Understanding the Core of Reformed Theology

 

Summary

Reformed theology is a rich and systematic approach to understanding the Christian faith, deeply rooted in the historical and biblical tradition. It is not merely a set of doctrines imposed upon Scripture but rather an attempt to discern the coherent system of doctrine that emerges from the Bible itself. This approach assumes that the Bible, though diverse in its revelations, is unified in its truth, reflecting the coherence of God's character.

One of the paradoxes of Reformed theology is its doctrine of God. While the attributes of God—such as His eternality, invisibility, and omniscience—are shared across various Christian denominations, Reformed theology uniquely emphasizes the centrality of God's sovereignty. This doctrine is not just one among many but is the controlling doctrine that influences all other theological considerations. This relentless commitment to maintaining the purity of the doctrine of God is what sets Reformed theology apart.

Reformed theology is also catholic in the sense of being universal. It seeks to recover the historic Christian apostolic faith, embracing the core truths shared by all orthodox Christian bodies. This includes affirmations about the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, and the atonement, which are foundational to all Christian theology.

Furthermore, Reformed theology is evangelical, rooted in the Reformation's emphasis on justification by faith alone and the authority of Scripture. These doctrines were central to the Reformation and remain pivotal in distinguishing evangelical theology from other traditions.

Finally, while Reformed theology has its distinctives, such as the five points of Calvinism, it is crucial to remember that these distinctives rest upon a shared foundation with other Christian traditions. The Reformed faith is not isolated but is part of a broader Christian heritage that includes both catholic and evangelical elements.

Key Takeaways:

1. Systematic Theology's Role: Reformed theology is systematic, seeking to understand how the diverse truths of Scripture fit together coherently. This approach is not about imposing a system on the Bible but discovering the system within it, reflecting the unity of God's truth. [02:24]

2. The Paradox of God's Doctrine: While the attributes of God are universally affirmed across denominations, Reformed theology uniquely emphasizes God's sovereignty as the central doctrine that influences all others. This focus ensures that the character of God remains the controlling doctrine in all theological discussions. [10:07]

3. Catholicity of Reformed Theology: Reformed theology is catholic in the sense of being universal, aiming to recover the historic Christian faith shared by all orthodox believers. This includes foundational doctrines like the Trinity and the Deity of Christ, which are common to all Christian traditions. [11:28]

4. Evangelical Roots: The Reformed tradition is deeply evangelical, emphasizing justification by faith alone and the authority of Scripture. These doctrines were central to the Reformation and continue to define evangelical theology today. [16:50]

5. Distinctives and Common Foundations: While Reformed theology has distinctives, such as the five points of Calvinism, it is essential to remember that these rest on a shared foundation with other Christian traditions. The Reformed faith is part of a broader Christian heritage that includes both catholic and evangelical elements. [21:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - Introduction to Reformed Theology
- [01:05] - Systematic Theology Explained
- [02:24] - Coherence in Scripture
- [03:09] - Interconnectedness of Doctrines
- [04:32] - Symmetry of Scripture
- [05:12] - Paradox of God's Doctrine
- [06:23] - Common Attributes of God
- [07:30] - Sovereignty and Knowledge of God
- [08:51] - Controversies in Theology
- [10:07] - Purity of God's Doctrine
- [10:47] - Catholicity of Reformed Theology
- [12:07] - Historic Christian Affirmations
- [14:10] - Distinctives of Reformed Theology
- [16:50] - Evangelical Roots
- [18:46] - Reformed Theology's Distinctives
- [21:12] - Common Foundations and Distinctives

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Understanding Reformed Theology

