The Canons of Dort: Exploring the Doctrine of Election With Danny Hyde

About The Guest(s): Danny Hyde is a pastor, author, and theologian. He is the pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church in California and the author of several books on Reformed theology. Summary: In this episode of Renewalcast, the hosts continue their conversation with Danny Hyde about the Canons of Dort. They focus on the first point of doctrine, divine predestination. The hosts discuss the historical and theological background of the Canons of Dort and the arguments made by the Remonstrants. They summarize the 18 articles and nine rejections of the Canons of Dort, highlighting the key points of each. They also discuss the pastoral implications of the doctrine of election and the assurance of salvation. The episode concludes with a discussion of reprobation and the comfort it brings to parents who have lost children. Key Takeaways:

• The Canons of Dort were a response to the Remonstrants' position that election to salvation was based on God foreseeing some people believing and some people not believing.
• The Reformed position is that election is based on God's unchangeable purpose and sovereign will, not on foreseen faith.
• The doctrine of election is meant to bring comfort and assurance to believers, not speculation or despair.
• The Canons of Dort affirm that the children of believers who die in infancy are with God and have no reason to doubt their election and salvation.

Quotes:

• "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 and rectitude, and sin and destruction a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ." - Canons of Dort
• "The responsibility lies at the feet of the sinner and God is just allowing them to continue in the sin in which they themselves desire to live in." - Danny Hyde
• "We believe those children are with God like 100%. I can say that without any shame, without any fear that I'm saying anything beyond scripture." - Danny Hyde