Reformed theology is not some ‘special’ or ‘exclusive’ teaching but it
wants to stand in the broad tradition of the Christian church:
–
Reformed
theologians fully agree with the teaching of the Creeds of Ancient church and
value the wisdom God gave to great theologians like Irenaeus, Tertullian and
Augustine
–
Reformed
theologians appreciate the theological work of John Calvin who esp. in his ‘Institutes of the
Christian Religion’ showed the glory of God and His free grace towards sinners
–
Reformed
theology recognizes the authority of the Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th
century such as the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, Canons of Dort and
the Westminster Standards. Not because we believe that these confessions have
the same authority as Scripture but because Reformed theologians are convinced
that the Reformed confessions expressed the main doctrines of the Bible in such
a way that they offer us a reliable framework for Christian church and theology
today.
What is most characteristic for
Reformed theologians?
Here are some main points:
–
trust
that we receive reliable revelation of God in the Holy Scripture; Scripture has definitive authority
over all our doctrine and life
–
Reverence
for the sovereignty of God: our world and lives are created by the
Almighty God and governed according to His plan
–
Awareness
of our total dependence on God’s free grace in Jesus Christ
–
Thankfulness
for our salvation as an undeserved gift of God, which we receive through faith
only
–
Sense
of calling to confess and glorify God’s name in
all areas of life;
this calling can be fulfilled only through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.
What are the main
goals of Reformed theology?
–
To glorify God’s name in exploring and exposing the
treasures of Scripture: we want to love God not only with our hearts and
emotions, but also with ‘all our mind’ (Mat. 22, 37)
–
To give the ‘reason for the hope’ we have to all men
in apologetic exposition of the Gospel (1Pet. 3, 15)
–
‘To prepare God's people for works of service, so that
the body of Christ may be built’ (Eph. 4, 12)
–
To show from Scripture how God wants to be glorified
in the lives of His children today (2Thess. 1, 11-12).
Some basic Introductions to Reformed Theology in Russian:
- J. Calvin, Institutes of the
Christian Religion
- L. Berkhof, Manual of Christian
Doctrine
- J.I. Packer, Knowing God
The most accessible doctrinal introduction is the Heidelberg
Catechism
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