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 11:36 - "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."
2. Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Observation Questions:
1. How does the sermon describe the role of systematic theology in understanding the Bible? [02:24]
2. What is the paradox mentioned in the sermon regarding the doctrine of God in Reformed theology? [06:57]
3. According to the sermon, what does it mean for Reformed theology to be catholic? [11:28]
4. How does the sermon explain the evangelical roots of Reformed theology? [16:50]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the doctrine of God's sovereignty influences other theological considerations? [10:07]
2. How does the sermon define the term "catholic" in the context of Reformed theology, and why is this significant? [11:28]
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between Reformed theology and other Christian traditions? [21:12]
4. How does the sermon connect the Reformation's emphasis on justification by faith alone to the evangelical nature of Reformed theology? [16:50]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your understanding of God's sovereignty. How does this belief influence your daily decisions and interactions with others? [08:51]
2. The sermon emphasizes the coherence of Scripture. How can you apply this understanding when studying the Bible to ensure you are not imposing your own interpretations? [02:24]
3. Consider the catholic nature of Reformed theology. How can you embrace the shared core truths of Christianity in your interactions with believers from different denominations? [11:28]
4. The sermon highlights the importance of justification by faith alone. How does this doctrine impact your view of salvation and your relationship with God? [16:50]
5. How can you ensure that the doctrine of God remains the controlling doctrine in your theological discussions and personal faith journey? [10:07]
6. Reflect on the evangelical roots of Reformed theology. How can you actively share the Gospel in your community while maintaining the core principles of your faith? [16:50]
7. The sermon discusses the distinctives of Reformed theology. How can you appreciate these distinctives while also valuing the common foundation shared with other Christian traditions? [21:12]

Devotional

Day 1: Discovering the Coherent System of Scripture
Reformed theology is a systematic approach to understanding the Christian faith, emphasizing the coherence of biblical truths. It seeks to uncover the inherent system within Scripture, rather than imposing an external framework. This approach reflects the unity of God's truth, acknowledging that while the Bible contains diverse revelations, it is unified in its message. By exploring how the various truths of Scripture fit together, believers can gain a deeper understanding of God's character and His plan for humanity. This systematic theology encourages Christians to engage with the Bible holistically, recognizing the interconnectedness of its teachings. [02:24]

"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." (Isaiah 28:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you approach your Bible study this week with a mindset of discovering the interconnectedness of Scripture, rather than focusing on isolated verses?


Day 2: Embracing God's Sovereignty
In Reformed theology, the doctrine of God's sovereignty is central, influencing all other theological considerations. While many Christian denominations affirm God's attributes, Reformed theology uniquely emphasizes His sovereignty as the controlling doctrine. This focus ensures that discussions about God's character remain grounded in His supreme authority and control over all creation. By acknowledging God's sovereignty, believers are reminded of His ultimate power and wisdom, which provides comfort and assurance in the face of life's uncertainties. This understanding calls Christians to trust in God's plan and submit to His will, knowing that He orchestrates all things for His glory. [10:07]

"Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'" (Isaiah 46:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you struggle to trust God's sovereignty, and how can you begin to surrender that area to Him today?


Day 3: The Universal Nature of Reformed Theology
Reformed theology is catholic in the sense of being universal, aiming to recover the historic Christian faith shared by all orthodox believers. It embraces foundational doctrines like the Trinity and the Deity of Christ, which are common to all Christian traditions. This universality reflects a commitment to the core truths of the apostolic faith, seeking unity among believers across denominational lines. By focusing on these shared beliefs, Reformed theology encourages Christians to appreciate the richness of their heritage and to engage in meaningful dialogue with other traditions. This catholicity fosters a spirit of unity and cooperation within the broader Christian community. [11:28]

"There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively promote unity and understanding among Christians from different traditions in your community this week?


Day 4: Rooted in Evangelical Principles
The Reformed tradition is deeply evangelical, emphasizing justification by faith alone and the authority of Scripture. These doctrines were central to the Reformation and continue to define evangelical theology today. By upholding the principle of sola fide, Reformed theology affirms that salvation is a gift of grace, received through faith in Christ alone. This emphasis on the authority of Scripture underscores the importance of the Bible as the ultimate guide for faith and practice. By rooting their beliefs in these evangelical principles, Christians are called to live lives that reflect the transformative power of the gospel and to share this message with others. [16:50]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally share the message of justification by faith with someone in your life who may not understand this core aspect of the gospel?


Day 5: Distinctives and Shared Foundations
While Reformed theology has distinctives, such as the five points of Calvinism, it is essential to remember that these rest on a shared foundation with other Christian traditions. The Reformed faith is part of a broader Christian heritage that includes both catholic and evangelical elements. By recognizing these common foundations, believers can appreciate the diversity within the body of Christ while maintaining a commitment to their distinct theological convictions. This balance encourages Christians to engage in respectful dialogue with others, fostering mutual understanding and growth. By celebrating both distinctives and shared beliefs, the Reformed tradition contributes to the richness of the Christian faith. [21:12]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: What is one distinctive of your faith tradition that you can share with someone from a different background, and how can you also learn from their perspective?

