Questions tagged [reformed-theology]
A branch of Protestantism emphasizing the sovereignty of God and his covenants with humanity. Also known as Calvinism.
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According to Reformed Theology, is Natural Law based on the recognition of Absolute Values?
Advocates of Natural Law aver that knowledge of Morals are inherent in mankind, and that the "Conscience" in man causes him to adhere to them, with guilt feelings when disobeyed.
But are ...
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How do Calvinists reconcile Christ's election of Judas Iscariot to be a disciple only to be betrayed by him?
Britannica article on Calvinism states
Calvin had certain approximate and attainable tests. He did not
require the experience of the new birth, which is so inward and
intangible, though to be sure ...
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Does Lutheranism believe in the intercession of the saints?
Do Lutherans believe in any type of intercession of the saints? Calvin believed that a general intercession of the saints was possible, but also that one could not ask for intercession from a specific ...
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Is observing any day by a Reformed Christian tantamount to keeping ceremonial law?
I'm studying Reformed theology. In looking at a collection of Reformed creeds, I'm finding a repeated theme of dividing the Old Testament (OT) commandments into three types:
moral
ceremonial
judicial
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According to Luther was the Mosaic Law, prior to its abolishment, ever formally applicable to Gentile nations?
I understand that term ‘the law’ is often meant by Luther to just mean the ‘covenant of works’ as opposed to ‘the promise’ or ‘covenant of grace’. This covenant of works was naturally most illuminated ...
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How does covenant theology handle the priestly covenant?
Covenant theology generally regards God's covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and the new covenant as the primary divine covenants. The priestly covenant Numbers 25 seems to go largely ignored....
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What is the proper use of insults?
I'm trying to understand the ethical use of insults and inflammatory language. How can I know when I ought to be offensive and when I ought to avoid it? There seems to be a tension within the Bible on ...
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How does personal Confession work from a Reformed Perspective?
My question is pastoral in nature; I apologize if it seems naive. I am leaving Catholicism and transitioning to the Reformed Church's perspective, but there are still things I do not fully understand.
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What are the views of Reformed Protestants on Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movement?
Building upon my previous question Similarities and differences between Christian Mysticism and the Charismatic movement? and the excellent answer by GratefulDisciple, I would like to delve deeper ...
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What are the views of Reformed Protestants on Christian mysticism?
Building upon my previous question Similarities and differences between Christian Mysticism and the Charismatic movement? and the excellent answer by GratefulDisciple, I would like to delve deeper ...
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What is the “New Perspective on Paul” and is it biblical according to Reformed Protestants?
I understand that N.T. Wright, an Anglican Bishop, has been promoting this teaching in evangelical churches. Source
According to Wright, "Paul in the twentieth century, then, has been used and ...
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How does the Holy Spirit bear witness to our hearts in a Protestant lens?
Some Protestants adhere to the Westminster Confession of faith. This quotation "our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of ...
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According to Protestant Theology is there any ‘common denial’ that would group all heretical forms of Christianity under one?
I know there are many splinters of different churches after the reformation, some that seem to be different kinds of Christians and some that seem to be opposed to the previous Christians, while still ...
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During the reformation what was the common view on how the Law ‘increased sin‘ rather than reducing it?
How is was this verse understood by the early reformers, such as Luther or Calvin?
Romans 5:20-21 NIV
The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.
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How best to analyse Moral Therapeutic Deism from the viewpoint of biblically-centered Reformed Protestantism?
I only heard this term a few days ago. Although I’ve had to go to various web-sites to try to find out about it, I feel confusion growing and seek help from Reformed Protestants.
At first, I thought ...
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Is there legitimate (scriptural or customary) justification for the practice of "Tithing" in modernity according to recent Protestantism?
Tithing was known in the ancient world, adopted by the Patriarchs, and practiced by Pharisees under the Law of Moses. There was the mixed positions taken by the Reformers of Protestantism. (See ...
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According to Lutherans, why is Calvin's understanding of Communion unacceptable?
