Reformed

The description “reformed” refers to the theology that became dominant at the time of the Protestant Reformation of the 16^th century.  The reformation marked the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of modern times in Western civilization.  Though there were previous efforts of reformation of the Church prior to this time God singularly used and blessed the understanding and work of Martin Luther.  This religious renewal became the impulse to the forward movement and development of the western world as we know it.  Indeed we cannot rightly understand western culture without understanding the Church and its influence upon it.  The whole development of western culture and its attendant freedoms and progress are the fruit of the Protestant Reformation.

 What are the elements of the theology of the Reformation?

• Reformed theology stresses the sovereignty of God or His reign over all things (Psalm 103:19).  God determines all that comes to pass (Eph 1:11).  God therefore is also sovereign over the salvation of his people (John 6:44). 
   
• Reformed Theology emphasizes a Christ-Centered proclamation of the gospel, that salvation is wholly of God, by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone. 
   
• Reformed Theology teaches that God’s word, the Bible, is the Church’s and the believer’s ultimate authority.  It views the Bible as a historical organic unfolding of revelation which is structured by God’s covenants by which He establishes a relation with mankind.  The first covenant, the Covenant of Works was made with Adam and was broken by him (Genesis 2:15-17; Romans 5:12-21).  God made a second covenant, the Covenant of Grace by which He determined to save a people for himself (Gen 17:7, Galatians 3:7-14).
   
• Reformed Theology teaches the doctrines of grace (the five points of Calvinism or T-U-L-I-P) and man's spiritual helpless condition apart from Christ.
   
• Reformed Theology maintains the necessity of evangelism and the work of the Holy Spirit who alone brings the dead to life through the preaching of the word.

 There are five summary statements of Reformed Theology:

• For the Glory of God alone
   
• The Bible alone
   
• By Christ alone
   
• By Grace alone
   
• By Faith alone

Why the Emphasis on the Reformation today?

 Even as prior to the 16^th century the Church had become focused on man’s needs and ideas so the modern Church has drifted back to this same focus.  Rather than seek the glory of God in worship, salvation, and evangelism the Church has gone seeking after what people want.  The problem is that people naturally want sin.  With the Church’s loss of its right focus our culture has been left to degenerate from freedom (personal freedom to the slavery of collectivism) and progress (personal responsibility to licentiousness).  We seek to proclaim these biblical and timeless truths to our neighbors.  We want to see the Church reformed and revitalized by the Holy Spirit so that lives, families, and culture are transformed by the grace and power of God to the glory of God.

For further understanding see:

 What is the Reformed Faith? High Points of Calvinism by OPC

 What Is the Reformed Faith? Jack D. Kinneer

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