What is Reformed?

[christianmomof3]

What is Reformed? Are there churches called Reformed Churches? Or, is it Presbyterian? I was wondering where Presbyterian was and scanning through this thread I saw something about Presbyterian Churches. Is that ya'll? Are there other groups in Refomed besides Presbyterian? I looked, but did not see a faq thing - I may have missed it if there is one.
What are Reformed beliefs?
I used to be a Reformed Jew .
Now I am a born-again Christian.
Thank you, Dana

 

[rmwilliamsll]

As a simple distinction Reformed refers to those churches descended from Calvin's Geneva in the mid 16thC.

Presbyterian refers to a form of church governments. commonly people think of reformed churches from Scotland's late 16thC reformation as the root of presbyterianism.

so you have the hungarian reformed church which from the outside looks like it is hierarchical since it has archbishops. or lots of modern reformed churches which are independent in government. both are reformed but not presbyterial.

what help a little bit?

 

[JimfromOhio]

Reformed theology, though expressed clearly in God's word, came to its doctrinal form in the 16th and 17th centuries. Martin Luther first sought to bring the church back under the authority of scripture, claiming correctly that scripture alone was the rule of the Christian faith. He helped to make it clear what the Evangelical faith was and split off from the Roman Catholic church and begat the Protestant church. Following in Luther's footsteps, John Calvin added depth to the Evangelical faith by intensive studies into God's word. In 1536 he finished the first edition of the Institutes of the Christian Religion, which detailed many doctrines which the Bible taught. In fact, much of this was agreed upon and understood by Luther and other forefathers of the faith, but Calvin was the first to put these principles into a thorough structure. This structure was labeled as Calvinism and spread from Geneva, Switzerland into the rest of Europe. Later, the doctrines which Calvin taught from the Bible were put into confessions and catechisms, of which the most clear and well known were the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dordt, and the Heidelberg Catechism. Calvinism in many ways became synonymous with Reformed theology and has been carried into modern times by churches who call themselves 'Reformed' and hold to the above confessions.

 

[AndOne]

Good post from Jim - You can find Christians of a Reformed/Calvinist persuasion within many of the mainstream denominations including Baptists and Episcopalian/Anglicans to name a few. The Presbyterian denominations are Reformed/Calvinist and adhere to the Westminster Confession of Faith. The Presbyterian Church of the USA (PCUSA) has deviated from the standard however - and has become quite liberal in its theology.

Another good confession (all the ones mentioned are excellent) is the London Baptist Confession of Faith.

Also - the Puritans from England were decisively Calvinist in their beliefs.

I highly recommend you check out www.monergism.com for more detailed information. Start with the acronym TULIP - and you will get to the heart of what we believe.

 

[christianmomof3]

Thank you - I looked at the site - tons of info - I read through the intros on the TULIP - just the Calvin and Arminian view on each and skimmed the rest. It looks like I agree with the Calvinist view completely on all except this one :
The "L"

Arminian Position: The Holy Spirit cannot regenerate fallen man until he believes. The Holy Spirit does all He can to bring every fallen man to salvation, but until fallen man responds in faith, of his own free will, the Spirit cannot give life. Faith preceded and makes possible the New Birth. Faith gives Life.
B. Reformed Position: The Holy Spirit regenerates every one of God's chosen people, enabling them to believe. The Holy Spirit graciously regenerates every one of God's chosen people, creating within them a new heart and enabling them to freely and willingly believe in Christ as Savior and Lord. The New Birth precedes and makes possible Saving Faith. Life gives Faith.

I am not sure that I actually agree with either of those views completely, or that I understand them completely.

The first one-Arminian- makes it sound like God can't regenerate us unless we chose Him. He Can do whatever He chooses. I think that He waits until we open our hearts to Him to regenerate us, but He is the one drawing us to Himself to do that.
The second one- Calvinist- makes it sound like everyone is just already saved. I don't agree with that.

 

[AndOne]

The Calvinist position on Limited Atonement does not mean that everyone is already saved. The position is basically that only the elect are properly regenerated and have their hearts opened by the Holy Spirit in which they can receive grace.

 

[McWilliams]

ALL were lost, because of original sin, BUT GOD(Eph 2:4) who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,(by grace are ye saved)
In His great mercy He saved some!
The important thing is not that He didnt save everybody but that He saved anyone at all! Only by His great mercy is anyone saved! If you are seeking Him, then know He too is seeking you! That is the wonder! All who come to Him will He accept! Those who reject get just what they want, their choice, and are eternally lost without Him! Blessings to you in your growth in Christ!!

 

[GrinningDwarf]

It looks like I agree with the Calvinist view completely on all except this one :
The "L"

Anytime someone says they agrees with 4 of the 5 points of 'TULIP', you can safely bet they will disagree with the 'L'!!

I hope the others' explanations helped clear it up, because if someone doesn't agree with 'L', they probably doesn't really understand the 'T', 'U', or 'I', either.

 

[arunma]

What is Reformed? Are there churches called Reformed Churches? Or, is it Presbyterian? I was wondering where Presbyterian was and scanning through this thread I saw something about Presbyterian Churches. Is that ya'll? Are there other groups in Refomed besides Presbyterian? I looked, but did not see a faq thing - I may have missed it if there is one.
What are Reformed beliefs?
I used to be a Reformed Jew .
Now I am a born-again Christian.
Thank you, Dana

From what I can tell, most Christians who believe in Reformed theology are Presbyterian. But this is by no means absolute. I attend a Baptist church (associated with the Baptist General Conference), and we're also Reformed. And a few months ago, I saw the most peculiar thing on this forum. Someone joined us from an independent, fundamentalist, KJV-only church, and they are also Reformed! So I'm guessing that Reformed theology cuts across all denominations of Christianity.

