ma$ing theresponse possible,

but being

resistable. PTstates resistable

prevenient grace,and is Arminian

in this point.

@
http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=KJV&passage=Proverbs+8%3A17http://biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=KJV&passage=Proverbs+8%3A17


6/26

Comment PT vs

Original ( for

Canons of

Dordrecht see

Appendix 2)

Calvinist

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Proportion

Theology

Arminian

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Remonstrant

Articles (See

Appendix )

Comment PT vs

Original

sinner's ermission

to save, andtherefore this

god's $ingdom

is not the Ciblicalone. PT re*ects

this position andclaims resistable

grace &God givesup trying, having

failed.

cosmos,

combining biblefaith J divine

grace with

specific revelationthrough scripture,

evangelism, life'scircumstances,

and reasoningwith man's

thought process'to consider God's

redemption forconviction to

obtainrighteousness,

until the Holy"pirit ceases

contending withthem, giving them

over to theirdepraved minds.

:nly God $nows

when a person'sconscience is

permanently

sealed against

consideringsalvation.

Genesis -23atthew /22A

#omans ++6/4(ohn +2+ (ohn

/++ Isaiah -4+/Isaiah 2/2 Isaiah

2@@ 89e$iel 5153atthew +2+@+-

7cts +4/A8phesians /4

#omans 5/#omans +++4 I

orinthians ++4

21 I orinthians5A II orinthians

+6+/ 3ar$ 52

/1 (ohn 2++8phesians -/5

as saving aith

eminently is0 butthat it is needful

that he be born

again of God inhrist, through his

Holy "pirit, andrenewed in

understanding,inclination, or

will, and all hispowers, in order

that he mayrightly

understand, thin$,will, and effect

what is trulygood, according to

the Kord ofhrist, (ohn +@@ ,

EKithout me yecan do nothing.F

7rticle 5

That this grace of

God is the

beginning,continuance, andaccomplishment

of all good, evento this extent, that

the regenerateman himself,

withoutprevenient or

assisting,awa$ening,

following andcooperative grace,

can neither thin$,will, nor do good,

nor withstand any

temptations toevil0 so that all

good deeds or

movements, thatcan be conceived,

must be ascribedto the grace of

God in hrist, butrespects the mode

of the operation ofthis grace, it is not

-


7/26

Comment PT vs

Original ( for

Canons of

Dordrecht see

Appendix 2)

Calvinist

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Proportion

Theology

Arminian

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Remonstrant

Articles (See

Appendix )

Comment PT vs

Original

irresistible0 inas

much as it iswritten con

cerning many, that

they have resistedthe Holy Ghost.

7cts A , and elsewhere in many

places.

PT has statedclearly that we are

to examine

ourselves,whether we are in

the faith, and alsothat the elect will

persevere.However, it is

deceitful in statingthat the elect

cannot $now inthis lifetime

whether or notthey are elect.

6

P8#"8=8#7B

8 : TH8

"7IBT"Ke cannot really

be sure we areamong the EelectF

unless wepersevere until the

end. Ke mustconstantly search

our hearts to ma$esure we are not

counterfeits.

-!" Permanent

Secrity %

,veryone in

Christ is

eternally secre

in salvation

&:"7" :nce

"aved 7lways"aved

8very regenerated

believer is

eternally secure,may fall into sin,

but recovers as an

adopted child of

God. Thosepermanentlydeparting from

God never trulyexperienced the

actual redemptiveprocess, but

experienced asynthetic or

manipulativeconversion. &easy

beliefism

I Peter +@8phesians -+4

8phesians /46

8phesians 521Hebrews +/+

(ames +/@

#omans 2/+/5#omans 4/226

(ohn +1/A21Philippians +- I

orinthians 2+1+@ II orinthians

@+A (ohn 2+5+-olossians 2+2 I

:B


8/26

Comment PT vs

Original ( for

Canons of

Dordrecht see

Appendix 2)

Calvinist

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Proportion

Theology

Arminian

Theology

(according to the

inventor of PT)

Remonstrant

Articles (See

Appendix )

Comment PT vs

Original

(ohn +A6 (ohn +1/4

EBeither shall anyman pluc$ them

out of my hand.F

Cut whether theyare capable,

throughnegligence, of

forsa$ing againthe first beginning

of their life inhrist, of again

returning to thispresent evil world,

of turning awayfrom the holy

doctrine whichwas delivered

them, of losing agood conscience,

of becomingdevoid of grace,

that must be more

particularlydetermined out of

the Holy

"cripture, before

we ourselves canteach it with thefull persuasion of

our mind.

4


9/26

onclusion

Proportion Theology is 5 point 7rminianism, presented in a confusing layout. It misprepresents classical 7rminianismin order to set up a strawman to slay. Glorying in its victory, it claims to be the middle road between the #emonstrants

and the #eformed, while in fact it is merely a #emonstrant that has finally decided to believe the :"7" verses withoutthe preceding steps in the cohesive system of soteriology $nown as alvinism!"overeign Grace!#eformed Theology. In

this it remains faithful to the underhanded ways of the man under whose name this insidious heresy is currently $nown.

The sovereign drug 7rminianism, a distilled poison derivative of Pelagianism, is still with us and holds the ma*ority ofprofessing hristendom in its claws. It denies The ;ord's Bame &(ehova is The "aviourM and His Kord, and is thus thesub*ect of the consolation to the Philadelphians on account of their little power and disdain by the pretended faithful0

The ;ord has the $eys of life and death, and He it is that opens and shutsM 7ll glory and honour belong to Him and HimaloneM

7ppendix +

The Remonstrant Articles

Article

That God, by an eternal and unchangeable purpose in (esus hrist his "on, before the foundation of the world, hath

determined, out of the fallen, sinful race of men, to save in hrist, for hrist?s sa$e, and through hrist, those who,

through the grace of the Holy Ghost, shall believe on this his son (esus, and shall persevere in this faith and obedience

of faith, through this grace, even to the end0 and, on the other hand, to leave the incorrigible and unbelieving in sin and

under wrath, and to condemn them as alienate from hrist, according to the word of the Gospel in (ohn 22- EHe that

believeth on the "on hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the "on shall not see life0 but the wrath of God

abideth on him,F and according to other passages of "cripture also.

