Wake Up Believers!

Cannons of Dort The Decision of the Synod of Dort on the Five Main Points of Doctrine in Dispute in the Netherlands 1618

Error rejected: Who teach that in election to faith a prerequisite condition is that man should rightly use the light of nature, be upright, unassuming, humble, and disposed to eternal life, as though election depended to some extent on these factors. (You cannot be good enough to be saved)

Affirmation: For this smacks of Pelagius, and it clearly calls into question the words of the apostle: We lived at one time in the passions of our flesh, following the will of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in transgressions, made us alive with Christ, by whose grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with him and seated us with him in heaven in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages we might show the surpassing riches of his grace, according to his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith (and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God) not by works, so that no one can boast (Eph. 2:3-9). (God saves sinners!)

Error rejected: Who teach that the incomplete and nonperemptory election of particular persons to salvation occurred on the basis of a foreseen faith, repentance, holiness, and godliness, which has just begun or continued for some time; but that complete and peremptory election occurred on the basis of a foreseen perseverance to the end in faith, repentance, holiness, and godliness. And that this is the gracious and evangelical worthiness, on account of which the one who is chosen is more worthy than the one who is not chosen. And therefore that faith, the obedience of faith, holiness, godliness, and perseverance are not fruits or effects of an unchangeable election to glory, but indispensable conditions and causes, which are prerequisite in those who are to be chosen in the complete election, and which are foreseen as achieved in them. (There is nothing we can do to earn God's favor, absolutely nothing!)

Affirmation: This runs counter to the entire Scripture, which throughout impresses upon our ears and hearts these sayings among others: Election is not by works, but by him who calls (Rom. 9:11-12); All who were appointed for eternal life believed (Acts 13:48); He chose us in himself so that we should be holy (Eph. 1:4); You did not choose me, but I chose you (John 15:16); If by grace, not by works (Rom. 11:6); In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son (1 John 4:10).

This is from a document in Netherlands, 1618. The Dutch Church stood firm against "works" salvation and this document has withstood the test of time. It has the reliability of the King James committee which produced the version of the Bible that has been the basis of our English translations, sometimes called the Authorized Version.

Strangely this doctrine of grace places the assurance of salvation on God's gracious provision and not on our backs. You should be thrilled to know that you are chosen and elected to salvation.
In fact the very concern you have about your assurance is further evidence that you are the chosen of God and that the Spirit is dealing with your heart. If you are not concerned that still could mean that the Holy Spirit has not chosen at the moment to deal with you. From cover to cover of the Bible God delights in the election of his children. There is more than enough room in heaven to house his children. Don't let anyone tell you that there are few children. There are few of God's children on this earth who realize the positions of grace and live below their standing with God. The way to this realization is found on a narrow curving path and the way of those who live below their status have a wide highway and wide gate and it is the road of least resistance. Matthew 7:13-14 Believers have a choice of paths. Sinners are led down the course of this earth. They don't have a choice.

Hey! Believers! You have a choice to make and the rewards are found in this life and the life to come. Your choice determines if you have heaven on earth.

Life was far more difficult in the 1600's. Men were coming out of dark ages of unimaginable degradation of human worth. However many more experienced the blessings of grace then than do now. They made a choice to believe Christ's promises. They heard reformation preaching. Today seldom is the reformed message heard in America. Chances are that you are not hearing it from your church and your pastor. I attend a very good church but I confess that I am not hearing reformation preaching rather I hear a mixture of works and grace. I get grace from the Holy Spirit from my personal study.

America is rich and thinks that she has need of nothing. She is actually in poverty, destitute and naked. Revelation 3:15-17