Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things"
2Ti 2:7.

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Canon of Dort 1.4 - truth or fable?

 


Take a careful look. Is this a gospel truth?

Do you agree with this statement?

"The wrath of God abides upon those who believe not this gospel. But such as receive it and embrace Jesus the Saviour by a true and living faith are by Him delivered from the wrath of God and from destruction, and have the gift of eternal life conferred upon them."  Canon of Dort 1.4

May I inquire:
1. Those who have not been delivered from the wrath of God - are they capable of receiving and embracing Jesus the Saviour by a true and living faith? 

2. 
Those who have not been conferred with the gift of eternal life - are they capable of receiving and embracing Jesus the Saviour by a true and living faith? 
- Those whom God has not conferred the gift of eternal life, are they capable of exercising a true and living faith? 
- Those whom God has not conferred the gift of eternal life, are they capable of receiving and embracing Jesus the Saviour? 

"Except a man be born again... (except a man be conferred eternal life), he CANNOT... CANNOT... CANNOT... "

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Comments

Ronny 
This statement is to dispute the 5-point claim of the Arminians.

Sing
So what exactly is the Arminian error refuted by this article 4?

Ronny
#4 is just a statement of faith

Sing 
But you said, "This statement is to dispute the 5-point claim of the Arminians."

That's why I inquired, which particular point of the 5-point claim of the Arminians is disputed by Canon 1, Article 4.

OK. If #4 is just a statement of faith, do you agree with the statement? Why or why not?

Ronny
As a statement of faith... I must say that I do agree.

Sing
Do you agree that the statement teaches that eternal life is CONFERRED UPON THEM that receive the gospel and embrace the Savior by a true and living faith, that is, the conferral of eternal life is CONDITIONED upon some activities of man?

Do you agree that the statement teaches that deliverance from the wrath of God and from destruction (I assume that eternal destruction is meant) is CONDITIONED upon man's act of receiving the gospel and embracing Jesus the Savior by a true and living faith?

Do you agree that the statement teaches, by necessary implication, that a man not yet conferred with eternal life, therefore STILL dead in trespasses and sins, is able to receive the gospel, AND embrace Jesus the Savior?

Do you agree that the statement teaches, by necessary implication, that a man not yet conferred with eternal life, therefore STILL dead in trespasses and sins, is capable of a true and living faith?

Please correct me if I have read the statement incorrectly.

Thank you.

Ronny
It is now past midnight here; I'll read the questions tomorrow and comment.

Noel
Embracing the Lordship of Christ is not mentioned.... therefore, it is not a gospel.
Correct me if i'm wrong

(DanDel has deleted his comments)

Sing
DanDel, you have a good point there! Thanks.

'... ARE DELIVERED... HAVE .... CONFERRED UPON THEM...' >> HAVE BEEN DELIVERED... HAVE BEEN CONFERRED.

Ronny
All I need to do is correct my first comment: it should read, "the entire canon of Dort is to dispute the 5 points of the Arminians". Secondly, for me, regeneration is monergistic ( God alone) and never synergistic.

Sing
Ronny, does the Holy Spirit need the preaching of the gospel to regenerate those dead in trespasses and sins?