I just finished reading Herman Sasse's This is My Body, which was highly recommended by two different Lutheran pastors. The Lutheran position, as I understand it, is that believing in Christ's Real ...
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In Calvinism can a person reject the will of God [closed]
As a Calvinist can a person reject the will of God?
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What do Calvinists think of Isaiah 65:12?
so I find no contradiction between human responsibility and God's election and sovereignty; for context.
I just do not agree with a lot of the "hardline" Calvinist positions, I feel they ...
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What reason might there be for the claim that it would be logical to find a Calvinist who was convinced he was one of the damned (non-elect)?
I ask due to a comment to this old question According to Calvinism, why does God give mercy to some and not to others?
Under the answer by a Calvinist that got 16 up-votes and the Green Tick, a person ...
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what does it mean in The Canons of Dort article 17?
From What does Calvinism teach about infant death? Do newborn babies go to heaven when they die because they haven't committed sins yet, or do they go to hell because they, like everyone else, have a ...
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What kind of trinitarian was Thomas F. Torrance?
If I understand correctly (and I might be wrong). When it comes to the doctrine of the Trinity, as opposed to the Cappadocian Fathers (or at lest against Basil), Torrance believed that not just God ...
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When did the doctrine of biblical inerrancy first emerge after the Protestant Reformation as officially defined and accepted?
Biblical doctrines are teachings explicitly taught in the Bible. For example, the inspiration of Scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 declares that God is the author of Scripture:
16 All Scripture is ...
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How do Lutheran discern Law and Gospel in the Lord's Prayer?
In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus famously says:
Matthew 6:12 NMB
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
This seems to be a law thing, as it means "unless you ...
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Is there a theological link between the views of Cassian and Pelagius and Arminianism?
During the fifth century, John Cassian claimed that the initial steps to salvation were in the power of each individual, unaided by grace. He reacted against Augustine’s view of the irresistible ...
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Why is Adoption placed before Sanctification in the Reformed ‘ordo salutis’?
I am trying to understand the Reformed ‘ordo salutis’ or order of salvation events and the rationale for the placement of adoption in that order. I take this (from Wikipedia) as the Reformed (...
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Arguments for and against images of God
I am orthodox christian and on my walls I have icons of Jesus and Saints. But theese days I thought of the stature Christ the Redeemer from Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and I remembered some words from a ...
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What Did the "Geneva Reformers" Have Against Exodus 2:22?
I have been reading The Catholic Controversy by St. Francis de Sales (pdf here). On page 109 one finds:
In Exodus, at Geneva and elsewhere among these reformers, they have cut out the twenty-second ...
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According to major Reformed theologians, what is the Christian fulfillment of the Songs of Ascent (Ps 120-134)?
According to major Reformed theologians, what is the Christian fulfillment of the Songs of Ascent (Ps 120-134)?
I'm particularly interested in what a Reformed theologian determines to be the Christian ...
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What do Reformed theologians mean that Catholics have the "more metaphysical conception" of God's grace?
In Derek Rishmawy's blog article defending how Reformed justification is not sub-Trinitarian, he compared fully Trinitarian Reformed approach as "the forgiving mercy of God" (via a quote ...
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What were John Calvin's arguments against John of Damascus on Icons?
What were John Calvin's counterarguments for iconoclasm aniconism against John of Damascus' arguments in favor of icon veneration?
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Scriptural basis of the "Notitia Assensus Fiducia" definition of faith?
I have read about the Reformed definition of faith - noticia, assensus, and fiducia. But what is the Scriptural basis for this definition of faith? Some point to Heb. 11:1, but I do not see the ...
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How does a Baptist church handle a believer who was already baptized as an infant and confirmed as a youth?
Let's say a Christian grew up in a non-Baptist Reformed church and was baptized as an infant. This Christian went through a catechism and confirmation during his youth (12-15 yr. old) and in the ...
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What is the term in spiritual theology to denote the aspect that increases within a believer as God carries his work to completion (Phil 1:6)?