Quotes


Now, the idea of systematic thinking goes way back in church history, but even in the period of the enlightenment with the advent of the modern scientific method the philosophers of those days discovered or advocated a method or science that they called the analytical method of study which in abbreviated terms and in popular language was called the task of seeking to find the logic of the facts, that is the scientists would explore the details of the physical universe and point their telescopes into the heavens and gather as much particular data as they possibly could, and after they got this data they tried to make sense out of it. [00:01:32]

Now, historically the task of systematic theology is something like that. It is not to come to the Bible with preconceived system but rather to come to the Bible, listen to the word of God in all of its particulars, in all of its details, and then try to discern how all of these individual truths fit together, because the assumption of systematic theology is this: that the Bible is coherent, that though God reveals many things to us that all of His truth is unified in His own person and in His own character. [00:02:39]

And at first glance it may seem that we're just running around chasing rabbits down extraneous rabbit trails, but then I remind them; I said these questions that you're asking are questions that we should be asking because they flow out of the doctrine that we're studying, because every doctrine of Christian theology touches in some way every other doctrine of the faith. That is the whole of the Christian faith is intimately and intricately related in all of its pieces. [00:03:49]

In fact one of the things that never ceases to amaze me is the way the Bible speaks about so many things over so many years and myriads of details and yet the symmetry of Scripture is there. It fits together in such a coherent way. Well when we say that Reformed theology is systematic that's what we're saying at the outset that we are trying not to impose a system upon the Scripture but to find the system of doctrine that is in the Scriptures themselves to see how all of the parts fit together. [00:04:33]

All Christians have a basically orthodox creedal affirmation about the character of God, but what I think happens frequently in other theologies is that when the attention is diverted to another doctrine there's a tendency to forget your affirmation about the character of God. And the doctrine of God is just one of many doctrines in the faith rather than the controlling doctrine of the faith. [00:08:00]

In Reformed theology we constantly test our doctrine by going back to our fundamental understanding of the character of God. And I really think that's the central unique factor of Reformed theology; it is that it is relentlessly committed to maintain the purity of the doctrine of God through every other element of our theology. [00:10:01]

Now what do I mean by that when I say that Reformed theology is catholic? Usually we think of the Reformation as being a protest against Catholicism, but remember that the theology that emerged and came to the front of the stage in the 16th Century was not something that was invented for the first time in the 16th Century. It was a reformation not a revolution. It was an attempt in the 16th Century to recover the historic Christian apostolic faith. [00:10:40]

At the time of the Reformation virtually every church that arose out of it continued to embrace the catholic truths of the Christian faith, that is the truths that are embraced and confessed by Christians of all stripes, of all denominations, and of all traditions. That is here the word catholic does not refer to the Roman Catholic church or to the Russian Catholic church or to some particular group, but rather the term is used in its original sense meaning universal--the whole church. [00:11:23]

Now, all who are evangelical in the historic sense are also catholic. Not all who are catholic are evangelical, but all who are evangelical share the common doctrine of the church universal with everybody else. Now not everybody who is evangelical is Presbyterian or Lutheran or Methodist or any of these other distinctives, so that not everyone who is evangelical is reformed. But everyone who is reformed in the historic sense of the term also is evangelical. [00:15:12]

They believed that with the doctrine of justification by faith alone they were recovering the evangel or the Gospel of the New Testament. And since the heart of the controversy of the 16th Century focused on the doctrine of justification, the whole debate centered on the question what is the Gospel? So Protestants called themselves evangelicals, meaning by that label that they were embracing Luther's definition of the doctrine of justification--justification by faith. [00:16:31]

The other doctrine that was common to historic evangelicalism was the doctrine of the authority of Scripture, or what is called Sola Scriptura, which we'll take up later on. And so historians have said that the material issue or cause of the Reformation was the doctrine of justification, the formal cause was the doctrine of the authority of Scripture. [00:17:52]

We have to be careful not to think that this, and this alone, is the Reformed faith, because the Reformed faith, though it has its own distinctives, contains within itself unifying doctrines with other Christians--with all evangelicals and with those who hold the catholic truths of historic Christianity. [00:21:06]

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Transcript
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