Article 2

That agreeably thereunto, (esus hrist the "avior of the world, died for all men and for every man, so that he has

obtained for them all, by his death on the cross, redemption and the forgiveness of sins0 yet that no one actually en*oys

this forgiveness of sins except the believer, according to the word of the Gospel of (ohn 2+- , Eor God so loved the

world, that he gave his only begotten "on, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.F

7nd in the irst 8pistle of (ohn // E7nd he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins

of the whole world.F

Article .

That man has not saving grace of himself, nor of the energy of his free will, inasmuch as he, in the state of apostasy and

sin, can of an by himself neither thin$, will, nor do any thing that is truly good &such as saving aith eminently is0 but

that it is needful that he be born again of God in hrist, through his Holy "pirit, and renewed in understanding,

inclination, or will, and all his powers, in order that he may rightly understand, thin$, will, and effect what is truly good,

according to the Kord of hrist, (ohn +@@ , EKithout me ye can do nothing.F

Article /

That this grace of God is the beginning, continuance, and accomplishment of all good, even to this extent, that the

regenerate man himself, without prevenient or assisting, awa$ening, following and cooperative grace, can nei ther thin$,

will, nor do good, nor withstand any temptations to evil0 so that all good deeds or movements, that can be conceived,

must be ascribed to the grace of God in hrist, but respects the mode of the operation of this grace, it is not irresistible0

+


10/26

inasmuch as it is written concerning many, that they have resisted the Holy Ghost. 7cts A , and elsewhere in many

places.

Article 0

That those who are incorporated into hrist by true faith, and have thereby become parta$ers of his lifegiving "pirit,

have thereby full power to strive against "atan, sin, the world, and their own flesh, and to win the victory0 it being wellunderstood that it is ever through the assisting grace of the Holy Ghost0 and that (esus hrist assists them through his

"pirit in all temptations, extends to them his hand, and if only they are ready for the conflict, and desire his help, and are

not inactive, $eeps them from falling, so that they, by no craft or power of "atan, can be misled nor pluc$ed out of

hrist?s hands, according to the Kord of hrist, (ohn +1/4 EBeither shall any man pluc$ them out of my hand.F Cut

whether they are capable, through negligence, of forsa$ing again the first beginning of their life in hrist, of again

returning to this present evil world, of turning away from the holy doctrine which was delivered them, of losing a good

conscience, of becoming devoid of grace, that must be more particularly determined out of the Holy "cripture, before

we ourselves can teach it with the full persuasion of our mind.

These 7rticles, thus set forth and taught, the Remonstrants deem areea!le to the "ord of #od, tending to edification,

and, as regards this argument, sufficient for salvation, so that it is not necessary or edifying to rise higher or to descend

deeper.

Phillip "chaff, The Creeds of Christendom, Volume 3, Ca$er Coo$s, Grand #apids , 3I +66-. Pages @5@ff.

7ppendix /

T1, CAOS O3 DORDT

$ormall% Titled

The &e'ision of the S%nod of &ordt on the $ive (ain Points of &o'trine in &is)ute in the *etherlands

The 3irst ain Point of Doctrine

&ivine Ele'tion and Re)ro!ation

The +udment ,on'ernin &ivine Predestination

"hi'h the S%nod &e'lares to e in .reement /ith the "ord of #od

and .''e)ted Till *o/ in the Reformed ,hur'hes0

Set $orth in Several .rti'les

7rticle + God's #ight to ondemn 7ll People

"ince all people have sinned in 7dam and have come under the sentence of the curse and eternal death, Godwould have done no one an in*ustice if it had been his will to leave the entire human race in sin and under the

curse, and to condemn them on account of their sin. 7s the apostle says The whole world is liable to thecondemnation of God om. 2+6, 7ll have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God om. 2/2, and The

wages of sin is death om. -/2.N

N7ll )uotations from "cripture are translations of the original ;atin manuscript.

/


11/26

7rticle / The 3anifestation of God's ;ove

Cut this is how God showed his love he sent his only begotten "on into the world, so that whoever believes inhim should not perish but have eternal life.

7rticle 2 The Preaching of the Gospel

In order that people may be brought to faith, God mercifully sends proclaimers of this very *oyful message to

the people he wishes and at the time he wishes. Cy this ministry people are called to repentance and faith in

hrist crucified. or how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heardO 7nd how shall they hearwithout someone preachingO 7nd how shall they preach unless they have been sentO om. +1+5+@.

7rticle 5 7 Twofold #esponse to the Gospel

God's anger remains on those who do not believe this gospel. Cut those who do accept it and embrace (esus the

"avior with a true and living faith are delivered through him from God's anger and from destruction, andreceive the gift of eternal life.

7rticle @ The "ources of Lnbelief and of aith

The cause or blame for this unbelief, as well as for all other sins, is not at all in God, but in man. aith in (esus

hrist, however, and salvation through him is a free gift of God. 7s "cripture says, It is by grace you have beensaved, through faith, and this not from yourselves0 it is a gift of God &8ph. /4. ;i$ewise It has been freely

given to you to believe in hrist &Phil. +/6.

7rticle - God's 8ternal


12/26

person to be chosen, but rather for the purpose of faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, and so on.7ccordingly, election is the source of each of the benefits of salvation. aith, holiness, and the other saving

gifts, and at last eternal life itself, flow forth from election as its fruits and effects. 7s the apostle says, Hechose us &not because we were, but so that we should be holy and blameless before him in love &8ph. +5.

7rticle +1 8lection Cased on God's Good Pleasure

Cut the cause of this undeserved election is exclusively the good pleasure of God. This does not involve his

choosing certain human )ualities or actions from among all those possible as a condition of salvation, butrather involves his adopting certain particular persons from among the common mass of sinners as his own

possession. 7s "cripture says, Khen the children were not yet born, and had done nothing either good or bad...,she ebecca was told, The older will serve the younger. 7s it is written, (acob I loved, but 8sau I hated

om. 6+++2. 7lso, 7ll who were appointed for eternal life believed &7cts +254.

7rticle ++ 8lection Lnchangeable

(ust as God himself is most wise, unchangeable, all$nowing, and almighty, so the election made by him can

neither be suspended nor altered, revo$ed, or annulled0 neither can his chosen ones be cast off, nor theirnumber reduced.

