The covenant and Dordt (10): Total depravity: Children incapable of fulfilling a condition
This article examines the Synod of Dort's treatment of total depravity, demonstrating how the Canons of Dort both affirm the Reformed confessional doctrine and systematically refute Remonstrant errors that denied humanity's complete spiritual inability. Dykstra shows how Dordt's unified treatment of human corruption and conversion exposes the logical contradiction in the Remonstrant position that fallen humanity can cooperate with resistible grace toward salvation.
The Canons' positive treatment of the Reformed doctrine of total depravity is straightforward and relatively brief. And yet, all nine articles of the Rejection of Errors condemn errors of the Remonstrants connected with total depravity. The reason for this is simple. The Canons set forth the Reformed truth over against the specific teaching of the Remonstrants. However, the Reformed doctrine of total depravity was explicitly set forth in the existing confessions, the Heidelberg Catechism and...
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