Free Republic

DISPUTATION XLIV ON FAITH IN GOD AND CHRIST I. In the preceding disputation, we have treated on the first part of that obedience which is yielded to the vocation of God. The second part now follows, which is called "the obedience of faith." II. Faith, generally, is the assent given to truth; and divine faith is that which is given to truth divinely revealed. The foundation on which divine faith rests is two- fold -- the one external and out of or beyond the mind -- the other internal and in the mind. (1.) The external foundation of faith is...

WORKS OF ARMINIUS - OUR OPINION IS OPPOSED TO THE PELAGIAN HERESY PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP II. OUR OPINION IS DIRECTLY OPPOSED TO THE PELAGIAN HERESY 1. THE Second thing contained in this third part is an affirmation, that our interpretation of Romans 7 is professedly adverse to the Pelagian heresy. 2. This is proved from the fact, that the principal dogma of that heresy is professedly confuted through this very interpretation. 3. In some passages of his works, which are here cited, St. Augustine confesses with sufficient plainness that this is true. 4.Objection and an Answer...

IV. THE GRACE OF GOD In reference to Divine Grace, I believe, 1. It is a gratuitous affection by which God is kindly affected towards a miserable sinner, and according to which he, in the first place, gives his Son, "that whosoever believers in him might have eternal life," and, afterwards, he justifies him in Christ Jesus and for his sake, and adopts him into the right of sons, unto salvation. 2. It is an infusion (both into the human understanding and into the will and affections,) of all those gifts of the Holy Spirit which appertain to the regeneration...

James Arminius was a student of John Calvin who knew his teacher's teaching quite well. He was led by the Lord to acknowledge the bankruptcy of the idea that God pre-selected people to go to heaven or hell without any hope of change at all. Arminius' wrote: XV. This doctrine (Calvinist Predestination) is highly dishonourable to Jesus Christ our saviour. For, 1. It entirely excludes him from that decree of Predestination which predestinates the end: and it affirms, that men were predestinated to be saved, before Christ was predestinated to save them; and thus it argues, that he is not...

Historical Introduction When the Calvinistic Reformation came to the Netherlands, there were many priests and monks who left the Romish Church and were given ministerial status in the Reformed Church. Some of these were good men who broke with Rome under deep convictions of the truth. Many were evil men who, with wet fingers held high in the ecclesiastical winds that blew, saw that the power of Rome was broken in the Netherlands. They were determined to abandon a sinking ship. For personal reasons they came to the side of the Reformation. But they carried with them the errors of...