7rticle +/ The 7ssurance of 8lection

7ssurance of this their eternal and unchangeable election to salvation is given to the chosen in due time,

though by various stages and in differing measure. "uch assurance comes not by in)uisitive searching into thehidden and deep things of God, but by noticing within themselves, with spiritual *oy and holy delight, theunmista$able fruits of election pointed out in God's Kord such as a true faith in hrist, a childli$e fear of

God, a godly sorrow for their sins, a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and so on.

7rticle +2 The ruit of This 7ssurance

In their awareness and assurance of this election God's children daily find greater cause to humble themselvesbefore God, to adore the fathomless depth of his mercies, to cleanse themselves, and to give fervent love in

return to him who first so greatly loved them. This is far from saying that this teaching concerning election,and reflection upon it, ma$e God's children lax in observing his commandments or carnally selfassured. Cy

God's *ust *udgment this does usually happen to those who casually ta$e for granted the grace of election orengage in idle and bra9en tal$ about it but are unwilling to wal$ in the ways of the chosen.

7rticle +5 Teaching 8lection Properly

(ust as, by God's wise plan, this teaching concerning divine election has been proclaimed through the prophets,

hrist himself, and the apostles, in :ld and Bew Testament times, and has subse)uently been committed towriting in the Holy "criptures, so also today in God's church, for which it was specifically intended, this

teaching must be set forthwith a spirit of discretion, in a godly and holy manner, at the appropriate time andplace, without in)uisitive searching into the ways of the 3ost High. This must be done for the glory of God's

most holy name, and for the lively comfort of his people.

7rticle +@ #eprobation

3oreover, Holy "cripture most especially highlights this eternal and undeserved grace of our election andbrings it out more clearly for us, in that it further bears witness that not all people have been chosen but that

some have not been chosen or have been passed by in God's eternal election those, that is, concerning whom

God, on the basis of his entirely free, most *ust, irreproachable, and unchangeable good pleasure, made the

following decision to leave them in the common misery into which, by their own fault, they have plungedthemselves0 not to grant them saving faith and the grace of conversion0 but finally to condemn and eternally

punish them &having been left in their own ways and under his *ust *udgment, not only for their unbelief butalso for all their other sins, in order to display his *ustice. 7nd this is the decision of reprobation, which does

not at all ma$e God the author of sin &a blasphemous thoughtM but rather its fearful, irreproachable, *ust *udgeand avenger.

7rticle +- #esponses to the Teaching of #eprobation

Those who do not yet actively experience within themselves a living faith in hrist or an assured confidence of

heart, peace of conscience, a 9eal for childli$e obedience, and a glorying in God through hrist, but whonevertheless use the means by which God has promised to wor$ these things in ussuch people ought not to be

alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor to count themselves among the reprobate0 rather they ought tocontinue diligently in the use of the means, to desire fervently a time of more abundant grace, and to wait for it

in reverence and humility. :n the other hand, those who seriously desire to turn to God, to be pleasing to him

5


13/26

alone, and to be delivered from the body of death, but are not yet able to ma$e such progress along the way ofgodliness and faith as they would li$esuch people ought much less to stand in fear of the teaching concerning

reprobation, since our merciful God has promised that he will not snuff out a smoldering wic$ and that he willnot brea$ a bruised reed. However, those who have forgotten God and their "avior (esus hrist and have

abandoned themselves wholly to the cares of the world and the pleasures of the fleshsuch people have everyreason to stand in fear of this teaching, as long as they do not seriously turn to God.

7rticle +A The "alvation of the Infants of Celievers

"ince we must ma$e *udgments about God's will from his Kord, which testifies that the children of believers

are holy, not by nature but by virtue of the gracious covenant in which they together with their parents areincluded, godly parents ought not to doubt the election and salvation of their children whom God calls out of

this life in infancy.

7rticle +4 The Proper 7ttitude Toward 8lection and #eprobation

To those who complain about this grace of an undeserved election and about the severity of a *ust reprobation,

we reply with the words of the apostle, Kho are you, : man, to tal$ bac$ to GodO om. 6/1, and with thewords of our "avior, Have I no right to do what I want with my ownO &3att. /1+@. Ke, however, with

reverent adoration of these secret things, cry out with the apostle :h, the depths of the riches both of the

wisdom and the $nowledge of GodM How unsearchable are his *udgments, and his ways beyond tracing outMor who has $nown the mind of the ;ordO :r who has been his counselorO :r who has first given to God, that

God should repay himO or from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory foreverM7men om. ++222-.

Re4ection of the ,rrors

!% "hi'h the &ut'h ,hur'hes 1ave for Some Time een &istur!ed

1aving set forth the orthodox teaching concerning election and repro5ation+ the Synod re4ects the errors of those

I

6ho teach that the $ill of &od to save those $ho $old 5elieve and persevere in faith and in the o5edience of

faith is the $hole and entire decision of election to salvation+ and that nothing else concerning this decision has

5een revealed in &od's 6ord"

or they deceive the simple and plainly contradict Holy "cripture in its testimony that God does not only wish to save

those who would believe, but that he has also from eternity chosen certain particular people to whom, rather than toothers, he would within time grant faith in hrist and perseverance. 7s "cripture says, I have revealed your name to

those whom you gave me &(ohn +A-. ;i$ewise, 7ll who were appointed for eternal life believed &7cts +254, and Hechose us before the foundation of the world so that we should be holy... &8ph. +5.

II

6ho teach that &od's election to eternal life is of many *inds7 one general and indefinite+ the other particlar

and definite8 and the latter in trn either incomplete+ revoca5le+ nonperemptory (or conditional)+ or elsecomplete+ irrevoca5le+ and peremptory (or a5solte)" 9i*e$ise+ $ho teach that there is one election to faith and

another to salvation+ so that there can 5e an election to 4stifying faith apart from a peremptory election to

salvation"

or this is an invention of the human brain, devised apart from the "criptures, which distorts the teaching concerningelection and brea$s up this golden chain of salvation Those whom he predestined, he also called0 and those whom he

called, he also *ustified0 and those whom he *ustified, he also glorified om. 421.

