Canons of Dordt Index
The Canons of Dordt are often referred to as the Doctrines of Grace, or sometimes as the Five Points of Calvinism. They're best known by the acronym TULIP (Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, all of which culminate in the Perseverance of the saints).
Read about the Synod of Dordt's history and ongoing relevance
(Messy Reformation / Jason Ruis)
In 2025, we're using the Canons of Dordt as our roadmap for reading the Bible together each weekday. We'll follow the actual order they come in (ULTIP). This year, every Friday we'll be reading from the Psalms!
Join us in 2025 as we learn that God's grace is stronger than we are.
Other indexes:
POINT 1 - Unconditional Election
Article 1: God’s Right to Condemn All People
Romans 5:12-14 - Mis-Markmanship
Deuteronomy 28:15-20 - Not A Tame Lion
Luke 15:11-16 - Prodigious Deprivation
Psalm 143 - Aggressive Prayer Pattern
Article 2: The Manifestation of God’s Love
Zephaniah 3:14-17 - The Mighty Warrior Who Saves
Lamentations 3:19-23 - Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Article 3: The Preaching of the Gospel
1 Timothy 2:1-7 - God Our Savior
Rom 10:14-17 - The Power of Preaching
1 Cor 1.23-24 - God's Foolishness
Psalm 93 - Mightier Than Chaos
Article 4: A Twofold Response to the Gospel
John 6:37-40 - Tensegral Theology
John 12:42-50 - Buffet Theology
Article 5: The Sources of Unbelief and of Faith
James 1:13-18 - The Devil (didn't) Make You Do It
Ecclesiastes 7:25-29 - Many Schemes
Ephesians 2:8 - The Gift of God
Psalm 95 - The LORD is OUR God
Article 6: God’s Eternal Decree
Ezekiel 36:24-27 - A Whole New Reality
Romans 9:15-21 - God's Mercy, Not Your Effort
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 - Love The Truth
Article 7: Election
Ephesians 1:3-6 - Before the Foundation
Deuteronomy 7:1-10 - Set Apart
John 17:1-5 - Sovereign Submission
Psalm 115 - God Does What He Pleases
Article 8: A Single Decree of Election
Romans 4:1-8 - One and the Same
Romans 4:9-17 - Chicken or Egg?
Romans 4:18-25 - Faithfully Face the Facts
Hebrews 11:39-40 - Promises Kept
Psalm 33 - God's Control, Authority & Presence
Article 9: Election Not Based on Foreseen Faith
2 Timothy 1:7-10 - Passive & Powered
Deuteronomy 9:4-6 - You're Not That Awesome
Psalm 91 - The Shelter of the Most High
Article 10: Election Based on God’s Good Pleasure
Luke 2:13-14 - Christmas in March
Galatians 4:1-7 - From Slave to Son
1 Peter 2:9-10 - You're The Best Thing God Has!
Article 11: God’s election is unalterable.
Malachi 3:6-7 - Keep It Simple
Hebrews 6:13-20 - Unchanging Anchor
Hebrews 13:1-8 - Keep On Loving
Hebrews 6:13-20 - Unchangeable Blessing
Article 12: The Assurance of election
Hebrews 11:1-6 - Confident Assurance
Malachi 3:14-18 - Childlike Fear
2 Corinthians 7:8-11 - Godly Sorrow
Psalm 65 - The Hearer of Prayers
Article 13/14: The Fruit of our assurance
Isaiah 57:14-21 - God's Second Residence
2 Peter 1:3-10 - Make Every Effort
Isaiah 42:1-9 - The Sovereign & His Servant
Deuteronomy 29:29 - The Secret Things
Article 15: Reprobation
Matthew 11:25-27 - Hidden in Plain Sight
Proverbs 1:20-33 - Wisdom's Mockery
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 - Bait & Switch Evangelism
Matthew 13:24-29, 36-43 - The Enemy Within
Article 16: Responses to the Teaching of Reprobation
Matthew 14:22-33 - Incredulous Faith
Isaiah 50:10-11 - Matthew 12:15-21
Article 17: The Salvation of the Infants of Believers
Genesis 17:1-8 - Constructed Theology
Acts 2:39 - For You & Your Children
2 Samuel 12:22-23 - Serious Comfort for Searing Pain
Isaiah 59:21 - A Bond in Blood
Psalm 22:1-11 - The Path of Suffering Leads to Glory
Article 18: The Proper Attitude Toward Election and Reprobation
Matthew 20:1-16 - Payday Parable
Isaiah 45:9-13 - Questions That Kill
Jeremiah 18:1-10 - God's Sovereignty / Our Responsibility
Romans 11:33-36 - The Riches Are In the Depths
Psalm 131 - Calm, Quiet Contentment
POINT 2 - Limited Atonement
Article 1: The Punishment Which God’s Justice Requires
Hebrews 10:26-31 - Close Enough Doesn't Count
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 - Oxymoronic Punishment
Luke 12:4-5 - What Are You So Afraid Of?