 

[christianmomof3]

Anytime someone says they agrees with 4 of the 5 points of 'TULIP', you can safely bet they will disagree with the 'L'!!

I hope the others' explanations helped clear it up, because if someone doesn't agree with 'L', they probably doesn't really understand the 'T', 'U', or 'I', either.

Well, at least I am not alone in my confusion. I think part of my confusion is what is meant by saved in the "L". I was thinking about regeneration, but perhaps it is referring to justification. We are already justified in Christ, but regeneration happens later.

 

[McWilliams]

Well, at least I am not alone in my confusion. I think part of my confusion is what is meant by saved in the "L". I was thinking about regeneration, but perhaps it is referring to justification. We are already justified in Christ, but regeneration happens later.

When we read the bible we cannot accept what we choose and throw out all the rest! If this doctrine is taught in scripture, which it clearly is, then whether we like it or not we must both accept it and study it to learn more of God in it! On the site monergism there is much valid writing to clearly explain it but the acceptance in your heart can only come from study of the word of God and knowing Him better as you go on in your walk with HIm. There are quite a few things in the bible that I would have done differently, (LOL) but I"m not God and His ways are far above ours, therefore I study them, pray about them and hopefully continue to learn and grow! Being a christian is not easy and its not for wimps either!

 

[christianmomof3]

When we read the bible we cannot accept what we choose and throw out all the rest! If this doctrine is taught in scripture, which it clearly is, then whether we like it or not we must both accept it and study it to learn more of God in it! On the site monergism there is much valid writing to clearly explain it but the acceptance in your heart can only come from study of the word of God and knowing Him better as you go on in your walk with HIm. There are quite a few things in the bible that I would have done differently, (LOL) but I"m not God and His ways are far above ours, therefore I study them, pray about them and hopefully continue to learn and grow! Being a christian is not easy and its not for wimps either!

I am not sure which doctrine you are discussing here?

I just looked back at the TULIP chart and the part I quoted was not the "L" - it was the "I", and it is about regeneration.:o

 

[McWilliams]

When God touches a heart and calls one to Himself the summons is irresistible in that He stirs up an interest in things spiritual, His word, listening to the gospel. This 'inner call' from Him is such a sweet summons and the person in spiritually awakened to pursue Him then!

Seek me and ye shall find me when you search for me with all your heart! Jer 29:13

Or, as in Francis Thompson's poem, "I fled Him down the nights and down the days", fled Him that is until overtaken by HIs great love and mercy. At that point one then becomes the searcher for truth!

 

[lmnop9876]

T=Total Depravity and Inability
U=Unconditional Election
L=Limited Atonement
I=Irresistible Grace
P=Preservation and Perserverance of the Saints

how to understand all this better:
Total Inability: I am a sinner, and unable to do anything of myself to please God and earn eternal life. I cannot turn to Him without the regenerating grace of His Holy Spirit.
Unconditional Election: God has chosen me, not because of who I am, but only out of His great grace and love.
Limited Atonement: Christ died for me, His atonement gives me redemption and eternal life.
Irresistible Grace: Because God chose me in grace and love, and gave Christ to die for me, He has certainly called me by His Spirit, has justified me by Christ's righteousness, is sanctifying me by the Spirit, and will glorify me in eternal life.
Preservation and Perserverance of the Saints: Because God has loved me and chosen me, and Christ has died for me, God will watch over me, and keep me in the faith, and enable me to continue in the Christian life and calling till the end of my life.

thats it in a nutshell. its easier to understand it in the first person.

 

[McWilliams]

Grace is not like a box of candy that you can send back if you don't want it. Grace is divine favor, an attitude of God's own heart. We cannot stop him from loving us, if he chooses to do so. Nor can we stop him from giving us blessings of salvation: regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, glorification. His purpose in us will certainly be fulfilled, Phil. 1:6, Eph. 1:11.
- John Frame

 

[BruinEric]

Dana,

I'll just interject my opinion on the issues you've been raising...

...don't let your search for a comprehensive understanding of systematic Theology become too stressful for you in your growth as Christian. It won't all come at once to you.

A couple years ago, I found myself favoring the reformed understanding of the Bible after many years of hostility to several of these points. But even still, my understanding of all the points and their application to life is not easy.

In any event, per your query, I attend a mega non-denominational church in California which is not a firm TULIP adherent from what I can tell. I also download sermons from sermonaudio.com from Richard Caldwell of a Founders' Baptist Church in TX somewhere. These sermons give me my more pure "Reformed" sermons in the car.

There are denomiations with the word "reformed" in them. My area has several "Dutch Reformed" churches.

(Lower-standard-of-evidence warning!!! Random water cooler chit-chat, no-evidence thought to follow ) Since the reformed thinking is essentially the core of the emergence of Protestant Reformation, much of the fundmentals are prevalent out there but gets a bit watered down. I think you'll sometimes see Churches with statements of faith that are fairly pure-Reformed, but then Sunday Sermons can get a bit sloppy if they were being graded with a TULIP-adherence-o-meter.

 

[SwampThing]

Personally the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith is the best written.....Plus if you google around you can find more resources.....some good some bad so research your research...... Personally google John White and check out his website....very good stuff!!

 

[YoungBerean]

Reformed its pretty much any church/person that holds to Calvinistic theology and covanent theology.