As a team (at TGS), we often get asked, “what is reformed theology?” And, “is The Grace Scripts a reformed blog?” Most all of our team members and guest bloggers are reformed. So…what does that mean? It means that we hold to the historic definition of reformed theology. We thought it would be helpful to have a resource page with correct definitions that you can look back on as we discuss things.
Historically reformed theology:
Affirms the great “solas” (Sola is the Latin word for only)
- Sola Gratia – grace alone
- Sola Fide – faith alone
- Solus Christus – Christ alone
- Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone
- Soli Deo Gloria – to the glory of God alone
Promote a high view of the supremacy and sovereignty of God
We also affirm and promote a high view of the supremacy and sovereignty of God in all things. We see God as actively involved in creation, governing and overseeing all the affairs of men (Ps 115:3; Job 34:14, 15; Job 37:6-13; Daniel 4:35).
We affirm the utter dependence of sinful man, upon God, in all things, especially concerning salvation.
Doctrines of Grace
At TGS, we also affirm the Doctrines of Grace (commonly referred to as Calvinism), which display God as the author of salvation from beginning to end.
Creedal.
This means that we affirm the great creeds of the historic, orthodox church. The Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, The Definition of Chalcedon.
Confessional.
This is to affirm one, or more, of the great confessions of the historic, orthodox church. We hold to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. You can read the 1689 LBCF here.
Covenantal.
We affirm the great covenants of Scripture and see those covenants as the means by which God interacts with and accomplishes His purposes in His creation with mankind. The Scriptures contain numerous examples of God “covenanting” with man, establishing and ordaining a variety of covenants.
We hold a high view of Scripture.
We hold a high view of Scripture in it’s necessity, infallibility, sufficiency and internal consistency, and our dependence upon it is to learn what God has revealed about Himself, His commands, and His way of salvation.
We hold a high view of the church.
In preaching (the exposition and application of God’s Word), the ordinances, discipline, prayer, worship (Regulative Principle), fellowship, and evangelism, all encompassed in the keeping of the Christian Sabbath, commonly called the Lord’s Day.
To be reformed is to hold a distinctly Biblical, Christian worldview that permeates all of life, a life lived in the world, but at the same time, a life not oriented to the world and it’s standards, but oriented to God’s Word.
Law & Gospel
To be reformed is to have a clear understanding of the distinction between , and the relationship of, Law and Gospel.
The Law has three uses:
- The civil use. The law serves the commonwealth or body politic as a force to restrain sin. The law restrains evil through punishment. Through the law cannot change the heart, it can inhibit sin by threats of judgement, especially were backed by a civil code that administers punishment for proven offenses.
- The pedagogical use. The law also shows people the perfect righteousness of God, and their sinfulness which deserves punishment, and points them to mercy and grace outside of themselves, found in the Gospel alone.
- The Moral, normative, sanctifying use. The moral standards of the law provide guidance for believers as they seek to live in humble gratitude for the grace God has shown us. This use of the law is for those who trust in Christ and have been justified by grace alone, through faith alone, apart from works.
The second use of the law and its perfect requirement points us to the Gospel (good news) or the purchased redemption and free grace of the Son, for God’s people. And the Gospel, once applied by the Holy Spirit, then points us to the third use of the Law in delight to obey its commands to the glory of God as a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Do you have questions about reformed theology? We would love to talk with you. You can email us anytime at thegracescripts@gmail.com.