Tom
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 4,513
Joined: April 2001
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#56336
Tue Sep 01, 2020 8:28 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,513 Likes: 13
Needs to get a Life
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OP
Needs to get a Life
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,513 Likes: 13 |
I have a question concerning article 17 of the Canons of Dordt. Article 17. Since we are to judge of the will of God from his Word, which testifies that the children of believers are holy, not by nature, but in virtue of the covenant of grace, in which they, together with the parents, are comprehended, godly parents have no reason to doubt of the election and salvation of their children, whom it pleaseth God to call out of this life in their infancy. It appears that this is saying that the children who die in infancy of godly parents by implication are elect and saved. Do I understand this properly? Tom
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,445 Likes: 57
Head Honcho
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Head Honcho
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,445 Likes: 57 |
Indeed you do understand what the Canons are teaching in Article 17 correctly. This is a classic statement of the infamous "Presumptive Regeneration". As I have so often stated here and elsewhere... I categorically reject this one article of the Canons of Dordt to which I have a great respect and love. I find not one shred of evidence in Scripture to support that view. And interesting enough, the authors of the Canons don't supply even one single passage to support this article. It is more often than not that 1Samuel 12:14-31 is referenced, and particularly verse 23 to give proof that David's son Chilead, aka: Daniel whose life was taken as an infant by God for David's sin of being guilty in the death of Uriah, was saved. But if one reads this verse carefully and without a presuppositional bias, David is simply saying that he (David) would eventually die and be as his dead son. And if one wishes the text to mean that David would actually see his son after his death, there is absolutely no warrant to make this a universal doctrine of salvation of infants of believing parents who die in infancy are infallibly saved. The Westminster Confession, Chapter 10 - Article 3 I believe states the truth in this matter as does the Savoy Declaration: III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who works when, and where, and how He pleases: so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word. Peter, in his Pentecostal sermon makes it even more clear with these words: Acts 2:37-39 (ASV) 37 Now when they heard [this,] they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? 38 And Peter [said] unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. The bolded part of the text is speaking of the "effectual calling" of God to whom the promise of the Holy Spirit is given, which is ONLY applicable to the elect (cf. Rom 8:29,30). What can be incontrovertibly presumed based on the infallible Word of God is that ALL without exception are born dead in sin and under the just wrath of God for they own the punishment of their father Adam, i.e., Original Sin; imputed guilt and corruption of nature. (Eph 2:1-5; Rom 5:12; 1Cor 15:21,22). Being born to one or more believing parents has no inherent guarantee of salvation to the children, whether they die in infancy or grey haired.
simul iustus et peccator
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