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Reformation Theology


The 500th anniversary of the official start of the Protestant Reformation is now over. Shall we then forget the past and move on? What shall we expect for the next 500 years, should the Lord tarry his return?

I deem it appropriate, for the sake of clarity, to reiterate what exactly was the essential theology of the Reformation, at least as it crystallised in the classic Confessions of reformed Christianity, such as the famous Westminster Confession of Faith. And I do this according to the wise saying, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."

I speak as a pastor and teacher of the Reformed faith, admirably developed by the French reformer, John Calvin. It is a coherent and consistent system of belief that traces its roots to the “school of Christ” in Geneva, to be sure. But Calvin certainly wasn’t its originator. 

With the other Reformers, he held fast to the credo of holding to the Bible alone as the supreme authority for the church, as it was in the first centuries of the Christian church. Whenever councils or popes or past theologians were in conflict with Holy Scripture, Calvin was bold enough not only to criticise, but also to reject their pronouncements. So the Reformation, in its purest form, was a call ad fontes, to revert to the source of truth.

Indeed, while the Reformation began as a protest against the abuse of indulgences – salvation by the shilling – it went much deeper than that. It went on to seek what exactly is divine truth, and where is it to be discovered. The Reformers sought to give evidence that whatever they propounded, they had biblical support for it. 

This was a far cry from what was happening in their times, when tradition reigned supreme, up to a point where Scripture was neglected and even blatantly contradicted. Today, in Roman Catholicism, Holy Scripture and so-called Sacred Tradition are held on an equal par, as two sources of divine revelation. The Reformers, by contrast, rightly taught us to trust Scripture alone. It is the inspired and authoritative Word of God, sufficient in all matters of faith and morals.

Calvin, but no less the other Reformers, brought forward the sovereignty of God. The Creator of this universe indeed rules with absolute control over all beings and all things. He has foreordained all events and is therefore never frustrated in any way by circumstances. Only such a God, as revealed to us by the prophets, but especially and supremely by Jesus Christ, his Son, is worthy of our admiration, praise and worship. God’s control over his creation and creatures does not limit the will of the creature, nor does it make God the author of sin. From the moment of his creation, man was and continues to be accountable to his Maker. 

Man failed to keep the covenant with God. We are now completely helpless in our sinful state, are under the wrath of God, and can in no way please God. This is the important doctrine of total depravity. It also means that man will not naturally seek to know God, until God graciously prompts him to do so (Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18).

Reformed theology, in strict accordance to the Scripture, also teaches that God in his grace and mercy has chosen to redeem a people to Himself, delivering them from sin and death. This election, of choice, is unconditional. From eternity past, without considering their worth or good will or positive disposition, God has chosen to save a great multitude of sinners, which no man can number (Romans 8:29-30; 9:11; Ephesians 1:4-6,11-12). 

In the fullness of time, the Son of God took on human flesh, being born of a virgin. He eventually took the judgement for the sin of the elect upon Himself and thereby paid for their lives with His death. In other words, He did not simply make salvation possible or available, as if now it depends on us to merit salvation by participation in the sacraments or by religious activity or good works. No, Christ actually obtained it for those whom He had chosen (Matthew 1:21; John 10:11; 17:9; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:32; Ephesians 5:25). 

But how are sinners, then, to benefit from this wondrous redemption? In his fallen state, man resists God’s love, but the grace of God working in his heart makes him desire what he had previously resisted. That is, God’s grace will not fail to accomplish its saving work in the elect (John 6:37,44; 10:16).

And not only so: those whom God calls, he also preserves unto eternal salvation. God protects His saints from falling away; thus, salvation is secure, and the true Christian can come to a sweet assurance that he is indeed a recipient of God’s marvellous grace, and therefore an heir of heaven (John 10:27-29; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:3-14). All this proves that salvation in no way depends on man, but solely on God who exercises his mercy towards his elect. 

Furthermore, Reformed theology teaches that Christians are in the world to make a difference, spiritually through sharing this good news with others, and socially through holy living, acting as salt and light in a dark world. Christians count it a privilege to obey and serve God, because he loved them first (Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 4:11-21).

As long as we hold fast to this sound theology, under God's blessing, the future of the church cannot be bleak. I call my fellow brethren in the Lord to be faithful to the deposit of faith as we have it in Holy Scripture. Critics will continue to criticise, but we move on, "more than conquerors through him who loved us."

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