The background
I grew up in a Reformed church since I was a kid. In my adulthood as I become more concerned with my spiritual health, I increasingly expect theology to provide at least a rich enough ...
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Catholicism - Is the TULIP Formula more or less true? (Semantics)
Catholic convert here. It is of my understanding that the differences between the Calvinist and Catholic predestination theology is mostly a game of semantics, and I was curious to see other opinions ...
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Do Arminian Protestants agree with Chapter 3 Article 1 of the Westminster Confession of Faith?
Q: Do Arminian Protestants agree with Chapter 3 Article 1 of the Westminster Confession of Faith?
We read:
CHAPTER 3 -
Of God’s Eternal Decree
God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy ...
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Did R.C Sproul consider any historical-seeming book to be non-historical?
I was watching this video on YouTube by R.C. Sproul and it discussed the Sensus Literalis, and how genre matters. One comment that surpised me was that, Sproul says it may take a lot of technical work ...
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Do any living, Reformed authors interpret ‘the life the eternal’ as anything other than an expression of the eternal Sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ?
My header question had to be curtailed - this is my question in full :
Do any living authors of Reformed, Protestant, Trinitarian systematic theologies interpret ‘the life the eternal’ (1 John 1:2) as ...
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What is the Reformed Protestant view of Theodicy?
The definition of Theodicy is:
"the vindication of divine goodness and providence in view of the
existence of evil. ("the question of theodicy")
My question is: What is the Reformed ...
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How do Reformed Calvinists interpret 1 Corinthians 10:13?
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also ...
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How do Christians who believe in libertarian free will respond to R.C. Sproul's critique in the article "What Is Free Will?"?
I'm referring to this article: What Is Free Will?, which is a transcript of a sermon by Reformed Theologian R.C. Sproul (a video recording of the sermon is available in the same article). I highly ...
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According to Reformed Theology, how can one justify infant baptism?
I have read the entire Westminster Confession of faith before; and I agree with pretty much everything except for the infant baptism section:
Not only those that do actually profess faith in and ...
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According to Reformed Theology, what is the exegetical basis for the claim that 1 Timothy 2:4 means "all kinds of people"?
I am not an expert with Hermeneutics or methods of Exegesis, yet I am in the process of learning such things. This particular verse is easier to understand in terms of a basic tenet of Hermeneutics, ...
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How can God be loving and just whilest creating people for His wrath? I cannot wrap my head around Calvinism!
I just recently left a church that I attended for nearly a decade that is rooted in Calvinist beliefs. I am really struggling with their conception of the Lord and their understanding of the scripture....
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What is the Reformed Protestant view of Progressive Christianity?
My question has been inspired by this question: Can a Christian be a Conservative?
It led me to investigate ‘Progressive Christianity’ which is a "post-liberal movement" within Christianity ...
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According to Arminians, why do they find Calvinism distasteful or inaccurate? [duplicate]
R.C. Sproul, a Reformed thinker said in his book “Chosen by God” that: “Jimmy Swaggart has made it clear that he considers the Reformed view a demonic heresy.” (Page 7)
Obviously, disagreements can ...
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What is a brief history of the term "reformed" as in Reformed churches and Reformed theology?
Why do theologies and churches based on the teaching of Calvin consistently self-identify using the term "Reformed" even down to the 21st century, such as the 2019 Reformed Systematic ...
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Who said, “The exegesis favors the Calvinist”?
I’m trying to find an obscure quote from a particular theologian who in his commentary on a particular verse of Scripture wrote something along the lines of the following:
“The exegesis favors the ...
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In Reformed theology or Reformed churches what does the confirmation "ceremony" do?
When I was a baby I was baptized in a Reformed church descended from the Dutch Reformed Church. I still have my certificate of baptism. Then I went to Sunday school with other kids in the ...
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What is the Reformed Protestant Interpretation of 1 Timothy 1:19 in relation to “eternal security”?
Q: What is the Reformed Protestant Answer/interpretation to 1 Timothy 1:19 as it pertains to “eternal security”?
We read in the immediate context:
“I put this charge before you, Timothy my child, in ...
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