Calvin Synod Herald, 2016 (117. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2016-09-01 / 9-10. szám

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CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

for an idol to worship. This was an expression of religion devoid of proper theology.

And what happened as the result? They became idol worshippers. Please read the Book of Exodus 32:1-10

For anyone to say that what we believe doesn't matter to God, they have to ignore the clear biblical testimony of passages like these. God was willing to destroy the people because their religious expression was based on a false theology. To say God doesn't care about what we believe, as long as we are sincere, means we have to ignore stories like those of Nadab and Abihu, who God killed before the temple, because they chose to worship in a way that God did not prescribe (Leviticus 10).

Genuine and true worship of God requires right understanding of who He is and what He requires.

Proper theology is the foundation of this.

Without a proper biblical theology, we are worshipping a false understanding of God...essentially, we are bowing down to a golden calf.

Third we must ask: What are the Foundations of Reformed Theology?

As I said, Reformed Theology is essentially biblical theology. It is built on scripture.

It has five foundation stones which are all clearly derived from the teaching of scripture. Historically, they have been known by their Latin titles...

SOLA SCRIPTURA

The holy scripture (the bible) is our sole infallible rule for faith and practice.

Nowhere else in the world is God's revelation of Himself so explicitly. In the bible, God is not only described, but His holy will and plan are laid out for people to read and understand. It is the Word of God. To reject it, is to reject God.

Sola Scriptura is based on three truths:

A. The Inspiration of Scripture. Again read II Timothy 3: 16,17

16. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17. that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

B. The Infallibility of Scripture

This belief grows out of the belief in inspiration. If the bible is "God-breathed" then it cannot fail to contain the truth. Since God is infallible, and He superintended the writing of Scripture, it is also infallible. Read 2 Peter 1:20,21

20. knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

C. The Inerrancy of Scripture

Some would see infallibility and inerrancy as the same

thing, but they are slightly different. Infallibility is the cause; inerrancy is the result. Because God is infallible, His Word is inerrant.The scripture, which we possess a translation of, was completely without error in its original condition. This is why we study so hard to ensure that what our translations say is in keeping with the original language.

SOLA GRATIA

This is the teaching that salvation is totally an act of grace. As humans, we do not contribute to our salvation, as much as we might like to think we do. During the reformation period, salvation had become a commodity that could be purchased through indulgences and priestly blessings.

The Reformers rejected this for the biblical view that salvation is through the sufficient grace of God. Not many denied that grace was necessary, but few believed it was sufficient to save. "Grace had to be added to" was the teaching of the time.

But the Reformers taught that grace was totally sufficient to save - it was a perfect gift that needed no additions.

SOLA FIDE

This was probably the most important, and easily the most controversial argument of the Reformers.

This was the teaching that man is justified before God not by works, but by faith alone.

This was the sister to the doctrine of grace alone, because it relied on the fact that God's salvation was a gift, and not something someone earned. This was so important to the Reformers that many of them claimed that this was the "article upon which the church stands or falls".

SOLUS CHRISTOS

This means that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. That should be a given. No one could read scripture with any conviction and come away with another doctrine. However, there are many who say they are Christians who do not see Jesus Christ as essential for salvation.

This is why Reformed Theology is based on the foundation stone of salvation being in Jesus Christ alone. No one is good in and of themselves. Everyone needs a Savior, and Jesus Christ is the only Savior.

SOLI DEO GLORIA

Glory is to be ascribed to God alone. This was one of the most profound statements of the reformation, because it said that we should not glorify the pope, the bishops, or the priests.

That God alone should receive all praise, all adoration, all glory. He receives all glory for creating us, and for saving us. Some people, who believe that their works aid in their salvation, might come to think they deserve to share in the glory. God alone is worthy to be praised.

There are many theologies that came after the Protestant Reformation, all of which would have been impossible had the Reformation not taken place.The Methodist movement, the Presbyterian movement, and