III

6ho teach that &od's good pleasre and prpose+ $hich Scriptre mentions in its teaching of election+ does not

involve &od's choosing certain particlar people rather than others+ 5t involves &od's choosing+ ot of all

possi5le conditions (inclding the $or*s of the la$) or ot of the $hole order of things+ the intrinsically

n$orthy act of faith+ as $ell as the imperfect o5edience of faith+ to 5e a condition of salvation8 and it involves

his graciosly $ishing to cont this as perfect o5edience and to loo* pon it as $orthy of the re$ard of eternal

@


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life"

or by this pernicious error the good pleasure of God and the merit of hrist are robbed of their effectiveness andpeople are drawn away, by unprofitable in)uiries, from the truth of undeserved *ustification and from the simplicity of

the "criptures. It also gives the lie to these words of the apostle God called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of

wor$s, but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which was given to us in hrist (esus before the beginning of time&/ Tim. +6.

I=6ho teach that in election to faith a prere:isite condition is that man shold rightly se the light of natre+ 5e

pright+ nassming+ hm5le+ and disposed to eternal life+ as thogh election depended to some extent on these

factors"

or this smac$s of Pelagius, and it clearly calls into )uestion the words of the apostle Ke lived at one time in thepassions of our flesh, following the will of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children of wrath, li$e

everyone else. Cut God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in

transgressions, made us alive with hrist, by whose grace you have been saved. 7nd God raised us up with him andseated us with him in heaven in hrist (esus, in order that in the coming ages we might show the surpassing riches of

his grace, according to his $indness toward us in hrist (esus. or it is by grace you have been saved, through faith &and

this not from yourselves0 it is the gift of God not by wor$s, so that no one can boast &8ph. /26.

=

6ho teach that the incomplete and nonperemptory election of particlar persons to salvation occrred on the

5asis of a foreseen faith+ repentance+ holiness+ and godliness+ $hich has 4st 5egn or contined for some time8

5t that complete and peremptory election occrred on the 5asis of a foreseen perseverance to the end in faith+

repentance+ holiness+ and godliness" And that this is the gracios and evangelical $orthiness+ on accont of $hich

the one $ho is chosen is more $orthy than the one $ho is not chosen" And therefore that faith+ the o5edience of

faith+ holiness+ godliness+ and perseverance are not frits or effects of an nchangea5le election to glory+ 5t

indispensa5le conditions and cases+ $hich are prere:isite in those $ho are to 5e chosen in the complete

election+ and $hich are foreseen as achieved in them"

This runs counter to the entire "cripture, which throughout impresses upon our ears and hearts these sayings among

others 8lection is not by wor$s, but by him who calls om. 6+++/0 7ll who were appointed for eternal life believed

&7cts +2540 He chose us in himself so that we should be holy &8ph. +50 >ou did not choose me, but I chose you&(ohn +@+-0 If by grace, not by wor$s om. ++-0 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent

his "on &+ (ohn 5+1.

=I

6ho teach that not every election to salvation is nchangea5le+ 5t that some of the chosen can perish and do in

fact perish eternally+ $ith no decision of &od to prevent it"

Cy this gross error they ma$e God changeable, destroy the comfort of the godly concerning the steadfastness of theirelection, and contradict the Holy "criptures, which teach that the elect cannot be led astray &3att. /5/5, that hrist

does not lose those given to him by the ather &(ohn -26, and that those whom God predestined, called, and *ustified,

he also glorifies om. 421.

=II

6ho teach that in this life there is no frit+ no a$areness+ and no assrance of one's nchangea5le election to

glory+ except as conditional pon something changea5le and contingent"

or not only is it absurd to spea$ of an uncertain assurance, but these things also militate against the experience of the

saints, who with the apostle re*oice from an awareness of their election and sing the praises of this gift of God0 who, ashrist urged, re*oice with his disciples that their names have been written in heaven &;u$e +1/10 and finally who hold

up against the flaming arrows of the devil's temptations the awareness of their election, with the )uestion Kho willbring any charge against those whom God has chosenO om. 422.

=III

6ho teach that it $as not on the 5asis of his 4st $ill alone that &od decided to leave anyone in the fall of Adam

and in the common state of sin and condemnation or to pass anyone 5y in the imparting of grace necessary for

faith and conversion"

or these words stand fast He has mercy on whom he wishes, and he hardens whom he wishes om. 6+4. 7nd alsoTo you it has been given to $now the secrets of the $ingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given &3att. +2++.

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;i$ewise I give glory to you, ather, ;ord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise andunderstanding, and have revealed them to little children0 yes, ather, because that was your pleasure &3att. ++/@/-.

IR

6ho teach that the case for &od's sending the gospel to one people rather than to another is not merely and

solely &od's good pleasre+ 5t rather that one people is 5etter and $orthier than the other to $hom the gospel is

not commnicated"

or 3oses contradicts this when he addresses the people of Israel as follows Cehold, to (ehovah your God belong theheavens and the highest heavens, the earth and whatever is in it. Cut (ehovah was inclined in his affection to love your

ancestors alone, and chose out their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as at this day &


16/26

tribe, nation, and language all those and only those who were chosen from eternity to salvation and given to him by theather0 that he should grant them faith &which, li$e the Holy "pirit's other saving gifts, he ac)uired for them by his

death0 that he should cleanse them by his blood from all their sins, both original and actual, whether committed beforeor after their coming to faith0 that he should faithfully preserve them to the very end0 and that he should finally present

them to himself, a glorious people, without spot or wrin$le.

7rticle 6 The ulfillment of God's Plan

This plan, arising out of God's eternal love for his chosen ones, from the beginning of the world to the present time hasbeen powerfully carried out and will also be carried out in the future, the gates of hell see$ing vainly to prevail against

it. 7s a result the chosen are gathered into one, all in their own time, and there is always a church of believers foundedon hrist's blood, a church which steadfastly loves, persistently worships, andhere and in all eternitypraises him as

her "avior who laid down his life for her on the cross, as a bridegroom for his bride.