Romans 3:21-26 - The Seat of our Salvation
Psalm 85 - Where Wrath & Restoration Meet
Article 2: The Satisfaction Made by Christ
2 Corinthians 5:21 - Trading Places
Psalm 90 - Moses' Model Prayer
Article 3: The Infinite Value of Christ’s Death
Hebrews 10:14 - Shadows Are Real
John 1:29-31 - Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
John 4:42 - Your Words (Should) Lead to God's Word
Psalm 49 (v7-9) - You Can't Afford It
Article 4/5: Reasons for This Infinite Value / The Mandate to Proclaim the Gospel to All
John 1:9-18 esp. v. 14 - True Man
Hebrews 2:14-18 esp. v. 17 - The Perfect Sacrificial Lamb
John 3:16-17 - Ah...How Refreshing!
Psalm 19 - The Importance of Preaching
Article 6/7: Unbelief, a Human Responsibility / Faith is God's Gift
Article 8: The Saving Effectiveness of Christ’s Death
Philippians 1:1-6 - Confidence
Revelation 5:9-14 - Fortissimo
Psalm 147 - Infinite, Yet Limited
Article 9: The Fulfillment of God’s Plan
Matthew 16:13-20 - The Gates of Hades
Revelation 12:7-17 - The Church At War
Romans 11:1-6 - The Elijah Syndrome
Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Radiant Bride
POINT 3 - Total Depravity
Article 1: The Effect of the Fall on Human Nature
Genesis 1:26-27 - Created To Be Like God
Genesis 3:1-7 - Polite Temptations
Romans 3:9-18 - The Ugliest Passage
Ephesians 4:17-19 - It's All Broken
Psalm 36 - Total, but not Totally
Article 2: The Spread of Corruption
Genesis 5:1-8 - The Story Begins
Genesis 8:20-22 - Cute But Sinful
Titus 3:3-7 - The Well Intentioned Heretic
Romans 5:12-14 - The Typical Gospel
Article 3: Total Inability
Genesis 6:5-8 - Only Evil All the Time
John 8:30-44 - Who's Your Father?
Romans 8:5-9 - No Such Thing As 'Pretty Good'
Article 4: The Inadequacy of the Light of Nature
Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 - Perpetual Monday
Acts 17:26-27 - You'll Never Be Smart Enough
Romans 1:18-32 - Mankind's Thinking Problem
John 1:6-14 - Recognize, Receive, Believe
Psalm 10 - When God Stands Far Off
Article 5: The Inadequacy of the Law
Exodus 20:1-17 & Matthew 22:37-40 - Loving God and Loving Neighbor
Galatians 2:15-16 - Back to the Basics
Romans 3:9-20 - Freed From Sin's Dominion
Romans 7:7-25 - What’s the Remedy?
Psalm 1 esp. v. 2 - God’s Good Will
Article 6: The Saving Power of the Gospel
1 Corinthians 2:12–14 - Triumphal Procession
1 Corinthians 1:21 - Scandalous
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - This Just In
2 Peter 1:16-21 - A Light Shining Into the Darkness
POINT 4 - Irresistible Grace
Article 7-8: God’s Freedom & Earnest Call in Revealing the Gospel
Galatians 3:26-29 - Difference Destroyer
Romans 11:22-27 - All Israel Will Be Saved?
Isaiah 55:1-13 - True Refreshment
John 6:35-40 - Irresistible Gospel
Article 9: Human Responsibility for Rejecting the Gospel
Matthew 13:10-16 - Blind Sight
Matthew 13:3-9,18-19 - Seed Snatcher
Matthew 13:3-9,20-21 - Strong & Deep
Matthew 13:3-9,22 - Choked Out
Matthew 13:3-9,23 - Positive Yield
Article 10: Conversion as the Work of God
Romans 9:15-16 - Dependence Day
Philippians 2:13 - Divine Energeō
Galatians 1:3-5 - Profoundly Ordinary
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 - True Wisdom
Psalm 86 - Wholehearted Commitment
Article 11: The Holy Spirit’s Work in Conversion
Hebrews 2:1-4 - Don't Drift Away
Hebrews 4:12-13 - Weapon of Mass Regeneration
Ezekiel 11:17-21 - Regenerated Relationship
Philippians 1:9-11 - Synthetic Fruit
Psalm 119:33-40 - Spiritual & Physical Reorientation
Article 12: Regeneration a Supernatural Work
2 Corinthians 4:5-6 - The Preacher's Simple Job
Deuteronomy 30:1-6 - Cycle Breaker
Acts 13:44-48 - Activated Will
John 6:60-66 - Does This Offend You?
