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Getting Aquainted With Reformed Theology |
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Hello again,
Like my collar? Makes me look like like I'm about to hear confessions doesn't it? (lol) Well I'm sorry but I am not here to tell you that your sins are forgiven (that's God's job), but I am here to help you get aquainted with Reformed Theology. Reformed Theology is a system of Christian Theology, and an approach to Christian life and thought articulated by John Calvin, a Protestant Reformer. Because it was articulated by Calvin it is also called Calvinism, but because Calvin's ideas were derived from St. Augustine it is sometimes called Augustinianism. Though it is mainly known for its doctrines of predestination and election, the crux of Reformed theology is its soteriology (doctrine of salvation). The Reformed doctrine of satlvation is comprised of a series of doctrines called the Doctrines of Grace, and these doctrines are usually explained through the acronym TULIP but I will use the acronym GRACE (Thank you Cyrene Ministries for coming up with this one). Now if you just move on down the page, I will walk with you through Reformed soteriology by looking at each part of GRACE. |
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Step by Step through the Doctrines of Grace |
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God's Sovereign Election |
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That God is sovereign is an undeniable truth taught throughout the Bible. He is sovereign over all things from the rains that fall on the earth (Amos 4.7) to the kings who reign in the earth (Prov. 21:1). There is no place to which His sovereingty does not reach. This includes the election of human beings unto salvation. The Bible is clear that as Christians, God chose us in Him before the foundations of the world to be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will (Eph. 1:4-5). We are elected by God not because we ran so hard or wildes so strongly but because He is merciful (Rom. 9:15-16). If god is sovereign then He must be as soveriegn in election as He is in changing the weather |
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Radical depravity |
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There is no question that the Bible represents human beings as being in rebellion and even at war with God. This warfare is the manifestation of sin, which when it entered by Adam (), it pervaded our entire existance. So that noe all people are reckoned, apart from Christ, as being spiritually dead in trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1). Apart from Christ we are perpetually engaging in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and are by nature, that is birth, chidren of wrath (Eph. 2:3). This grip of sin on the natural human beings makes him not only unwilling, but even unable to submit to will and ways of God or to please God by his good deeds (Rom. 8:7-8). This is to say that humans are corrupt, even radically depraved. |
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Accomplished Redemption |
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The coming of Christ into the world had an intentional divine purpose. He came to save sinners from their sin. This was the purpose of Christ on earth because it was the purpose of God from all eternity. The Bible speak of Christ death on the cross as being intentional and designed. He is spoken of as having saved His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). He is said to have been the shephard who lays down His life for His sheep (John 10:14-15). He is understood as giving His life for the church (Eph. 5:25). His people, His sheep, the church are just synontms for the elect whom God has chosen for redemption before the foundations of the world (Eph. 1:4-5). We are not to think of Christ making redemption possible for His sheep, His people, or the church. We are to understand that the redemption He came to bring to the elect, is the redemption He accomplished once and for all for His people (Heb. 7:27). |
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Called Effectually |
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Those whom the Father sovereignly elects for all eternity and those whom the Son redeems are those whom the Spirit transforms from dead sinners to alive saints. All those whom God has appointed unto salvation (Acts 13:48) not only recieve the outward call of the gospel (all who hear the preached Word thus recieve this external calling), but also will inevitably recieve the inward call of the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:4; Rom. 8:30; 2 Tim 1:9). By this work of the Holy Spirit they are drawn to God for salvation (Matt 11:25-27; John 6:37, 44; 10:4, 14-16). This regenerating call of God in the heart of a sinner is not thwarted or comprimised. For is God determines to save someone who can deter His purpose (Isa. 14:27)? As the Scriptures declare, Moreover, whom He predestined He also called, whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified these He also glorified (Rom 8:30). |
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Endurance of the Saints |
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The final point is a fitting culmination of all the previous points. It states that God preserves and perseveres with those who come to faith through the efficacious work of God in redemption. Those whom God has called and justified by His grace will be glorified for His glory. And none of those whom he has ordained unto salvation will be lost. They will endure in grace, because He who has begun a good work in them will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6). The saved endure because they are secure; they are those kept by the power of god through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Pet. 1:5). In other words, we are not elected by God only to be rejected by God. We, who are elected in eternity, are protected through time. |
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(One final note)To be saved by grace alone is to be saved by God alone. Only a truly sovereign salvation is a secure salavation. It is absolutely glorious to God and absolutely good for us. |
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Well, that's the "crash course" for Reformed Theology (lol), and I hope that it gave you a better understanding of it. If you are still confused about anything, click on the picture of Calvin's seal to the right and it will take you to a site where there is an in depth description of Reformed Theology. Now if you're not confused at this point you might be wondering about the arguments against Reformed Theology, and if you click on the burning heart on the lower right of the page you will see some of those arguments and counter arguments against them. |
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| Dos |
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Ver L'avant |
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