Two questions please

[ironhead]

Excuse my lack of knowledge here, but I am in the process of finding a church for me and my family to go to in my area and am wondering if someone can answer me this:

1) Is a calvanist the same as a chritian-reformed church?

2) How does a calvanist belive someone gets to heaven.

Simple questions that I hope someone can give me a simple answer to.

Thanks

 

[ReformedChapin]

1) What exactly do you mean by christian reformed church? Do you mean a church that came out of the 16th century reformation? If so, then yes. But so are other churches such as the Lutheran church and Anabaptists churches. If you mean reformed in the sense that we hold the doctrine of election by God's grace alone then you are at the right place.

2) Calvinist believe that after the fall, sin penetrated us so deeply that we would never choose God of our own (Romans Chapter 3). Only God's reedeming spirit can regenerate us to follow him giving us a new nature.

 

[bradfordl]

1) Is a calvanist the same as a chritian-reformed church?

Not necessarily.

2) How does a calvanist belive someone gets to heaven.

By the grace of God accomplished through the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of His Son on behalf of His people.

 

[ironhead]

I should have been more specific.
The church in this link is what I'm talking about http://12.106.150.196/whoweare/congregations/detail.asp?ChurchID=801

If this is the right forum for this topic. Do people believe that they get to heaven by doing good works alone.

Thanks

 

[ReformedChapin]

I am not to familiar with the CRCs history although they do seem to have conservative theology consistant with other reformed churches. Maybe another more experienced reformed member can expound on the CRCs history. I think this quote shows their position regarding election and regeneration

What sets the Christian Reformed Church off from many other denominations is its embrace of key teachings of John Calvin. In a nutshell, these all center on the sovereignty of God. The biblical teachings of predestination and election give us comfort because they assure us that no one and nothing, not even our own bad choices, can snatch us out of God's hand. And the realization that God owns all of creation and continues to assert his rule over it gives us a sure hope for the future

http://www.crcna.org/pages/history_of_crc.cfm?cssfile=main_new.css

 

[bradfordl]

Do people believe that they get to heaven by doing good works alone.

Christians don't. Not by good works in any way. Good works are a result of, not a prerequisite for, salvation. The scriptures make that very plain.

 

[ironhead]

Christians don't. Not by good works in any way. Good works are a result of, not a prerequisite for, salvation. The scriptures make that very plain.

I don't believe that neither. I believe only by accepting Jesus into ones heart, and doing good works is something we should try to do as a result.

 

[ReformedChapin]

I don't believe that neither. I believe only by accepting Jesus into ones heart, and doing good works is something we should try to do as a result.

Traditionally reformed churches have held the position that works come as a byproduct of our regeneration. In other words the only time when you honestly accept Jesus into your heart was something that God caused. And once God gave you, your new nature, the spirit will move you to start doing good works.

 

[MeanieCalvinist]

Traditionally reformed churches have held the position that works come as a byproduct of our regeneration. In other words the only time when you honestly accept Jesus into your heart was something that God caused. And once God gave you, your new nature, the spirit will move you to start doing good works.

That is correct.

Outside of Christ man can do NO good works before God.

I am unaware of any Scriptures teaching that we are to "invite" Jesus into our hearts.(as though Christ were at the mercy of His creation in fulfilling His Father's will).
God is Mighty to save does so PERFECTLY in His Son
This is what makes God's Grace truly Amazing!

In Christ,

MC

 

[MeanieCalvinist]

1) Is a calvanist the same as a chritian-reformed church?

Not necessarily, it really depends on how one would define the term Calvinist. ( I used to live by a "Christian-Reformed church" that was Dutch Reformed. In confession they were Reformed but the preaching not at all.
That was very odd!

2) How does a calvanist belive someone gets to heaven.

Short answer: Through Christ Alone

Longer Answer:

The Westminster Larger Catechism in question 70 asks:

What is justification?

and then answers..

Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners,[1] in which he pardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their persons righteous in his sight;[2] not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them,[3] but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed to them,[4] and received by faith alone.[5]

1. Rom. 3:22, 24-25; 4;5
2. II Cor. 5:19, 21; Rom. 3:22-25, 27-28
3. Titus 3:5, 7; Eph. 1:7
4. Rom. 4:6-8; 5:17-19
5. Acts 10:43; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9

(The Westminster Confession is a Calvinistic Confession of Faith)

I hope this this is helpful to you ironhead

Soli Deo Gloria!

MC

 

[ironhead]

Thank you, your answers are all very helpful.

 

[heymikey80]

For background ...

Until very recently the CRC was a pretty conservative denomination. Keep in mind two things though

CRC has a strong ethnic & cultural heritage & tradition that revolves around the Dutch churches. I have a number of friends who have run into issues ministering there because "It's not done this way here".

CRC has liberalized over the past two decades. I'm unsure why. A number of friends who were in the CRC have shifted to conservative Episcopal or Anglican Calvinistic churches because they're ... less liberal. I fully expect smaller CRC churches to remain conservative for a long, long time. But from past experience with liberalized churches you could meet people who freely take the liberal line of "we're in here for the benefit of people", or for making people feel good about themselves, their spirituality, or how nice or beneficent they are to other people.

That said, you'll definitely hit that among churches in many, many denominations. It's not a killer. It's just something you have to be aware of.

 

[ReformedChapin]

For background ...

Until very recently the CRC was a pretty conservative denomination. Keep in mind two things though

CRC has a strong ethnic & cultural heritage & tradition that revolves around the Dutch churches. I have a number of friends who have run into issues ministering there because "It's not done this way here".

CRC has liberalized over the past two decades. I'm unsure why. A number of friends who were in the CRC have shifted to conservative Episcopal or Anglican Calvinistic churches because they're ... less liberal. I fully expect smaller CRC churches to remain conservative for a long, long time. But from past experience with liberalized churches you could meet people who freely take the liberal line of "we're in here for the benefit of people", or for making people feel good about themselves, their spirituality, or how nice or beneficent they are to other people.

That said, you'll definitely hit that among churches in many, many denominations. It's not a killer. It's just something you have to be aware of.

thank you mikey, your experience is invaluable to those seeking answers