| Doctrinal Distinctive |
Opposing Error |
Chapt.Para |
Major Scriptural Support |
|
|
|
|
| 1. Christian (Orthodox) |
Damning Heretical Doctrines |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1.1 re: Scripture |
Liberal; Neo-Orthodox |
Ch. 1 |
1Jn 4:6 |
| 1.2 re: God |
Jehovah Witness |
Ch. 2 |
1Jn 5:12; 2Jn 7-11 |
| 1.3 re: Creation & Providence |
Evolution, Chance |
Ch. 4, 5,
6 |
Ac 17:30-31 |
| 1.4 re: Christ |
Liberal; Neo-Orthodox
Jehovah Witness
|
Ch. 8 |
Ro 10:9-10 |
| 1.5 re: The Gospel |
Roman Catholic |
Ch. 11 |
Gal 1:6-10 |
| 1.6 re: The Christian Life |
Easy Believism |
Ch. 11.2, 13 |
1Co 6:9-10 |
| 1.7 re: The World to Come |
Universalism
Annihilationism
|
Ch. 31, 32 |
2Ti 2:16-18; Re 22:19; 20:15; 14:9-11 |
|
|
|
|
| 2. Covenantal |
Dispensational |
Ch. 7 |
Ac 4:12; Jer 31:31-34; 1Co 11:25; Ro 9:6; Gal 3:29; Php 3:3 |
|
|
|
|
| 3. Calvinistic
(Following the cannons of the Synod of Dort)
|
Arminian (Hypercalvinist) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 3.1 The Planning of Salvation:
Unconditional Election
|
Foreseen Merit |
Ch. 3 |
Mt 11:20-28; Eph 1:4-5 |
| 3.2 The Accomplishment of Salvation:
Definite Atonement
|
Universal Atonement |
Ch. 8.5; 8.8 |
Ro 8:32 |
| 3.3 Conversion |
|
|
|
| 3.3.1 Total Inability (Depravity) |
Prevenient Grace |
Ch. 9 (Ch.
6) |
Ro 8:7-8; Jer 13:23; Jn 6:44 |
| 3.3.2 The Free Offer of the Gospel |
Hypercalvinism |
Ch. 7.2, Ch.
20.3 |
Mt 28-30; 28:19; Jn 5:34 |
| 3.3.3 Irresistible Grace |
Decisionism |
Ch 10, Ch.
20.4 |
Ro 9:14-16 |
| 3.4 The Christian Life:
Perseverance of the Saints
|
Falling from Grace |
Ch. 17 |
Php 1:6 |
|
|
|
|
| 4. Puritan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4.1 Liberty of Conscience |
Legalism; Traditionalism; Catholicism; Anglicanism |
Ch. 21 |
Ro 14:4; Mt 15:9 |
| 4.2 God-honoring Worship |
|
Ch. 22; 23 |
|
| 4.2.1 The Regulative Principle |
Anglicanism; Sovereign Grace;
Charismatic |
Ch. 22.1 |
De 12:32 |
| 4.2.2 God's Designated Day:
The Christian Sabbath
|
Libertarian, Sovereign
Grace |
Ch. 22.7, 22.8 |
Ex 20:8; 1Co 16:1-2; Is 58:13 |
| 4.3 The Priority of Experimental Religion:
Scrupulous piety and devotion
|
Theonomy; Formalism; Health-Wealth;
Charismatic; Sovereign Grace |
Ch. 10 - 20 |
|
| 4.3.1 Careful Consideration of the Blessings of Experimental
Religion |
|
Ch. 10 - 13 |
Calling, Justification, Adoption, Sanctification |
| 4.3.2 Diligent Cultivation of the Graces of Experimental Religion |
|
Ch. 14 - 18 |
Faith, Repentance, Good Works, Perseverance, Assurance |
| 4.3.3 Conscientious Compliance with the Obligations of Experimental
Religion:
Evangelical Obedience to God's Law and Gospel
|
|
Ch. 19 - 20 |
Ro 2:14-15; 3:19-20, 31; 7:7-12, 25; 8:4, 7; 13:8-10; Ro 1:15-17; 2:16 |
| 4.4 The Propriety of Civic Duty |
Anabaptists, Pietism |
Ch. 24 |
Lk 3:14 |
| 4.5 The Propriety and Purity of Christian Marriage |
Romanists, Asceticism |
Ch. 25 |
Heb 13:4; 1Ti 4:3 |
|
|
|
|
| 5. Independent and Baptistic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 5.1 re: separation of Church & State |
Erastianism; established religion |
Ch. 24 (deletion of WC paragraph) |
Col 1:18; 1Co 12:27-28; Ac 16:4; 1Co 6:1 |
| 5.2 re: Universal Church Principles |
Landmarkism; Roman Catholicism |
Ch. 26.1 - 4 |
Heb 12:23; Eph 3:21; Gal 1:13, 22 |
| 5.3 re: Local Church Polity
(Adapted from the Savoy Platform of Polity)
|
|
Ch. 26.5 - 15 |
|
| 5.3.1 Regenerate Local Church Membership |
Paedobaptism; formalism |
Ch. 26.2, 26.6
(SP 8)
|
Ac 2:41-42; 5:13-14; 2Co 6:14-18 |
| 5.3.2 Mandatory and Autonomous Local Church Formation |
Denominationalism; Synodical government |
Ch. 26.5, 26.7
(SP 2, 3, 4)
|
Mt 18:15-20; 28:20; Ac 14:21-23 |
| 5.3.3 Presbyterial Local Church Government |
Episcopal; Congregational |
Ch. 26.8 - 11
(SP 7, 9, 11, 13)
|
Ac 14:21-23; 20:17,28; Php 1:1; Tit 1:5 |
| 5.3.4 The Necessity of Local Church Discipline |
Pragmatism, crass individualism |
Ch. 26.12 - 13
(SP 20, 21)
|
Mt 18:15-17; Ro 16:17-20; 1Co 5:1-11; 2Th 3:6, 14-15; Tit 3:10-11 |
| 5.3.5 The Propriety and Benefit of Local Church Associations |
Landmarkism |
Ch. 26.14 - 15
(SP 25, 26)
|
2Co 8:18-19, 23 |
| 5.4 re: Broader Church Fellowship and Benevolence |
Social gospel; Parachurch movements |
Ch. 27 |
1Co 12:14-27; Ac 11:29-30 |
| 5.5 re: Sacraments |
|
Ch. 28 - 30 |
|
| 5.5.1 Believer Only Baptism |
Paedobaptism |
|
Ac 2:41; 8:12; 10:47-48; 18:8; Col 2:11-12 |
| 5.5.2 Believer Only Communion |
The Mass |
|
Heb 9:25-26, 28; 1Co 11:24 |
|
|
|
|
This table was prepared by Pastor Greg Nichols, Grand Rapids Reformed
Baptist Church. Used by permission.