1avin set forth the orthodox tea'hin0 the S%nod ree'ts the errors of those

I6ho teach that &od the 3ather appointed his Son to death on the cross $ithot a fixed and definite plan to save

anyone 5y name+ so that the necessity+ seflness+ and $orth of $hat Christ's death o5tained cold have stood

intact and altogether perfect+ complete and $hole+ even if the redemption that $as o5tained had never in actal

fact 5een applied to any individal"

or this assertion is an insult to the wisdom of God the ather and to the merit of (esus hrist, and it is contrary to"cripture. or the "avior spea$s as follows I lay down my life for the sheep, and I $now them &(ohn +1+@, /A. 7nd

Isaiah the prophet says concerning the "avior Khen he shall ma$e himself an offering for sin, he shall see hisoffspring, he shall prolong his days, and the will of (ehovah shall prosper in his hand &Isa. @2+1. inally, this

undermines the article of the creed in which we confess what we believe concerning the hurch.

II

6ho teach that the prpose of Christ's death $as not to esta5lish in actal fact a ne$ covenant of grace 5y his5lood+ 5t only to ac:ire for the 3ather the mere right to enter once more into a covenant $ith men+ $hether of

grace or of $or*s"

or this conflicts with "cripture, which teaches that hrist has become the guarantee and mediator of a betterthat is, a

newcovenant &Heb. A//0 6+@, and that a will is in force only when someone has died &Heb. 6+A.

III

6ho teach that Christ+ 5y the satisfaction $hich he gave+ did not certainly merit for anyone salvation itself and

the faith 5y $hich this satisfaction of Christ is effectively applied to salvation+ 5t only ac:ired for the 3ather

the athority or plenary $ill to relate in a ne$ $ay $ith men and to impose sch ne$ conditions as he chose+ and

that the satisfying of these conditions depends on the free choice of man8 conse:ently+ that it $as possi5le that

either all or none $old flfill them"

or they have too low an opinion of the death of hrist, do not at all ac$nowledge the foremost fruit or benefit which itbrings forth, and summon bac$ from hell the Pelagian error.

I=

6ho teach that $hat is involved in the ne$ covenant of grace $hich &od the 3ather made $ith men throgh the

intervening of Christ's death is not that $e are 4stified 5efore &od and saved throgh faith+ insofar as it accepts

Christ's merit+ 5t rather that &od+ having $ithdra$n his demand for perfect o5edience to the la$+ conts faith

itself+ and the imperfect o5edience of faith+ as perfect o5edience to the la$+ and graciosly loo*s pon this as

$orthy of the re$ard of eternal life"

or they contradict "cripture They are *ustified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by (esus hrist,

whom God presented as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood om. 2/5/@. 7nd along with theungodly "ocinus, they introduce a new and foreign *ustification of man before God, against the consensus of the whole

church.

4


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=

6ho teach that all people have 5een received into the state of reconciliation and into the grace of the covenant+ so

that no one on accont of original sin is lia5le to condemnation+ or is to 5e condemned+ 5t that all are free from

the gilt of this sin"

or this opinion conflicts with "cripture which asserts that we are by nature children of wrath.

=I

6ho ma*e se of the distinction 5et$een o5taining and applying in order to instill in the n$ary and

inexperienced the opinion that &od+ as far as he is concerned+ $ished to 5esto$ e:ally pon all people the

5enefits $hich are gained 5y Christ's death8 5t that the distinction 5y $hich some rather than others come to

share in the forgiveness of sins and eternal life depends on their o$n free choice ($hich applies itself to the grace

offered indiscriminately) 5t does not depend on the ni:e gift of mercy $hich effectively $or*s in them+ so

that they+ rather than others+ apply that grace to themselves"

or, while pretending to set forth this distinction in an acceptable sense, they attempt to give the people the deadlypoison of Pelagianism.

=II

6ho teach that Christ neither cold die+ nor had to die+ nor did die for those $hom &od so dearly loved and

chose to eternal life+ since sch people do not need the death of Christ"

or they contradict the apostle, who says hrist loved me and gave himself up for me &Gal. //1, and li$ewise Kho

will bring any charge against those whom God has chosenO It is God who *ustifies. Kho is he that condemnsO It ishrist who died, that is, for them om. 42225. They also contradict the "avior, who asserts I lay down my life for

the sheep &(ohn +1+@, and 3y command is this ;ove one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one thanthis, that one lay down his life for his friends &(ohn +@+/+2.

The Third and 3orth ain Points of Doctrine

1uman ,orru)tion0 ,onversion to #od0 and the "a% It ''urs

7rticle + The 8ffect of the all on Human Bature

3an was originally created in the image of God and was furnished in his mind with a true and salutary

$nowledge of his reator and things spiritual, in his will and heart with righteousness, and in all his emotionswith purity0 indeed, the whole man was holy. However, rebelling against God at the devil's instigation and by

his own free will, he deprived himself of these outstanding gifts. #ather, in their place he brought upon himselfblindness, terrible dar$ness, futility, and distortion of *udgment in his mind0 perversity, defiance, and hardness

in his heart and will0 and finally impurity in all his emotions.

7rticle / The "pread of orruption

3an brought forth children of the same nature as himself after the fall. That is to say, being corrupt he broughtforth corrupt children. The corruption spread, by God's *ust *udgment, from 7dam to all his descendants

except for hrist alonenot by way of imitation &as in former times the Pelagians would have it but by way ofthe propagation of his perverted nature.

7rticle 2 Total Inability

Therefore, all people are conceived in sin and are born children of wrath, unfit for any saving good, inclined to

evil, dead in their sins, and slaves to sin0 without the grace of the regenerating Holy "pirit they are neither

willing nor able to return to God, to reform their distorted nature, or even to dispose themselves to such reform.

7rticle 5 The Inade)uacy of the ;ight of Bature

There is, to be sure, a certain light of nature remaining in man after the fall, by virtue of which he retains some

notions about God, natural things, and the difference between what is moral and immoral, and demonstrates acertain eagerness for virtue and for good outward behavior. Cut this light of nature is far from enabling man to

come to a saving $nowledge of God and conversion to himso far, in fact, that man does not use it rightly even

in matters of nature and society. Instead, in various ways he completely distorts this light, whatever its precise

6


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character, and suppresses it in unrighteousness. In doing so he renders himself without excuse before God.

