CANON 5. If anyone says that not only the increase of faith but also its beginning and the very desire for faith, by which we believe in Him who justifies the ungodly and comes to the regeneration of holy baptism — if anyone says that this belongs to us by nature and not by a gift of grace, that is, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit amending our will and turning it from unbelief to faith and from godlessness to godliness, it is proof that he is opposed to the teaching of the Apostles, for blessed Paul says, “And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).  And again, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). For those who state that the faith by which we believe in God is natural make all who are separated from the Church of Christ by definition in some measure believers.¹ Read More»
—Canons And Decrees Of The Second Council Of Orange, (AD 529)

NOTES

1. We are publishing this canon as part of the serial publication of the Canons of the Second Council of Orange (AD 529) to illustrate the existence of the Augustinian doctrine of salvation not as an endorsement of everything decreed by the Council. By the early sixth century the Augustinians (and others) had so identified the thing signified (regeneration, i.e., the divine gift of new life) with the sign (baptism) that the sign became the thing signified. The Reformed churches rejected this error and restored the distinction between the sign and the thing signified without diminishing the sign or losing the thing signified. The point stands, however, that sovereign grace comes first and that by it God freely regenerates his elect.

Resources

• How To Subscribe To Heidelmedia
• The Heidelblog Resource Page
• Heidelmedia Resources
• The Ecumenical Creeds
• The Reformed Confessions
• The Heidelberg Catechism
• Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008)
• Why I Am A Christian
• Support Heidelmedia: use the donate button
• Canons And Decrees Of The Second Council Of Orange (AD 529)
• Resources On The Canons And Synod Of Dort
• On The Value Of Confessions
• Witsius On Aspects Of True Faith
• In By Grace, Stay In By Faithfulness?
• Calvin On Salvation By Grace Alone Through Faith Alone
• Godfrey: Edwards Rejected The Reformed Definition Of Faith In The Act Of Justification
• Salvation Through Grace Alone (Acts 15:11)
• How Did We Come To Faith?
• Olevianus: Salvation Is Through Faith Alone Because Christ Is A Complete Savior