Article 13-14: The Incomprehensible Way of Regeneration
Acts 5:31 - Just The Good 'Ol Boys
Acts 11:15-18 - Who Do We Think We Are?
Acts 16:13-15 - Open Heart (Mind) Surgery
Acts 18:27 - Help From All Over
Psalm 80 - Restore Us, God of Angel Armies!
Article 15: Responses to God’s Grace
Job 38:1-11, 41:11 - Unfair Grace
Acts 8:9-24 - The Visible Church
Article 16: Regeneration’s Effect
John 6:43-47 - Aggressive Gentleness
2 Corinthians 3:12-18 - Metamorphed
Jeremiah 10:23-25 - You Are Not Your Own
Article 17: God’s Use of Means in Regeneration
Isaiah 45:22-25 - The Unrevoked Gospel
2 Timothy 4:1-5 - PREACH THE WORD
Psalm 127 - The Antidote to Inconsequentiality
POINT 5 - Perseverance of the Saints
Article 1: The Regenerate Not Entirely Free from Sin
1 John 1:1-4 - Profoundly Mutual
1 John 1:8-10 - True Faithfulness & Justice
1 John 2:1-2 - Dear Children (That's You)
Psalm 32 - Theology You Can Feel In Your Bones
Article 2: The Believer’s Reaction to Sins of Weakness
Galatians 5:16-18 - Walk This Way
Colossians 3:1-10 - Violent Piety
Philippians 3:12-14 - The Persistence of the Saints
Psalm 130 - The Depths of Despair
Article 3: God’s Preservation of the Converted
John 15:1-8 - Remain in Christ
Isaiah 64:1-8 - Don't Rely on Rags
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 - Enriched in Every Way
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 - God Will Strengthen You
Article 4: The Danger of True Believers’ Falling into Serious Sins
Numbers 20:1-13 - Gushing Grace
Article 5: The Effects of Such Serious Sins
Ephesians 4:30-5:2 - Monstrous Sins
Deuteronomy 31:1-8 - Just A Bit Outside
2 Samuel 12:1-23 - Powerful Confession
Psalm 38 - Sin's Comprehensive Effects
Article 6: God’s Saving Intervention
Matthew 12:30-32 - The Unforgiveable Sin
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - Cage-Stage Comfort
Hebrews 10:19-25 - The Confidence of the Saints
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 - Faithfully Kept
Psalm 23 - Comfort in the Dark Valley
Article 7: Renewal to Repentance
1 Peter 1:22-25 - Spiritual Teflon
1 John 3:7-10 - Don't Be Deceived
2 Corinthians 7:8-11 - Good Grief
1 Peter 1:13-21 - Godly Phobia
Psalm 119:65-72 - Good Affliction
Article 8: The Certainty of This Preservation
John 17:9-19 - Preserved by a Name
Romans 8:31-34 - Secured in Your Salvation
Heberws 7:25 - Complete to the Uttermost Forever
Micah 7:8-9 - The LORD Upholds Your Cause
Psalm 37 - The LORD Holds You Up
Article 9: The Assurance of This Preservation
Isaiah 26:1-6 - Peace Peace... Perfect Peace
2 Timothy 1:9-12 - Certainty Is NOT a Sin
Psalm 138 - Preserved In the Midst
Article 10 & 11: The Ground of This Assurance
Matthew 12:38-42 - You Don't Need More Signs
John 20:24-29 - Stop Doubting & Believe
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 - Things Happened
Article 12 & 13: This Assurance as an Incentive to Godliness
Romans 12:9-16 - Non-hypocritical Love
Romans 12:17-21 - Heap Burning Coals
Psalm 34 - Sanity in an Insane World
Romans 6:1-4 - Wretchedness Redeemed
Romans 6:11-14 - Spiritual Accounting
Romans 6:15-23 - Holy Profits!
Psalm 63 - Shade from the Shadow
Article 14: God’s Use of Means in Perseverance
Deuteronomy 6:20-25 - Listen, Learn and then Teach
Joshua 1:7-9 - Prosperity Gospel
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - When Good News Sounds Bad
Luke 22:14-20 - Christmas Feast
Article 15: Contrasting Reactions to the Teaching of Perseverance
Ephesians 1:3-10 - Predestined Doxology
Romans 16:25-27 - Established Doxology
1 Chronicles 29:10-13 - Appended Doxology