7rticle @ The Inade)uacy of the ;aw

In this respect, what is true of the light of nature is true also of the Ten ommandments given by God through3oses specifically to the (ews. or man cannot obtain saving grace through the


19/26

by outward teaching, by moral persuasion, or by such a way of wor$ing that, after God has done his wor$, itremains in man's power whether or not to be reborn or converted. #ather, it is an entirely supernatural wor$,

one that is at the same time most powerful and most pleasing, a marvelous, hidden, and inexpressible wor$,which is not lesser than or inferior in power to that of creation or of raising the dead, as "cripture &inspired by

the author of this wor$ teaches. 7s a result, all those in whose hearts God wor$s in this marvelous way arecertainly, unfailingly, and effectively reborn and do actually believe. 7nd then the will, now renewed, is not

only activated and motivated by God but in being activated by God is also itself active. or this reason, man

himself, by that grace which he has received, is also rightly said to believe and to repent.7rticle +2 The Incomprehensible Kay of #egeneration

In this life believers cannot fully understand the way this wor$ occurs0 meanwhile, they rest content with

$nowing and experiencing that by this grace of God they do believe with the heart and love their "avior.

7rticle +5 The Kay God Gives aith

In this way, therefore, faith is a gift of God, not in the sense that it is offered by God for man to choose, but that

it is in actual fact bestowed on man, breathed and infused into him. Bor is it a gift in the sense that Godbestows only the potential to believe, but then awaits assentthe act of believingfrom man's choice0 rather, it

is a gift in the sense that he who wor$s both willing and acting and, indeed, wor$s all things in all people

produces in man both the will to believe and the belief itself.

7rticle +@ #esponses to God's Grace

God does not owe this grace to anyone. or what could God owe to one who has nothing to give that can bepaid bac$O Indeed, what could God owe to one who has nothing of his own to give but sin and falsehoodO

Therefore the person who receives this grace owes and gives eternal than$s to God alone0 the person who doesnot receive it either does not care at all about these spiritual things and is satisfied with himself in his

condition, or else in selfassurance foolishly boasts about having something which he lac$s. urthermore,following the example of the apostles, we are to thin$ and to spea$ in the most favorable way about those who

outwardly profess their faith and better their lives, for the inner chambers of the heart are un$nown to us. Cutfor others who have not yet been called, we are to pray to the God who calls things that do not exist as though

they did. In no way, however, are we to pride ourselves as better than they, as though we had distinguishedourselves from them.

7rticle +- #egeneration's 8ffect

However, *ust as by the fall man did not cease to be man, endowed with intellect and will, and *ust as sin,which has spread through the whole human race, did not abolish the nature of the human race but distorted andspiritually $illed it, so also this divine grace of regeneration does not act in people as if they were bloc$s and

stones0 nor does it abolish the will and its properties or coerce a reluctant will by force, but spiritually revives,heals, reforms, andin a manner at once pleasing and powerfulbends it bac$. 7s a result, a ready and sincere

obedience of the "pirit now begins to prevail where before the rebellion and resistance of the flesh werecompletely dominant. It is in this that the true and spiritual restoration and freedom of our will consists. Thus,

if the marvelous 3a$er of every good thing were not dealing with us, man would have no hope of getting up

from his fall by his free choice, by which he plunged himself into ruin when still standing upright.

7rticle +A God's Lse of 3eans in #egeneration

(ust as the almighty wor$ of God by which he brings forth and sustains our natural life does not rule out but

re)uires the use of means, by which God, according to his infinite wisdom and goodness, has wished to

exercise his power, so also the aforementioned supernatural wor$ of God by which he regenerates us in no wayrules out or cancels the use of the gospel, which God in his great wisdom has appointed to be the seed ofregeneration and the food of the soul. or this reason, the apostles and the teachers who followed them taught

the people in a godly manner about this grace of God, to give him the glory and to humble all pride, and yet didnot neglect meanwhile to $eep the people, by means of the holy admonitions of the gospel, under the

administration of the Kord, the sacraments, and discipline. "o even today it is out of the )uestion that theteachers or those taught in the church should presume to test God by separating what he in his good pleasure

has wished to be closely *oined together. or grace is bestowed through admonitions, and the more readily weperform our duty, the more lustrous the benefit of God wor$ing in us usually is and the better his wor$

advances. To him alone, both for the means and for their saving fruit and effectiveness, all glory is owedforever. 7men.

++


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1avin set forth the orthodox tea'hin0 the S%nod ree'ts the errors of those

I

6ho teach that+ properly spea*ing+ it cannot 5e said that original sin in itself is enogh to condemn the $hole

hman race or to $arrant temporal and eternal pnishments"

or they contradict the apostle when he says "in entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this

way death passed on to all men because all sinned om. @+/0 also The guilt followed one sin and broughtcondemnation om. @+-0 li$ewise The wages of sin is death om. -/2.

II

6ho teach that the spirital gifts or the good dispositions and virtes sch as goodness+ holiness+ and

righteosness cold not have resided in man's $ill $hen he $as first created+ and therefore cold not have 5een

separated from the $ill at the fall"

or this conflicts with the apostle's description of the image of God in 8phesians 5/5, where he portrays the image interms of righteousness and holiness, which definitely reside in the will.

III

6ho teach that in spirital death the spirital gifts have not 5een separated from man's $ill+ since the $ill in

itself has never 5een corrpted 5t only hindered 5y the dar*ness of the mind and the nrliness of the

emotions+ and since the $ill is a5le to exercise its innate free capacity once these hindrances are removed+ $hich

is to say+ it is a5le of itself to $ill or choose $hatever good is set 5efore it%%or else not to $ill or choose it"

This is a novel idea and an error and has the effect of elevating the power of free choice, contrary to the words of

(eremiah the prophet The heart itself is deceitful above all things and wic$ed &(er. +A60 and of the words of theapostle 7ll of us also lived among them &the sons of disobedience at one time in the passions of our flesh, following

the will of our flesh and thoughts &8ph. /2.

I=

6ho teach that nregenerate man is not strictly or totally dead in his sins or deprived of all capacity for spirital

good 5t is a5le to hnger and thirst for righteosness or life and to offer the sacrifice of a 5ro*en and contrite

spirit $hich is pleasing to &od"

or these views are opposed to the plain testimonies of "cripture >ou were dead in your transgressions and sins &8ph.

/+, @0 The imagination of the thoughts of man's heart is only evil all the time &Gen. -@0 4/+. Cesides, to hunger and

thirst for deliverance from misery and for life, and to offer God the sacrifice of a bro$en spirit is characteristic only ofthe regenerate and of those called blessed &Ps. @++A0 3att. @-.

