What is Reformed Theology?

[Bruce.Leiter]

One day I just decided to love Jesus all by my lonesome .How ? Because I was never truly depraved ,I can decide how my heart will be perfected as I can do that all by my lonesome.

My works alone will save me because my faith is so that !

So says some .

Quite the opposite as I can easily ponder my history of local homes ,survey ,family lineage

https://jasoncran.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F769963757630898176

For example lots of Gifford pioneer in that photo .

Yet the word of God in church and worship songs I have to focus hard ,prayer too

So which is it ? We naturally need to train our hearts or is it God drawing us?

I have been saved nearly thirty years .looking back I can't see that im a Holy person that doesn't need the grace offered .in fact I find that I'm very vile .the more I learn from the bible .I'm very sin fil and enjoy sin ! I need to repent

I recommend the new book Live Jesus' Risen Life: A Practical Colossians Guide (Amazon).

 

[JLB]

Abraham was justifired by Faith.
Romans 4:3.....
"For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”


Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2:21-23

Are you familiar with the principle of faith that James and Paul are teaching?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26

Faith requires a certain thing to make it complete. Do you understand what that is?

• Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

JLB

 

[JLB]

JLB, you're using a false argument. The question is not whether Scripture uses those phrases but whether those phrases present biblical truth. In your opinion, why don't they?

If a person must go outside of scripture, to find "biblical truth" then don't you think their approach is flawed?

The question would be then, why do you seek to find "biblical truth" beyond what the scriptures themselves teach?

Jesus has established "His Doctrine" to His disciples to teach.

His disciples teach "His Doctrine".

There is a very serious warning in scripture about transgressing (going beyond) the Doctrine of Christ.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:9

 

[Rodger]

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”


Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2:21-23

Are you familiar with the principle of faith that James and Paul are teaching?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26

Faith requires a certain thing to make it complete. Do you understand what that is?

• Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

JLB

Yes I am.

Paul and James are in agreement, and there is NO conflict.
James is not arguing against the doctrine of salvation by faith alone and neither is he saying that justification is by works.

James argues against a salvation that is alone, a salvation devoid of good works and obedience to God’s Word. James’s point is that we demonstrate our faith by what we do (James 2:18).

In other words, we DO good works because we are saved.....not to be saved but because we are saved.

 

[Rodger]

Its a man made doctrine, so it will never happen.

The word reformed is not found in the Bible.

Neither is "Trinity".

 

[electedbyHim]

If a person must go outside of scripture, to find "biblical truth" then don't you think their approach is flawed?

The question would be then, why do you seek to find "biblical truth" beyond what the scriptures themselves teach?

Jesus has established "His Doctrine" to His disciples to teach.

His disciples teach "His Doctrine".

There is a very serious warning in scripture about transgressing (going beyond) the Doctrine of Christ.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:9

The question would be then, why do you seek to find "biblical truth" beyond what the scriptures themselves teach?

But it is ok that that Pentecostal/charismatics, which you are affliated with, can go outside the Bible to claim what they do.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”


Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2:21-23

Are you familiar with the principle of faith that James and Paul are teaching?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26

Faith requires a certain thing to make it complete. Do you understand what that is?

• Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

JLB

James defines "faith" differently from Paul. He defines it as "head-knowledge," not a genuine commitment to Jesus. Thus, he agrees with Paul, who says in Ephesians 2:8-10, that God saves us by grace through faith with the result being works. For both, if we don't have the resulting works, we aren't saved.

 

[Rodger]

But it is ok that that Pentecostal/charismatics, which you are affliated with, can go outside the Bible to claim what they do.

I was raised in the Pentecostal church. I say this without rancor or bitterness, and I do not intend any harm to Pentecostal churches or individuals, and some of my dearest friends are Pentecostals; I admire them for their passion and self-denial in the face of subtle persecution.

