The Five articles of Remonstrance by the followers of Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609).

[JLB]

The Five Articles of the Remonstrants, 1610​ Article 1. ​ [Conditional Election - corresponds to the second of TULIP’s five points, Unconditional Election]​ That God, by an eternal and unchangeable purpose in Jesus Christ his Son before the foundation of the world, has determined that out of the fallen, sinful race of men, to save in Christ, for Christ’s sake, and through Christ, those who through the grace of the Holy Spirit shall believe on this his son Jesus, and shall persevere in this faith and obedience of faith, through this grace, even to the end; and, on the other hand, to leave the incorrigible and unbelieving in sin and under wrath and to condemn them as alienated from Christ, according to the word of the Gospel in John 3:36: “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that does not believe the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him,” and according to other passages of Scripture also. Article 2.​ [Unlimited Atonement - corresponds to the third of TULIP’s five points, Limited Atonement]​ That, accordingly, Jesus Christ the Savior of the world, died for all men and for every man, so that he has obtained for them all, by his death on the cross, redemption and the forgiveness of sins; yet that no one actually enjoys this forgiveness of sins except the believer, according to the word of the Gospel of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And in the First Epistle of John 2:2: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Article 3.​ [Deprivation - corresponds to the first of TULIP’s five points, Total Depravity]​ That man does not posses saving grace of himself, nor of the energy of his free will, inasmuch as in his state of apostasy and sin he can of and by himself neither think, will, nor do any thing that is truly good (such as saving Faith eminently is); but that it is necessary that he be born again of God in Christ, through his Holy Spirit, and renewed in understanding, inclination, and will, and all his faculties, in order that he may rightly understand, think, will, and effect what is truly good, according to the Word of Christ, John 15:5, “Without me you can do nothing.” Article 4.​ [Resistible Grace - corresponds to the fourth of TULIP’s five points, Irresistible Grace]​ That this grace of God is the beginning, continuance, and accomplishment of all good, even to the extent that the regenerate man himself, without prevenient or assisting, awakening, following and cooperative grace, can neither think, will, nor do good, nor withstand any temptations to evil; so that all good deeds or movements that can be conceived must be ascribed to the grace of God in Christ. But with respect to the mode of the operation of this grace, it is not irresistible, since it is written concerning many, that they have resisted the Holy Spirit (Acts 7, and elsewhere in many places). Article 5.​ [Assurance and Security - corresponds to the fifth of TULIP’s five points, Perseverance of the Saints]​ That those who are incorporated into Christ by true faith, and have thereby become partakers of his life-giving Spirit, as a result have full power to strive against Satan, sin, the world, and their own flesh, and to win the victory; it being well understood that it is ever through the assisting grace of the Holy Spirit; and that Jesus Christ assists them through his Spirit in all temptations, extends to them his hand, and if only they are ready for the conflict, desire his help, and are not inactive, keeps them from falling, so that they, by no deceit or power of Satan, can be misled nor plucked out of Christ’s hands, according to the Word of Christ, John 10:28: “Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” But whether they are capable, through negligence, of forsaking again the first beginning of their life in Christ, of again returning to this present evil world, of turning away from the holy doctrine which was delivered them, of losing a good conscience, of neglecting grace, that must be more particularly determined out of the Holy Scripture, before we ourselves can teach it with the full confidence of our mind. These Articles, thus set forth and taught, the Remonstrants deem agreeable to the Word of God, tending to edification, and, as regards this argument, sufficient for salvation, so that it is not necessary or edifying to rise higher or to descend deeper. "The Articles of the Remonstrants" are adapted from Phillip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom, Volume 3, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 1996, pp 545ff.​ -Dennis Bratcher, ed. Copyright © 2018, Dennis Bratcher, All Rights Reserved (No copyright claims are made for the text of the original document.) See Copyright and User ​

 

[JLB]

This subject came up on another Forum and I thought it would be interesting to see who in this community believes these things or not. This seems to be a “Protest” against the the Five Points of Calvinism which are TULIP.

The first point is: Conditional Election

That God, by an eternal and unchangeable purpose in Jesus Christ his Son before the foundation of the world, has determined that out of the fallen, sinful race of men, to save in Christ, for Christ’s sake, and through Christ, those who through the grace of the Holy Spirit shall believe on this his son Jesus, and shall persevere in this faith and obedience of faith, through this grace, even to the end; and, on the other hand, to leave the incorrigible and unbelieving in sin and under wrath and to condemn them as alienated from Christ, according to the word of the Gospel in John 3:36: “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that does not believe the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him,” and according to other passages of Scripture also.



I think a view of the “other passages” might be a good place to start.

 

[JLB]

This subject came up on another Forum and I thought it would be interesting to see who in this community believes these things or not. This seems to be a “Protest” against the the Five Points of Calvinism which are TULIP.

The first point is: Conditional Election

That God, by an eternal and unchangeable purpose in Jesus Christ his Son before the foundation of the world, has determined that out of the fallen, sinful race of men, to save in Christ, for Christ’s sake, and through Christ, those who through the grace of the Holy Spirit shall believe on this his son Jesus, and shall persevere in this faith and obedience of faith, through this grace, even to the end; and, on the other hand, to leave the incorrigible and unbelieving in sin and under wrath and to condemn them as alienated from Christ, according to the word of the Gospel in John 3:36: “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that does not believe the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him,” and according to other passages of Scripture also.



