Unconditional election; Canons of Dort; double predestination acknowledged; varies internally
The RCA affirms the teaching of the Canons of Dort regarding predestination: God has eternally determined to save some and pass by others in accordance with his sovereign good pleasure, not based on foreseen faith or works. This is unconditional election grounded in divine sovereignty.
The RCA teaches that God's predestination encompasses the end (salvation) and the means (faith, obedience). Double predestination is acknowledged—that God has predestined both the elect to salvation and the reprobate to damnation—though the manner in which this coheres with human responsibility and freedom is debated within the denomination.
The doctrine is intended to comfort believers in their assurance and to exalt God's power and grace. Some within the RCA lean toward infralapsarian language (reprobation conditioned on the reality of sin), while others are comfortable with supralapsarian formulations. This internal diversity is tolerated as both views affirm the core Calvinist convictions of unconditional election and divine sovereignty.
Key Distinctions
- Election model:
- Unconditional; not based on foreseen faith
- Double predestination:
- Both election and reprobation affirmed
- Free will teaching:
- Compatibilist; divine sovereignty and human agency cohere
Scripture References
Sources
- Heidelberg Catechism
- Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 21