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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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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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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According to Calvinists, why did God say what He did to Cain in Genesis 4:7?
Both high and low Calvinists from this Wiki say that God authorized the Fall, by which all deserve to be condemned.
Me: If there is no predestination at all, both Cain and Abel will end up in hell.
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How is 1 Corinthians 9:27 reconciled with the teaching that losing salvation is impossible?
This question is aimed at those Christians who believe that someone saved can't become "unsaved" later.
At least in 1 Corinthians 9:27 apostle Paul says he is not sure whether he will be saved or not ...
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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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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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How do reformed theologians reconcile John 15:2 with “once saved always saved"?
Every branch in me (εν έμοι ) that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he [the Father, v1] cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:2, ASV)
Some ...
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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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Difference between Augustinianism and Calvinism
Is there a difference between Augustinianism and (Five Points) Calvinism as they relate to the doctrine of salvation?
If so, what is the difference?
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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 is the Calvinist perspective on John 5:28–29 in regard to earning salvation?
John 5:28–29 seems to teach salvation by works:
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the ...
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According to reformed theology, is hypocrisy a sin?
People don't like hypocrites, and they get a pretty bad rap in the Bible (especially from Jesus), but is hypocrisy itself a sin?
In reformed theology at least, every one is fallen and cannot avoid ...
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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 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 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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In Reformed theology, what exactly does the doctrine of "limited atonement" actually assert?
I have found it difficult to understand precisely what Reformed circles mean in the "doctrine of Limited/Definite Atonement / Particular Redemption". Descriptions or statements of the ...
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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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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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What did the early church fathers have to say about “eternal security” or “assurance of salvation”
I am trying to find out what the early church fathers had to say about “eternal security” or “assurance of salvation”. By that, I refer to the following Bible verses:
To Him who is able to keep you ...
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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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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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Romans 11:32 according to Calvinist?
Romans 11:32
For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that
he may have mercy on them all
Is the "everyone" including Adam and Eve before they are created ?
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According to the Calvinist, why "believe" if something is known absolutely true?
From this link:
Christians have said Scripture is infallible because they have
believed that God’s Word is incapable of erring and thus contains no
errors
The above sentences maybe to everyone ...
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Calvinist perspective on Luke 18:18-30
Luke 18:18-30 (NIV) tells the story of the "rich young ruler" who asked Christ what he must do to inherit eternal life:
18A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit ...
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Why is it rare to combine Reformed/Calvinist doctrine and Dispensationalism?
I've been told that it's rare to find someone who combines Dispensationalism and Reformed/Calvinistic doctrine (such as John MacArthur). Why is this? What ideas don't mesh well?
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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 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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Are all the elect raptured before the Tribulation, according to Calvinists?
From this link:
It seems inconsistent for God to promise believers that they will not
suffer wrath and then leave them on the earth to suffer through the
wrath of the tribulation.
If the Bible is ...
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According to Calvinists, how do Job's works correspond to his salvation?
Job 31:1–4 (DRB) I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.1 2 For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high? 3 ...
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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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Does a literal reading of Romans 4:25 conflict with Reformed theology?
In the NASB, Romans 4:25 (emphasis mine) reads:
He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was
raised because of our justification.
However, in the ESV (emphasis mine) it reads:...
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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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What major changes have American Presbyterians made to the Westminster Confession of Faith?
As someone who generally affirms the Westminster Confession of Faith, one comment I hear periodically is that I therefore must believe that the Pope is the Antichrist. However, the Confession ...
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Indwelled by the Holy Spirit — VS — not indwelled by the Holy Spirit according to the Calvinist?
I will quote a few points that I found from Regeneration in the Old Testament.
It can be clearly demonstrated that regeneration is an occurrence in both the Old and New testaments
But the ...
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How would Reformed Christians deal with homosexual marriage of individuals prior to their conversion to Christianity?
I've been pondering this for several weeks and I believe that the reformed church (really, the church in general) is woefully unprepared to answer the following question:
How would the church deal ...
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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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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 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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What theological teachings of Watchman Nee, Witness Lee, and the Local Churches differ from Reformed Theology
I recently moved and have been Church hunting (but this it not a question about Church advice) and attended a "Local Church."
In this particular Church, service goes as follows:
first part:
...
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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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What is particular about Psalms according to Exclusive Psalmodists?
I've run into some adherents of Exclusive Psalmody in my denomination. The general argument they've been running with is that if we teach the inspiration and perfection of the Psalms then they should ...
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Did the church fathers or OT talk about the visible and invisible church?
In the Reformation, the doctrine of the distinction between the visible and invisible church was important in the Reformers' claim not to have started a rogue church. I am wondering...
Given that it ...
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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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Why do many who believe that “all are born sinful” hold that “none are born gay or trans”?
Many Protestants, though not technically or officially Reformed, are nevertheless strongly influenced by Calvinistic theology; as such, they espouse the doctrine of total depravity, teaching that all ...
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