I think a view of the “other passages” might be a good place to start.

I don’t honestly see where the term “election” is mentioned in Article 1.

I do agree that the condition by which a person is saved is to believe. So the scripture they gave from John 3:36 validates this statement.

However I do find that in Ephesians 1 there is the choosing (election) and predestination, of those “in Him”, so the question is, how are we placed “in Christ”.

It stands to reason that those whom He chose “in Christ” before the foundation of the world, were known before hand (divine foreknowledge) to be in Christ, even before Adam and Eve sinned, thus perpetuating a need for a Savior.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6

So far we have no “condition” set forth for being “chosen” (elected).


In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:11-14

• In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise

After hearing and believing the Gospel comes the Holy Spirit, which is the result of being in Him.

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17

 

[atpollard]

This seems to be a “Protest” against the the Five Points of Calvinism which are TULIP.

The relationship between "Calvinism" (TULIP) and the Arminianism (Remonstrances) is actually the other way around.

Look up the Heidelberg Catechism to see how PROTESTANT THEOLOGY (non-Catholic) was taught prior to the Calvinism and Arminianism debate. You will not find the 5 points of TULIP taught like they are in the later Westminster Confession or London Confession (Baptist) that came after the C&A debate.

The Heidelberg Catechism tends to focus on the WHO/WHAT of salvation more than the HOW. (Can I save myself by my good works? No, only a perfect God-Man can save you. ... What must I believe to be saved? That Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. ... that sort of stuff. ) Jacob Arminius had some ideas about HOW God accomplished salvation, and wrote these ideas down in a 5 point argument called the "Remonstrances" (Remonstrances = "an earnest presentation of reasons for opposition or grievance"). Jacob simply presented 5 points on which he believed Catechisms had a flawed emphasis.

The Government Churches (church and state were inseparable back then with the Lutheran Churches controlling Germany and the Reformed Churches in France, Holland and Switzerland ... IIRC) called for a Council (SYNOD) to meet and discuss the Articles of Remonstrance and determine whether they should be accepted, rejected or amended. The decision of the Synod (like the early Ecumenical Councils) would be adopted by all the Reformed State Churches. This Synod met in the city of DORT and discussed the Remonstrances and Scripture and Theology for several years before issuing their findings. Wanting to be clear, they published the 5 articles of the Synod of Dort ... one response to each of the questions, arguments, points raised in the REMONSTRANCES. These 5 articles of the Synod of Dort became the Doctrines of Grace (in the 1500's) and were given the clever abbreviation TULIP around 1930.

So the REMONSTRANCES were not a response to the 5 points of TULIP ... The ARMINIAN (after Jacob Arminius) 5 REMONSTRANCES came first, challenged existing theology beliefs and the 5 "Doctrines of Grace" (called Calvinism even though John Calvin was dead by the Synod of Dort and later called TULIP) were a response to the 5 Remonstrances.

For better or worse ... Arminianism came first and TULIP was the official response of the Protestant Church.

 

[atpollard]

I don’t honestly see where the term “election” is mentioned in Article 1.

I think that was the objection that the 16th century theologians had. Scripture does speak of God's election and choosing in some places and they were concerned that Jacob had removed all mention of it.

That is a fair question for us today seeking the truth.

What is the relationship between the ROLE of man and the ROLE of God in saving someone?
How do we reconcile the scriptures that each side so quickly turns to without denying the word of God in our haste to defend a theology?

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

I think that was the objection that the 16th century theologians had. Scripture does speak of God's election and choosing in some places and they were concerned that Jacob had removed all mention of it.

That is a fair question for us today seeking the truth.

What is the relationship between the ROLE of man and the ROLE of God in saving someone?
How do we reconcile the scriptures that each side so quickly turns to without denying the word of God in our haste to defend a theology?

We don't need to "reconcile" those Scriptures. All we need to do is accept them as a mysterious process initiated by God and followed with a reconciled life. It's our proud reasoning that we need to humble before God,

Jas 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Jas 4:9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

 

[JLB]

Look up the Heidelberg Catechism to see how PROTESTANT THEOLOGY (non-Catholic) was taught prior to the Calvinism and Arminianism debate. You will not find the 5 points of TULIP taught like they are in the later Westminster Confession or London Confession (Baptist) that came after the C&A debate.

Ok. Thanks.

 

[JLB]

For better or worse ... Arminianism came first and TULIP was the official response of the Protestant Church.

Ok.

Thanks for the historical background.

So the five points of the Arminian articles were contesting the earlier version of Calvinism, which was different than the later version?

Did I get that right?

 

[JLB]

What is the relationship between the ROLE of man and the ROLE of God in saving someone?
How do we reconcile the scriptures that each side so quickly turns to without denying the word of God in our haste to defend a theology?

God’s role is He provides the means by which man can be saved.

Man’s role is to believe and be regenerated.

Then after regeneration man is to live his new life according to the Spirit because he now has a new divine nature that is empowered by the Spirit.