=

6ho teach that corrpt and natral man can ma*e sch good se of common grace(5y $hich they mean the

light of natre)or of the gifts remaining after the fall that he is a5le there5y gradally to o5tain a greater grace%%

evangelical or saving grace%%as $ell as salvation itself8 and that in this $ay &od+ for his part+ sho$s himself ready

to reveal Christ to all people+ since he provides to all+ to a sfficient extent and in an effective manner+ the means

necessary for the revealing of Christ+ for faith+ and for repentance"

or "cripture, not to mention the experience of all ages, testifies that this is false He ma$es $nown his words to (acob,

his statutes and his laws to Israel0 he has done this for no other nation, and they do not $now his laws &Ps. +5A+6/10In the past God let all nations go their own way &7cts +5+-0 They &Paul and his companions were $ept by the Holy

"pirit from spea$ing God's word in 7sia0 and Khen they had come to 3ysia, they tried to go to Cithynia, but the "pirit

would not allow them to &7cts +--A.

=I

6ho teach that in the tre conversion of man ne$ :alities+ dispositions+ or gifts cannot 5e infsed or pored

into his $ill 5y &od+ and indeed that the faith ;or 5elieving< 5y $hich $e first come to conversion and from

$hich $e receive the name =5elievers= is not a :ality or gift infsed 5y &od+ 5t only an act of man+ and that it

cannot 5e called a gift except in respect to the po$er of attaining faith"

or these views contradict the Holy "criptures, which testify that God does infuse or pour into our hearts the new

)ualities of faith, obedience, and the experiencing of his love I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their

+/


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hearts &(er. 2+220 I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground0 I will pour out my "pirit on youroffspring &Isa. 5520 The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy "pirit, who has been given to us

om. @@. They also conflict with the continuous practice of the hurch, which prays with the prophet onvert me,;ord, and I shall be converted &(er. 2++4.

=II

6ho teach that the grace 5y $hich $e are converted to &od is nothing 5t a gentle persasion+ or(as others

explain it) that the $ay of &od's acting in man's conversion that is most no5le and sited to hman natre is that$hich happens 5y persasion+ and that nothing prevents this grace of moral sasion even 5y itself from ma*ing

natral men spirital8 indeed+ that &od does not prodce the assent of the $ill except in this manner of moral

sasion+ and that the effectiveness of &od's $or* 5y $hich it srpasses the $or* of Satan consists in the fact that

&od promises eternal 5enefits $hile Satan promises temporal ones"

or this teaching is entirely Pelagian and contrary to the whole of "cripture, which recogni9es besides this persuasion

also another, far more effective and divine way in which the Holy "pirit acts in man's conversion. 7s 89e$iel 2-/- putsit I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you0 and I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of

flesh....

=III

6ho teach that &od in regenerating man does not 5ring to 5ear that po$er of his omnipotence $here5y he may

po$erflly and nfailingly 5end man's $ill to faith and conversion+ 5t that even $hen &od has accomplished all

the $or*s of grace $hich he ses for man's conversion+ man nevertheless can+ and in actal fact often does+ so

resist &od and the Spirit in their intent and $ill to regenerate him+ that man completely th$arts his o$n re5irth8

and+ indeed+ that it remains in his o$n po$er $hether or not to 5e re5orn"

or this does away with all effective functioning of God's grace in our conversion and sub*ects the activity of 7lmighty

God to the will of man0 it is contrary to the apostles, who teach that we believe by virtue of the effective wor$ing ofGod's mighty strength &8ph. ++6, and that God fulfills the undeserved good will of his $indness and the wor$ of faith

in us with power &/ Thess. +++, and li$ewise that his divine power has given us everything we need for life andgodliness &/ Pet. +2.

IR

6ho teach that grace and free choice are concrrent partial cases $hich cooperate to initiate conversion+ and

that grace does not precede%%in the order of casality%%the effective inflence of the $ill8that is to say+that &od

does not effectively help man's $ill to come to conversion 5efore man's $ill itself motivates and determines itself"

or the early church already condemned this doctrine long ago in the Pelagians, on the basis of the words of the apostleIt does not depend on man's willing or running but on God's mercy om. 6+-0 also Kho ma$es you different from

anyone elseO and Khat do you have that you did not receiveO &+ or. 5A0 li$ewise It is God who wor$s in you to willand act according to his good pleasure &Phil. /+2.

The 3ifth ain Point of Doctrine

The Perseveran'e of the Saints

7rticle + The #egenerate Bot 8ntirely ree from "in

Those people whom God according to his purpose calls into fellowship with his "on (esus hrist our ;ord and

regenerates by the Holy "pirit, he also sets free from the reign and slavery of sin, though in this life not entirelyfrom the flesh and from the body of sin.

7rticle / The Celiever's #eaction to "ins of Kea$ness

Hence daily sins of wea$ness arise, and blemishes cling to even the best wor$s of God's people, giving them

continual cause to humble themselves before God, to flee for refuge to hrist crucified, to put the flesh to deathmore and more by the "pirit of supplication and by holy exercises of godliness, and to strain toward the goal of

perfection, until they are freed from this body of death and reign with the ;amb of God in heaven.

7rticle 2 God's Preservation of the onverted

Cecause of these remnants of sin dwelling in them and also because of the temptations of the world and "atan,

+2


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those who have been converted could not remain standing in this grace if left to their own resources. Cut Godis faithful, mercifully strengthening them in the grace once conferred on them and powerfully preserving them

in it to the end.

7rticle 5 The


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assurance of their perseverance.

7rticle +/ This 7ssurance as an Incentive to Godliness

This assurance of perseverance, however, so far from ma$ing true believers proud and carnally selfassured, israther the true root of humility, of childli$e respect, of genuine godliness, of endurance in every conflict, of

fervent prayers, of steadfastness in crossbearing and in confessing the truth, and of wellfounded *oy in God.#eflecting on this benefit provides an incentive to a serious and continual practice of than$sgiving and good

wor$s, as is evident from the testimonies of "cripture and the examples of the saints.7rticle +2 7ssurance Bo Inducement to arelessness

Beither does the renewed confidence of perseverance produce immorality or lac$ of concern for godliness inthose put bac$ on their feet after a fall, but it produces a much greater concern to observe carefully the ways of

the ;ord which he prepared in advance. They observe these ways in order that by wal$ing in them they maymaintain the assurance of their perseverance, lest, by their abuse of his fatherly goodness, the face of the

gracious God &for the godly, loo$ing upon his face is sweeter than life, but its withdrawal is more bitter than

death turn away from them again, with the result that they fall into greater anguish of spirit.

