Canons of Dordt, III/IV: 9—“… and confers on them various gifts …”

It is not the fault of the gospel nor of Christ, offered therein, nor of God, who calls men by the gospel, and confers on them various gifts, that those who are called by the ministry of the Word refuse to come and be converted. The fault lies in themselves, some of whom when called, regardless of their danger, reject the word of life; others though they receive it, suffer it not to make a lasting impression on their heart; therefore, their joy arising only from a temporary faith, soon vanishes, and they fall away; while others choke the seed of the word by perplexing cares and the pleasures of this world, and produce no fruit. This our Saviour teaches in the parable of the sower, Matthew 13 (Canons of Dordt, III/IV, 9).

COMMON GRACE ARGUMENT

The “various gifts” mentioned in this article is thought to be gifts of “common grace” upon the reprobate wicked.

(I)

Rev. Steven R. Key

[Source: Protestant Reformed Theological Journal, vol. 37, number 2 (April 2004), pp. 45-64]

The second matter that deserves our attention is the reference to the “various gifts” God confers upon those who are called by the gospel but who refuse to come and be converted. The fathers apparently had in mind such passages as Romans 9:4-5 and the opening verses of Hebrews 6. Those gifts referred to, therefore, are not gifts of grace. But, as those passages make clear, they are the spiritual gifts given to the church, which are tasted only naturally by those who eventually fall away. In some cases, men come into very close contact with the truth and the gifts that belong to the kingdom of God. They see its beauty and goodness, and all that is associated with life in God’s kingdom. But they taste and see only with their natural senses, not having received the grace to receive them spiritually. In fact, God does not bestow those outward gifts upon them out of grace, but most assuredly to bring to manifestation their own wickedness and hardness of heart, and this according to His own sovereign decree (Canons I, 5-6).

---------------------------------------------------

(II)

Prof. David J. Engelsma

Canons III/IV. 9 speaks only of “gifts,” not grace.  Does God favor those who hear the gospel with grace? Does God, with the gifts of providence, bestow grace upon the ungodly? The issue between the Protestant Reformed Churches and those who oppose them concerns not “gifts,” but grace! No one denies that God gives gifts to the ungodly. Providential gifts includes rain and sunshine—but without grace, so that the gifts increase the guilt of the ungodly, who are not thankful and use the gifts to sin. Gifts that accompany the external call of the gospel and the intellectual knowledge of the Christian religion are some knowledge of God, of natural things, differences between good and evil, some regard to virtue, and maintaining an orderly external deportment (see Canons III/IV. 4). The culture of a “Christian nation” is better than that of a non-Christian nation. Scholars have argued convincingly that Calvinistic nations are more developed and culturally superior than and to non-Calvinistic nations. But cultural gifts are not grace. Superior cultures increase guilt, if the citizens are not thankful, but press their cultural advantages into gross sin, as we see happening today in N. America and Europe. Grace is the power to fear God and keep His commandments. Gifts without grace tend to advance iniquity and hell. Grace leads to holiness and heaven. (DJE, 21/11/2017)

---------------------------------------------------

(III)

Rev. Martyn McGeown

[Source: Grace and Assurance: The Message of the Canons of Dordt (RFPA, 2018), p. 236]

These gifts are not saving gifts, nor are they gifts of common grace, but they are various gifts common to the reprobate such as reason, conscience, and discernment. God gives everything to the reprobate except grace. Some sinners come very close to salvation; they even “taste” it, but they do not receive it (Heb. 6:4-6).

---------------------------------------------------

(IV)

Homer C. Hoeksema (1923-1989)

[Source: The Voice of our Fathers: An Exposition of the Canons of Dordrecht (RFPA, 2014), pp. 306-307]

[God] bestows on men, also on ungodly, reprobate men, all kinds of gifts. He bestows the gifts of reason, understanding, and discernment between right and wrong. These gifts are great and extensive. By them men are enlightened, taste of the heavenly gift, are partakers of the Holy Ghost, and taste the good word of God and the powers of the world to come” (Heb. 6:4–5). They have in abundance all the natural gifts necessary to understand the call of the gospel. One might say that—except for bestowing upon them grace—God puts them in the most advantageous position possible with respect to the gospel.

---------------------------------------------------

(V)

More to come! (DV)