From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Jacobus
Arminius (1560-1609) was a Dutch Reformed theologian and professor of theology
at the University of Leiden. He is most noted for his departure from the
Reformed theology of the Belgic Confession resulting in what became the
Calvinist-Arminian controversy addressed at the Synod of Dort (1618-1619).
The
Five Articles of Remonstrance were given by followers of Jacobus Arminius who,
ironically, did not want to adopt Arminius' name, instead choosing to call
themselves the "Remonstrants".
Forty-one
preachers and the two leaders of the Leyden state college for the education of
preachers met in The Hague on Jan. 14, 1610, to state in written form their
views concerning all disputed doctrines. The document in the form of a
remonstrance was drawn up by Jan Uytenbogaert and
after a few changes was endorsed and signed by all and in July
The
Five Articles were the doctrinal summary that in turn prompted Calvinists to
issue their Five Points of Calvinism commonly denoted "TULIP".
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The
Five Articles Of The Remonstrance 1610
Article
I. That God, by an eternal, unchangeable purpose in Jesus Christ, his Son,
before the foundation of the world, hath determined, 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 Ghost, 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 alienate from
Christ, according to the word of the Gospel in John iii. 36: "He that
believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son
shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on
him," and according to other passages of Scripture also.
Article
II. That, agreeably thereto, 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 iii. 16: "God so loved the world that he gave his
only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life"; and in the First Epistle of John ii. 2: "And he is
the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only. but
also for the sins of the whole world."
Article
III. That man has not saving grace of himself, nor of the energy of his
free-will, inasmuch as he, in the state of apostasy and sin, can of and by
himself neither think, will, nor do anything that is truly good (such as having
faith eminently is); but that it is needful that he be born again of God in
Christ, through his Holy Spirit, and renewed in understanding, inclination, or
will, and all his powers, in order that he may rightly understand, think, will,
and effect what is truly good, according to the word of Christ, John xv. b: "Without me ye can do nothing."
Article
IV. That this grace of God is the beginning, continuance, and accomplishment of
an good, even to this extent, that the regenerate man himself, without that
prevenient or assisting; awakening, following, and co-operative grace, elm
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, as respects the mode of the operation of this grace,
it is not irresistible, inasmuch as it is written concerning many that they
have resisted the Holy Ghost, -Acts vii., and
elsewhere in many places.
Article
V. That those who an incorporated into Christ by a true faith, and have thereby
become partakers of his life giving spirit, have thereby 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
Ghost; 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. and desire his help, and are not inactive,
keeps them from falling, so that they, by no craft or power of Satan, can be
misled, nor plucked out of Christ's hands, according to the word of Christ,
John x. 28: "Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." But whether they are capable. through negligence, of
forsaking again the first beginnings 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 becoming devoid of
grace, that must be more particularly determined out of the Holy Scriptures
before we ourselves can teach it with the full persuasion of our minds.