Answer:
Reformed Theology refers to the system of Christian doctrine that was clarified and systematized during the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century. It emphasizes the sovereignty of God in all things, the total inability of fallen humanity to save itself, and the centrality of Christ’s work as the only ground of salvation. While the Reformation brought new clarity, it did not introduce new doctrine; rather, it sought to recover the biblical faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
Reformed Theology is typically summarized by two frameworks: the Five Solas of the Reformation and the Five Points of Calvinism.
The Five Solas:
The Five Solas capture the heart of Reformed conviction:
- Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible is the only infallible authority for faith and practice.
- Sola Fide (“faith alone”): Justification comes through faith, not works.
- Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): Salvation is a free gift, unearned and undeserved.
- Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Christ is the sole mediator between God and man.
- Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): All of life and salvation exist for God's glory.
The Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP):
Developed in response to the Arminian Remonstrance at the Synod of Dort (1618–1619), the Five Points clarify the biblical doctrine of salvation:
- Total Depravity: Human nature is corrupt in every aspect, incapable of seeking God without divine intervention (Romans 3:10–12).
- Unconditional Election: God’s choice of individuals for salvation is not based on foreseen merit but on His sovereign will (Ephesians 1:4–5).
- Limited Atonement: Christ's death effectively secured salvation for His people (John 10:14–15).
- Irresistible Grace: God’s saving grace irresistibly transforms the hearts of those He calls (John 6:37, 44).
- Perseverance of the Saints: Those truly saved will be kept by God's power and persevere to the end (John 10:28–29).
The Five Points support and protect the truths captured in the Solas. Without God's sovereign initiative in salvation, grace alone would not be sufficient, and faith alone would be impossible.
How Reformed Theology Came About:
The true gospel has never been lost, but at times it has been obscured by error and corruption. By the late Middle Ages, many traditions and teachings had drifted from biblical foundations. In 1517, Martin Luther challenged these errors, calling for a return to the authority of Scripture and the simplicity of the gospel. This movement, known as the Reformation, clarified key doctrines and drew clear lines between biblical teaching and human additions.
Theologians like John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and others helped organize these truths into a consistent framework centered on God’s sovereignty, human sinfulness, and Christ’s sufficiency. Reformed Theology is not a new invention, but a careful restatement of the faith handed down by Christ and His apostles.
In Short:
Reformed Theology is the biblical gospel rightly ordered:
salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, for the glory of God alone.
Recommended Resources:
- Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
- What is Reformed Theology by R.C. Sproul
- The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther
- Truths We Confess: A Systematic Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith by R.C. Sproul
- Putting Amazing Back Into Grace by Michael Horton
- The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World by Stephen Nichols
