Theology, Calvinism, Dort, Soteriology 

"The authors wrote in the Introduction to this 1963 book, "This work has been designed to serve as an introductory survey of that system of theology known as 'the five points of Calvinism.' As we shall see, each of the five points, which make up this historic system, constitutes a distinct and important Biblical doctrine.

Viewed together, these five doctrines form the basic framework of God's plan for saving sinners. The purpose of this survey is threefold: We first wish to DEFINE, second to DEFEND, and third to DOCUMENT the 'five points.'

They provide the historical background to the five points: "A national Synod was called to meet in Dort in 1618 for the purpose of examining the views of Arminius in the light of Scripture... 'The Synod... had given a very close examination of the "fire points" which had been advanced by the Remonstrants, and had compared the teaching advanced in them with the testimony of Scripture. Failing to reconcile that teaching with the Word of God... they had unanimously rejected them.

They felt, however, that a mere rejection was not sufficient. It remained for them to set forth the true Calvinistic teaching in relationship to those matters which had been called into question. This they proceeded to do, embodying the Calvinistic position in five chapters which have ever been known as 'the five points of Calvinism.'" (Pg. 14-15)

They state, "For to Calvinism, there is really only ONE point to be made in the field of soteriology: the point that God saves sinners. GOD---the Triune Jehovah, Father, Son and Spirit; three persons working ... to achieve the salvation of a chosen people, the Father electing, the Son fulfilling the Father's will by redeeming, the Spirit executing the purpose of Father and Son by renewing. SAVES---does everything, first to last, that is involved in bringing man from death in sin to life in glory... SINNERS---men as God finds them, guilty, vile, helpless, powerless, unable to lift a finger to do God's will or better their spiritual lot... sinners do not save themselves in any sense at all, but that salvation... is of the Lord." (Pg. 23)

They state, "the sinner is so spiritually bankrupt that he can do nothing pertaining to his salvation. It is quite evident that many unsaved people, when judged by man's standards, do possess admirable qualities and do perform virtuous acts. But in the spiritual realm when judged by God's standards, the unsaved sinner is incapable of good... In short, the unregenerate man is DEAD IN SIN, and his WILL IS ENSLAVED to his evil nature." (Pg. 25)

They admit, "God could have chosen to save all men (for He had the power and authority to do so) or He could have chosen to save none (for He was under no obligation to show mercy to any)---but He did neither. Instead He chose to save some and to exclude others. His eternal choice of particular sinners unto salvation was not based upon any foreseen act or response on the part of those selected, but was based solely on His own good pleasure and sovereign will. Thus election was not determined by ... anything that men would do, but resulted entirely from God's self-determined purpose." (Pg. 30) They add, “Before the foundation of the world, God chose particular individuals unto salvation. His selection was not based upon any foreseen response or act performed by those chosen. Faith and good works are the RESULT, not the CAUSE of God’s choice.” (Pg. 33)

The book also contains a useful Bibliography, as well as an Appendix dealing in detail with Romans 8:29 ["for those whom he FOREKNEW he also predestined"]."