Canons First Head Art1–5

Our Canons of Dort have always been under attack.

Canon (rule): private interpretation is the canon

“Of Dort”: history… happening now… We are the selfie-generation.

Why? Because it is a canon, a rule of faith, and Americans, prefer, “No creed but the Bible.” Private interpretation is the canon of American evangelicalism. Autonomy is the rule. Another problem with the canons is “of Dort.” ‘Merica, a Christianity of the people, by the people, and for the people. Meaning: we don’t need history, we want the church of what’s happening now. What’s happening now— me. We are the selfie-generation. The canons are poor on self. Here lies the real problem with the canons— natural man has never appreciated these truths, because by nature man is proud and does not want to submit to a sovereign God.

The canons are poor on self. Here lies the real problem with the canons— natural man has never appreciated these truths, because by nature man is proud and does not want to submit to a sovereign God.

This was true even in the Reformation. Luther believed… confessed it… but not without trouble.

1610 Compromise

He died in 1609.

In 1610 his followers known as The Remonstrance caused trouble in the land. As the influence of Arminius’ teachings spread, many feared the country would be torn apart. In 1610, about forty followers of Arminius submitted a formal petition, or remonstrance, to the government seeking a change in her religion.

Eager to preserve national unity, the state called together a national synod. The Synod was convened in November 1618,

Consisted of 58 ministers from the Netherlands as well as delegates from England, Germany, and the Swiss Cantons.

The French Reformed delegation was forbidden from attending by Louis XIII.

Dort was a response to the “Five Points” of Arminianism, which responded its own five points.

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Article 1: God’s right to Condemn All People

Article 1: God’s right to Condemn All People

The Canons begin where the Bible begins: with man’s sinfulness and misery.

Romans Example

Preach Christ not election

It will be a source or praise, which is where Paul puts it. In , the apostle Paul glories in the fact that God has chosen us in Christ. Indeed, there is a wrong way to speak of election, and no doubt that is the reason why some people have become afraid of it. There are those who speak of election in such a way as to let everything be dominated by it… Christ and him crucified.

So the Canons begin with sin. We are sinners.

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

We are not free to choose whether or not we will be sinners, we sin because we are sinners.

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

We cannot even understand the good.

Until then her understanding was darkened (Pauline term).

Jesus said:

Begin with depravity and you will see just how good God’s Sovereign love is. Fail to begin here and people will spit out the medicine of election. It’s medicine meant to heal our poor assurance.

Article 2: The manifestation of God’s Love

We must begin with the fall and then God’s love. When we do we move to the free offer of the gospel.

Article 3: The Preaching of the Gospel

Preaching is the means of grace. Preaching empties the tomb. It destroys death… valley of dry bones. Recognize this and you will want to come to church every time the gospel is proclaimed. We preach it at every service.

Article 4: A Twofold Response to the Gospel

You might recognize here our liturgical declaration of pardon. This is basically Jesus’ words.

It is either/or—the gospel is either a savor of life unto life or a savor of death unto death (). You and I are either in one camp or the other. There is no middle ground. We are either believers or unbelievers; we are either delivered from the curse or still under that curse. How do we switch sides? God makes the switch “By grace you are saved through faith.”

Article 5: The Sources of Unbelief and of Faith

Our fault (don’t believe)

If you don’t believe, it is your fault, and if you do believe, it is all God’s work. That’s the hard truth. Hard for natural man to stomach. In sin we get all the blame. Unbelief is sin. Belief is a gift of God. It comes by grace through faith. Faith comes by hearing.

In sin we get all the blame. Unbelief is sin. Belief is a gift of God. It comes by grace through faith. Faith comes by hearing.

So lets always begin here. So we never ask, “Am I elect?”

Ask, “Am I called and am I invited?”

You are called; you are invited; yes, you are summoned!

God commands men everywhere to repent. He calls you to Himself. That fact should be sufficient cause for us to fall on our knees at His feet and not get up until He has saved us like Jacob, who clung to the Angel of the Covenant while wrestling with Him, and pleaded: ().