The Canon of Dort

📜 The Canons of Dort: Guarding the Gospel of Sovereign Grace

Understanding the History, Theology, and Hope Behind the Five Points of Calvinism

"Salvation belongs to the LORD." — Jonah 2:9 (NASB)

The phrase “Five Points of Calvinism” often brings to mind a theological debate or a list of doctrines. But behind those five points lies a story — a story of pastoral courage, theological clarity, and biblical fidelity. It’s the story of the Synod of Dort (1618–1619), one of the most important assemblies in the history of the church, and one that still speaks to us today.

⚔️ The Conflict: Arminianism and the Remonstrance

In the decades after the Protestant Reformation, the Reformed churches of the Netherlands held firmly to the teachings of Scripture as recovered in the Reformation, especially the doctrines of God’s sovereign grace in salvation. But a challenge soon arose from within.

A theologian named Jacobus Arminius began to teach a different view of salvation — one that emphasized free will, conditional election, and the possibility of losing salvation. After his death in 1609, his followers, known as the Remonstrants, formally presented their theology in a document called the Remonstrance of 1610, outlining five key points of disagreement with the Reformed confession.

These views quickly caused division in the churches, prompting the Reformed leaders to convene an international synod to address the matter. The Synod of Dort was held in Dordrecht, Netherlands, from 1618–1619, and included delegates not only from the Dutch churches but also from Reformed churches in England, Scotland, Switzerland, and Germany.

The task of the Synod was to examine the claims of the Remonstrants and respond with biblical clarity and pastoral conviction. The result was the Canons of Dort — a thorough, gracious, and uncompromising defense of the gospel of sovereign grace.

Comparing the Two Views: Remonstrant vs. Reformed

Below is a brief summary of the five theological issues debated and the contrasting views of the Arminians and the Reformed Synod:

Doctrinal Point	Remonstrant (Arminian)	Reformed (Canons of Dort)
Depravity	Man is spiritually sick but retains the ability to choose God with prevenient grace.	Man is totally depraved and spiritually dead, unable to choose God apart from sovereign grace.
Election	God chooses individuals based on foreseen faith and perseverance.	God elects unconditionally, according to His sovereign will, not foreseen faith.
Atonement	Christ died for all people equally, making salvation possible for all.	Christ died particularly for the elect, actually securing salvation for them.
Grace	Grace enables a person to believe, but can be resisted by human will.	Grace is effectual — when God calls, the elect respond.
Perseverance	Believers can fall away from grace and lose their salvation.	True believers will persevere to the end, preserved by God’s power.

Each point made by the Remonstrants was met with a carefully reasoned, biblically grounded response. These responses became known over time by the helpful acronym

TULIP:

• Total Depravity

• Unconditional Election

• Limited Atonement (Particular Redemption)

• Irresistible Grace

• Perseverance of the Saints

  
  

Why the Canons Still Matter

The Canons of Dort are more than an academic statement. They are a pastoral confession — written to protect the church, comfort the believer, and exalt the grace of God.

Here’s why they still matter:

• They preserve the gospel by insisting that salvation is by grace alone, not a cooperation between God and man.

  
  

• They produce humility by showing us that we contribute nothing to our salvation but the sin that made it necessary.

  
  

• They provide assurance by grounding our hope not in our fickle hearts, but in the unchanging will of God.

  
  

• They promote worship by magnifying Christ’s finished work — not as a potential offer, but a powerful achievement.

  
  

Final Reflection: Sovereign Grace for the Weary Soul

In a world obsessed with autonomy and spiritual performance, the Canons of Dort call us back to the God who saves sinners by grace alone. They remind us that we are not saved because of who we are, but because of who God is.

“For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”— Romans 11:36 (NASB)

These doctrines don’t just sharpen our minds — they comfort our hearts, empower our witness, and fill our mouths with praise. Let us treasure them not as mere points of doctrine, but as melodies in the song of redemption.

To God alone be the glory.