Five Points of Calvinism -
- Total Depravity
- Unconditional Election
- Limited Atonement
- Irresistible Grace
- Perseverance of the Saints
How do the Five Heads of Doctrine in the Canons of Dordt relate to the Five Points of Calvinism?
Which of the three Reformed doctrinal standards stress the church's duty to:
- God's Word (His truth)
- People within the church
- People outside of the church
How are the following three actions necessary for clear testimony to others?
- To confess
- To instruct
- To defend
The believers in the five points of this remonstrance were called "Remonstrants." The Reformed church fathers condemned these views and established The Five Points of Calvinism by writing the Canons of Dordt at this important Synod meeting.
The Canons of Dordt include 59 articles and 34 rejections under the following five "Heads of Doctrine":
1. Divine Predestination
2. Christ's Death and the Redemption of Men Thereby
3. The Corruption of Man
4. Man's Conversion to God and the Manner Thereof
5. The Perseverance of the Saints
As explained on the first pages of this chapter, church symbols (including doctrinal standards), serve the following three purposes: to confess, to instruct, and to defend. The chart below shows how the principal purposes of The Three Forms of Unity relate to these three.
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF EACH REFORMED DOCTRINAL STANDARD
Doctrinal Standard
Primary Purpose
1. Belgic Confession of Faith
To Confess
2. Heidelberg Catechism
To Instruct
3. Canons of Dordt
To Defend
The Three Forms of Unity adopted by the church of the Reformation in the Netherlands serve as the doctrinal standards of the Reformed churches, but also of the reformation church in Germany.
