Battle for Sovereign Grace in the Covenant: The Declaration of Principles

by David J Engelsma

Overview

The Battle for Sovereign Grace in the Covenant recounts much of the gripping history of the schism of 1953 within the Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC), the culmination of the hard fought battle for sovereign grace in the covenant. The book includes new, important details that have not been previously published and also provides the history of the controversial adoption by the PRCA of the Declaration of Principles, the document that in some ways occasioned the schism of 1953. In the appendices of the book, Engelsma gives a brief, valuable commentary on the Declaration, the first commentary to be written.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936054190
Publisher:	Reformed Free Publishing Association
Publication date:	06/04/2013
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.69(d)

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter One: Provisional Adoption of the Declaration

The Author

Controversy

Chapter Two: The Content of the Declaration

Preamble

Introduction

The Covenant Promise

Covenant and Election

Unconditionality

Conclusions

Responsibility

Autonomy of the Congregation

Fundamental Truths

Chapter Three: Decisive Adoption

Atmosphere of Opposition

A Divided Synod

A Remarkable Sermon

The Unpacking of Synod

Covenant Responsibility

Continuing Opposition

Chapter Four: Challenged at the Synod of 1953

A Pertinent Sermon at the Synod of 1952

Appeals to the Synod of 1953

A Divided Committee of Pre-advice

Speeches at the Synod

Chapter Five: Upheld by the Protestant Reformed Churches

Schism

Nullification of the Declaration by the Schismatics

Inaction of the PRC

Chapter Six: Effects of the Adoption of the Declaration

Treachery

Disreputable Ecumenicity

“Finishing of the Stocking”

Salvation

Salutary Warning to the PRC

Chapter Seven: Response to Criticism of the Declaration

Criticism by the Schismatics

Criticism by Schilder

Appendix One: Time Line of the History of the Declaration of

Principles and of the Schism in the Protestant Reformed Churches

Appendix Two: Declaration of Principles of the Protestant

Reformed Churches

Appendix Three: Brief Commentary on the Declaration of

Principles of the Protestant Reformed Churches

I. Preamble

II. Section One

III. Section Two

IV. Section Three

V. Section Four

Appendix Four: Covenant Salvation: “Contingent on What We Do”

The Root of Shepherd’s Theology

A Conditional Covenant, Cut Loose from Election

The Well-Meant Offer

Salvation “Contingent on What We Do”

Conditional Justification

Condemned by the Creeds

Conclusion

Appendix Five: Yet Again Shepherd and the Federal Vision:

“The Issue [is] Contingency”

Shepherd on Shepherd

“The Issue [is] Contingency”

Justification by Good Works

Postmillennialism

Against the Root of Shepherd’s Theology, the Protestant

Reformed Churches