By Pastor Stephen Hess –
One of the things that visitors quickly discover when becoming acquainted with Highview is that we describe ourselves as a “Reformed” church. What does it mean to be Reformed? I usually answer this question by describing Reformed theology on two levels.
At the ground level, Reformed theology is “Reformation theology.” This means that we adhere to the central doctrines that came out of the Protestant Reformation. These doctrines are often summarized by what are called the “Five Solas”: 1) Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone is the infallible authority for life and doctrine; 2) Sola Gratia – God’s grace alone is the way to be saved and reconciled to Him; 3) Sola Fide – Faith alone is the means by which we receive God’s grace; 4) Solus Christus – Christ alone is our Savior and his work is the only basis of God’s saving grace; and 5) Soli Deo Gloria – God’s glory alone is the ultimate purpose for our lives. These five doctrines form the foundation of Reformed theology.
However, in the decades and centuries following the Reformation, the word “Reformed” came to mean more than just Reformation theology. Over time, it came to describe a specific branch of Christianity that came out of the Reformation, namely, those churches that followed the teachings of John Calvin.
What is Calvinism? Calvin’s writings are so extensive that would be impossible to reduce them down to just a few words. However, one common way that people have summarized some of Calvin’s key teachings is by talking about the “five points of Calvinism” which are also known as “the doctrines of grace.” These doctrines are often memorized using the acronym “TULIP” and they form the heart of what Reformed Christians believe about sin, salvation, and grace.
1) Total Depravity. The fall of mankind into sin has corrupted every part of our being—the mind, the affections, the body, and the will. Apart from grace we are spiritually dead and totally unable to respond to God or save ourselves. As the Apostle Paul writes, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:7-8).
2) Unconditional Election. Although mankind is totally corrupted and unable to choose God, God sovereignly chose many to be saved before the world began. As Paul writes, the Father “chose us in him before the foundation of the world” and “predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:4-5). This choice was not based upon any merit within the elect but solely upon the free grace and love of the Father.
3) Limited Atonement. Sometimes called “definite atonement,” this concept teaches that Christ’s death purchased the salvation of those whom God chose to save. As Steve Lawson writes, “Jesus’ death did not merely make all mankind potentially savable. Nor did His death simply achieve a hypothetical benefit that may or may not be accepted. Neither did His death merely make all mankind redeemable. Instead, Jesus actually redeemed a specific people through His death, securing and guaranteeing their salvation.”
4) Irresistible Grace. At the divinely appointed time, God effectually calls to himself those whom he has chosen for salvation. He does this by overcoming their rebellion, regenerating their hearts, implanting new life within their souls, and giving them the gifts of repentance and faith, thereby enabling them to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. As Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” (Jn. 6:44).
5) Perseverance of the Saints. When God begins the work of conversion in a person, he will not fail to bring it to completion. None of those whom God has chosen will be lost or fall away but will persevere to the end. Their perseverance is not based upon their own strength but upon the strength of the Father, who preserves them by his sovereign grace. As Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (Jn. 10:27-28).
If you would like to learn more about the doctrines of grace, I encourage you to join us on Wednesday nights at 6:30 this spring as we work through an adult study called “Foundations of Grace.” In this series we will see that the doctrines of grace are not a sixteenth-century invention. They are God’s doctrines, revealed in His Word, rooted in eternity past, and accomplished in history. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible teaches us that salvation is the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit from beginning to end.