Canons of Dordt, Head V: The doctrine of certain perseverance: The church’s “inestimable treasure”
McGeown's article examines the fifth head of the Canons of Dort, which teaches the unconditional perseverance of the saints against Arminian conditions on salvation. The author emphasizes how Reformed theology preserves believers in grace through their ongoing struggle with indwelling sin, presenting perseverance as both a divine work and a lived reality of sanctification in the Christian life.
Conditional versus unconditional perseverance (or preservation) Conditionality is the key to Arminianism, where salvation depends on the activity of the sinner: God chooses you if He foresees you will believe (conditional election); Christ redeems you by the cross if you accept it (conditional atonement); the Spirit saves you if you do not resist Him (resistible grace); and God will keep you in the state of salvation if you cooperate with His grace (conditional perseverance). Of course,...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org
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