I will list for you several practices that is taught by the Pentecostal church that I believe are outside of the Bible........
1. "Baptism in the Holy Spirit." It is taught as distinct from and subsequent to conversion.
2. Speaking in Tongues as the evidence of being saved.
3. Teaching that God still speaks to us Prophetic words today.
4. They teach that the "Sign Gifts" were given to all believers.
5. Physical healing is included in the Atonement.
6. They teach that God owes the believer blessings and gifts given will be paid back.

 

[electedbyHim]

I was raised in the Pentecostal church. I say this without rancor or bitterness, and I do not intend any harm to Pentecostal churches or individuals, and some of my dearest friends are Pentecostals; I admire them for their passion and self-denial in the face of subtle persecution.

I will list for you several practices that is taught by the Pentecostal church that I believe are outside of the Bible........
1. "Baptism in the Holy Spirit." It is taught as distinct from and subsequent to conversion.
2. Speaking in Tongues as the evidence of being saved.
3. Teaching that God still speaks to us Prophetic words today.
4. They teach that the "Sign Gifts" were given to all believers.
5. Physical healing is included in the Atonement.
6. They teach that God owes the believer blessings and gifts given will be paid back.

Agreed and there are several more.

My point to JLB is that he consistently says that any teaching outside of the written word is a man made doctrine and therefore cannot be trusted or heretical.

Grace and peace to you.

 

[JLB]

But it is ok that that Pentecostal/charismatics, which you are affliated with, can go outside the Bible to claim what they do.

A. I'm am not under any denomination.

I'm a Christian.

If anyone is teaching unbiblical things I will discuss it with them and show what the scriptures say... friends, family anyone.

 

[JLB]

James defines "faith" differently from Paul.

No James and Paul teach the same principle of faith.

Paul actually calls it "the obedience of faith".

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: Romans 16:26

This is the subject matter of the entire book of Romans, as it is contextually framed with this phrase.

• Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Romans 1:3-5
• But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: Romans 16:26

James teaches the same exact thing.

The "works" James refers to is the "work" of obedience; the obedience of faith.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? James 2:21

The works was the corresponding act of obedience to offer his son Isaac on the altar.

We see the same principle throughout the bible.

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Hebrews 11:7

"By faith" literally means God spoke to a person, and they obeyed.

When we hear God speak to us we then receive faith.
When we do what we hear then our faith is "activated" or "made alive" and therefore made "complete" in which the faith we receive from God is able to produce the intended divine result.

Here it is again from Romans -

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:16-17




JLB

 

[electedbyHim]

A. I'm am not under any denomination.

I'm a Christian.

If anyone is teaching unbiblical things I will discuss it with them and show what the scriptures say... friends, family anyone.

Missed my point.

You post videos of false teachers and people who supposedly had visions and dreams that are supposed to be "prophecy" and are not. That is man made teaching.

These people are pentecostal/charismatic, so I just associate you with that denomination.

Just like you do with me and Calvinsm, yet I never claimed to be a Calvinist.

Do you understand what I am saying?

 

[JLB]

You post videos of false teachers and people who supposedly had visions and dreams that are supposed to be "prophecy" and are not.

Please prove that.

Your “theology” has taught you the lie of cessationism and you believed it, because you believe men over Jesus.


And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18


But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Shall be saved.’ Acts 2:14-21

As long as people call on the name of the Lord Jesus to be saved, then it’s still the last days, and everything associated with it.

 

[electedbyHim]

Please prove that.

Your “theology” has taught you the lie of cessationism and you believed it, because you believe men over Jesus.


And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18


But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Shall be saved.’ Acts 2:14-21

As long as people call on the name of the Lord Jesus to be saved, then it’s still the last days, and everything associated with it.

Your “theology” has taught you the lie of cessationism and you believed it, because you believe men over Jesus.

Theology has not taught me this.

Living with Pentecostals/charismatics, going to many of their churches has taught me that what they do is not Biblical according to the word of God.

I cannot tell you the amount of times I had hands laid on me, prophecies and dreams about me and my life and they were all wrong.

