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 would be holy and blameless before Him.
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:1-6.
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Today’s Scripture teaches Unconditional Election, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism a/k/a the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation: “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.” “In love He predestined us to adoption as sons …”
This “Unconditional Election” is a work of God of “His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Christ).” This “Unconditional Election” is “according to the kind intention of His will”.
The Canons of Dordt explains this “Unconditional Election” along with the other parts of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism a/k/a the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. The Canons of Dordt is divided into sections (“heads”). The first part of each section affirmatively and directly teaches the truth of the doctrine, and then the second part of each section negatively rejects the false teaching (Arminianism).
The Canons of Dordt is relatively short and easily readable. Lest we neglect to read it, let us remember the words of Calvin in his Commentary on Galatians 1:6-9: ““To know what are the leading points of the gospel, is a matter of unceasing importance. When these are attacked, the gospel is destroyed.” Here is a direct link – Click here: The Canons of Dordt .
Here are two Articles of the Canons of Dordt as samples and summaries, showing the riches therein.
Article 7. Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.
This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification; and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace; as it is written: “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,” Ephesians 1:4,5,6. And elsewhere: “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified,” Romans 8:30.
Article 6. That some receive the gift of faith from God, and others do not receive it proceeds from God’s eternal decree, “For known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world,” Acts 15:18. “Who worketh all things after the counsel of his will,” Ephesians 1:11. According to which decree, he graciously softens the hearts of the elect, however obstinate, and inclines them to believe, while he leaves the non-elect in his just judgment to their own wickedness and obduracy. …”
In conclusion, there are many who reject “Unconditional Election”. They may even shout out: “That is not the God I serve!” They may indeed serve a different “god”. But, regardless of whether many think it is just or otherwise like it or not, the God of Scripture is a God Who unconditionally elects some to salvation. “… And herein is especially displayed the profound, and merciful, and at the same time the righteous discrimination between men, equally involved in ruin; or that decree of election and reprobation, revealed in the Word of God, which though men of perverse, impure and unstable minds wrest to their own destruction, yet to holy and pious souls affords unspeakable consolation.” Article 6 of the Canons of Dordt.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 