The Historical Tracings of the Doctrines of Grace | Part 7

Key Scriptures

• Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
• Romans 9:15–16 – “For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”
• John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”
• Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

The Reformation had recovered the gospel, but the Synod of Dort would preserve it.

By the end of the sixteenth century, the Dutch churches were in turmoil. The followers of Jacob Arminius had gained influence in universities, pulpits, and even political circles. The tension between the Arminians (Remonstrants) and the Calvinists (Contra-Remonstrants) had grown so severe that civil war seemed possible.

In 1618, the States-General of the Netherlands called an international assembly of pastors and theologians to settle the issue once and for all. This council, held in the city of Dordrecht (or “Dort”), gathered 84 delegates and 18 secular commissioners from across Europe—representatives from England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and beyond.

Over the course of 154 sessions spanning seven months, they examined the Remonstrant teachings in light of Scripture and found them to be contrary to the gospel of grace.

What emerged from that gathering was one of the most important doctrinal statements in church history: The Canons of Dort.

The Purpose of the Synod
The Synod was not called to create a new theology but to clarify and defend what the Reformers had already taught. The goal was simple: to answer the five Arminian articles with five biblical counterpoints.

Robert Godfrey notes in Saving the Reformation, “The Synod of Dort did not give birth to Calvinism; it saved it.” Without Dort, the Reformation might have fractured into human-centered religion. With Dort, it stood firmly anchored in Scripture.

Dort’s decisions were rooted not in philosophical speculation but in the straightforward exegesis of the Word of God. The Synod proclaimed that salvation, from beginning to end, is the sovereign work of a merciful God.

The Structure of the Canons
The Canons of Dort were organized around five “heads of doctrine.” Later generations summarized them with the familiar acrostic TULIP, but the Synod’s language was far more pastoral and precise. Let’s briefly walk through each “head” as Dort originally expressed them.


The Pastoral Tone of Dort
Contrary to the caricatures of cold scholasticism, the Synod of Dort was profoundly pastoral. Each doctrine was framed not as an argument for theologians, but as comfort for believers.

Election was meant to produce humility and gratitude.

Definite atonement was meant to assure the believer of Christ’s complete sufficiency.

Irresistible grace was meant to display the power of the Spirit.

Perseverance was meant to give peace in life and death.

The Canons conclude with this beautiful line: “This same doctrine of divine election, by the guidance of the Spirit, daily affords greater occasion for humbling ourselves before God, for adoring the depth of His mercies, for cleansing ourselves, and for rendering grateful returns of ardent love to Him.”

That’s not cold Calvinism—that’s warm worship.

The Outcome and Enduring Impact
The Synod’s findings were adopted unanimously by the Reformed delegates, and the Remonstrants who refused to recant were expelled from the church. Yet the goal was never mere exclusion—it was protection. The Synod sought to preserve the purity of the gospel.

The Canons of Dort, together with the Belgic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism, became known as the Three Forms of Unity, defining the theological backbone of the Reformed faith.

Their influence reached far beyond the Netherlands. The Westminster Assembly (1646) and the 1689 London Baptist Confession both drew heavily from Dort’s conclusions.

R.C. Sproul once said, “If there had been no Dort, there would be no Reformation today.” The Synod ensured that the church would continue to proclaim a God-centered gospel, not a man-centered one.

The Heart of Dort
Dort’s message was simple:

• God elects according to His will
• Christ redeems according to His purpose
• The Spirit regenerates according to His power
• And the saints persevere according to His promise

From beginning to end, salvation belongs to the Lord.

These truths, clarified at Dort, remain the immovable foundation of biblical Christianity. Every true church, every faithful preacher, and every redeemed sinner stands secure because of this confession: it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

The Reformation had rediscovered grace. Dort defined it. And from that definition flowed centuries of revival, missions, and worship rooted not in human ability but in divine sovereignty.