Of course that is because I lacked "faith" to believe.

Only after studying the sign gifts and researching bost sides in prayer, I came to the conclusion that the sign gifts were not for today.

Please open a thread and we can debate this and you can show concrete poof of these things.

However, if you go by your "experience, emotions and feelings", debate is futile.

Everything must be filtered by the written word of God as you yourself understand.

grace ad peace to you.

 

[Tenchi]

www.soteriology101.com - Provisionism

www.evangelicalarminians.org - Arminianism

www.reasonablefaith.org - Molinism

 

[hawkman]

The OP is , "What is Reformed Theology ?" please stay on that subject .

 

[Rodger]

Agreed and there are several more.

My point to JLB is that he consistently says that any teaching outside of the written word is a man made doctrine and therefore cannot be trusted or heretical.

Grace and peace to you.

Absolutly ---there are many more. I only listed the 1st ones that came to mind.

I agree that any teaching outside of the written Word of God is man made and can not and should not be trusted or followed.

In 1 Corth. 4, Paul describes the nature and work of true apostleship. In verse 6 he says,......
“Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’ Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.”

That tells us that we are to understand that the words and teachings of Scripture are ultimately sufficient and true. Truth is not dependent on the personality or charisma of those who teach.

For today, this means that believers should strive to know and trust the Bible as God’s Word. If we don’t adhere to what the Bible strictly says, it’s easy to go beyond what is written.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

The Reformers themselves of the Protestant Reformation traced their doctrine to Scripture, as indicated by their credo of “sola scriptura,” so Reformed theology is not a “new” belief system but one that seeks to continue apostolic doctrine.

The Reformed doctrine of salvation is commonly represented by the acrostic TULIP which is also known as the five points of Calvinism.

T - total depravity. Man is completely helpless in his sinful state, is under the wrath of God.
U - unconditional election. God, from eternity past, has chosen to save a great multitude of sinners.
L - limited atonement. Also called a “particular redemption.”
I - irresistible grace. In his fallen state, man resists God’s love, but the grace of God works to save.
P - perseverance of the saints. God protects His saints from falling away; thus, salvation is eternal.

Personally, I have a problem with the "L" or limited atonement.

The Bible teaches. .......
1) The call of the gospel is universal and believers in it will be saved.
2) Because all have sin, no one will believe the gospel and respond in faith unless God first makes those who are dead in their trespasses and sins alive.

The Bible teaches that “whosoever believes” will have eternal life and then explains why some believe and some don’t.

1 John 2:2........ John says that Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the “whole world.”
Likewise, in John 4:42 Jesus is called the “Savior of the world”.
John 1:29 is said to “take way the sin of the world.”

Yet another argument against limited atonement is that it is a hindrance to the preaching of the gospel and to evangelism. If an Preacher cannot say, “Christ died for you,” then his effectiveness in presenting the gospel will be limited. Or they will say that, if only the elect will be saved, why should the gospel be preached at all?
Source:https://www.gotquestions.org/limited-atonement.html

I preached for 27 years in 7 Christian Reformed Churches. I didn't know who was saved; there are many hypocrites who hide their unbelief well, and we can't judge them. So, I offered the Good News as well as spiritual renewal to all and left the rest of the process in God's hands. We Reformed and Calvinistic Christians have no problem saying that "Christ died for believers."

 

[Rodger]

I preached for 27 years in 7 Christian Reformed Churches. I didn't know who was saved; there are many hypocrites who hide their unbelief well, and we can't judge them. So, I offered the Good News as well as spiritual renewal to all and left the rest of the process in God's hands. We Reformed and Calvinistic Christians have no problem saying that "Christ died for believers."

My dear brother....I preached for 45 years in Southern Baptist churches and I never who was really saved.

All we can do is present the gospel and allow God to do the rest.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

My dear brother....I preached for 45 years in Southern Baptist churches and I never who was really saved.

All we can do is present the gospel and allow God to do the rest.

Amen, brother!