7rticle +5 God's Lse of 3eans in Perseverance

7nd, *ust as it has pleased God to begin this wor$ of grace in us by the proclamation of the gospel, so hepreserves, continues, and completes his wor$ by the hearing and reading of the gospel, by meditation on it, by

its exhortations, threats, and promises, and also by the use of the sacraments.

7rticle +@ ontrasting #eactions to the Teaching of Perseverance

This teaching about the perseverance of true believers and saints, and about their assurance of ita teaching

which God has very richly revealed in his Kord for the glory of his name and for the comfort of the godly andwhich he impresses on the hearts of believersis something which the flesh does not understand, "atan hates,

the world ridicules, the ignorant and the hypocrites abuse, and the spirits of error attac$. The bride of hrist, onthe other hand, has always loved this teaching very tenderly and defended it steadfastly as a priceless treasure0

and God, against whom no plan can avail and no strength can prevail, will ensure that she will continue to dothis. To this God alone, ather, "on, and Holy "pirit, be honor and glory forever. 7men.


Concerning the Teaching of the Perseverance of the Saints

Having set forth the orthodox teaching, the Synod rejects the errors of those

I

6ho teach that the perseverance of tre 5elievers is not an effect of election or a gift of &od prodced 5y

Christ's death+ 5t a condition of the ne$ covenant $hich man+ 5efore$hat they callhis =peremptory= election

and 4stification+ mst flfill 5y his free $ill"

or Holy "cripture testifies that perseverance follows from election and is granted to the chosen by virtue of hrist's

death, resurrection, and intercession The chosen obtained it0 the others were hardened om. ++A0 li$ewise, He whodid not spare his own son, but gave him up for us allhow will he not, along with him, grant us all thingsO Kho will

bring any charge against those whom God has chosenO It is God who *ustifies. Kho is he that condemnsO It is hrist(esus who diedmore than that, who was raisedwho also sits at the right hand of God, and is also interceding for us.

Kho shall separate us from the love of hristO om. 42/2@.

II

6ho teach that &od does provide the 5eliever $ith sfficient strength to persevere and is ready to preserve this

strength in him if he performs his dty+ 5t that even $ith all those things in place $hich are necessary to

persevere in faith and $hich &od is pleased to se to preserve faith+ it still al$ays depends on the choice of man's

$ill $hether or not he perseveres"

or this view is obviously Pelagian0 and though it intends to ma$e men free it ma$es them sacrilegious. It is against theenduring consensus of evangelical teaching which ta$es from man all cause for boasting and ascribes the praise for this

benefit only to God's grace. It is also against the testimony of the apostle It is God who $eeps us strong to the end, so

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that we will be blameless on the day of our ;ord (esus hrist &+ or. +4.

III

6ho teach that those $ho trly 5elieve and have 5een 5orn again not only can forfeit 4stifying faith as $ell as

grace and salvation totally and to the end+ 5t also in actal fact do often forfeit them and are lost forever"

or this opinion nullifies the very grace of *ustification and regeneration as well as the continual preservation by hrist,

contrary to the plain words of the apostle Paul If hrist died for us while we were still sinners, we will therefore much

more be saved from God's wrath through him, since we have now been *ustified by his blood om. @460 and contraryto the apostle (ohn Bo one who is born of God is intent on sin, because God's seed remains in him, nor can he sin,

because he has been born of God &+ (ohn 260 also contrary to the words of (esus hrist I give eternal life to my sheep,and they shall never perish0 no one can snatch them out of my hand. 3y ather, who has given them to me, is greater

than all0 no one can snatch them out of my ather's hand &(ohn +1 /4/6.

I=

6ho teach that those $ho trly 5elieve and have 5een 5orn again can commit the sin that leads to death (the sin

against the 1oly Spirit)"

or the same apostle (ohn, after ma$ing mention of those who commit the sin that leads to death and forbidding prayer

for them &+ (ohn @ +-+A, immediately adds Ke $now that anyone born of God does not commit sin &that is, that $indof sin, but the one who was born of God $eeps himself safe, and the evil one does not touch him &v. +4.

=

6ho teach that apart from a special revelation no one can have the assrance of ftre perseverance in this life"

or by this teaching the wellfounded consolation of true believers in this life is ta$en away and the doubting of the

#omanists is reintroduced into the church. Holy "cripture, however, in many places derives the assurance not from aspecial and extraordinary revelation but from the mar$s peculiar to God's children and from God's completely reliable

promises. "o especially the apostle Paul Bothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in hrist(esus our ;ord om. 4260 and (ohn They who obey his commands remain in him and he in them. 7nd this is how we

$now that he remains in us by the "pirit he gave us &+ (ohn 2/5.

=I

6ho teach that the teaching of the assrance of perseverance and of salvation is 5y its very natre and character

an opiate of the flesh and is harmfl to godliness+ good morals+ prayer+ and other holy exercises+ 5t that+ on thecontrary+ to have do5t a5ot this is praise$orthy"

or these people show that they do not $now the effective operation of God's grace and the wor$ of the indwelling Holy

"pirit, and they contradict the apostle (ohn, who asserts the opposite in plain words


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or they contradict hrist himself when he says I have prayed for you, Peter, that your faith may not fail &;u$e //2/0and (ohn the gospel writer when he testifies in (ohn +A that it was not only for the apostles, but also for all those who

were to believe by their message that hrist prayed Holy ather, preserve them in your name &v. ++0 and 3y prayer isnot that you ta$e them out of the world, but that you preserve them from the evil one &v. +@.

Conclsion

Ree'tion of $alse .''usations

7nd so this is the clear, simple, and straightforward explanation of the orthodox teaching on the five articles in disputein the Betherlands, as well as the re*ection of the errors by which the


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Proportion Theology Examined and Found Wanting

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