Reformed Theology – What is it?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Reformed theology is not a single doctrine but a comprehensive system of theology based on the belief that God is sovereign over everything and that His Word is the ultimate authority. Its core truths include salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), the sufficiency of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and the glory of God as the ultimate purpose of all creation (Romans 11:36).

Those within the Reformed tradition often affirm doctrines summarized in the “Five Solas” of the Reformation: Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone, and to God’s glory alone. Reformed theology also highlights the severity of human sin (Romans 3:23), God’s role in initiating salvation (Romans 9:16), and the perseverance of believers (Philippians 1:6). These core beliefs are most notably reflected in Calvinism’s teaching on salvation, covenant theology’s framework for understanding redemptive history, and confessional statements like the Westminster Confession of Faith.

While Reformed theology is often associated with covenant theology and tends to reject dispensational systems, it is more accurate to say that most within the tradition are non-dispensational.Though less common, someone can identify as Reformed in their soteriology (doctrines of salvation) while also holding dispensational views of eschatology.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Reformed theology starts with God’s sovereignty, which means salvation depends on God’s initiative and security, not human ability. The Old Testament presents the LORD as the One who rules over kings and nations, directs history, and freely shows mercy according to His will (Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:9-10; Proverbs 21:1; Exodus 33:19).
• God’s sovereignty extends to salvation itself. The Old Testament shows His freedom to choose a people for Himself. This is evident in how God called Abraham out of all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:1-3), loved Israel despite their smallness and weakness (Deuteronomy 7:7-8), and raised David from obscurity to be king (1 Samuel 16:11-13).
• Because Reformed theology emphasizes God’s sovereignty and the unity of His saving purpose, many in this tradition see these covenants as interconnected steps in one overarching plan of redemption. The covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12; 15) promised land, descendants, and blessing. The covenant at Sinai (Exodus 19-24) demonstrated God’s holiness and Israel’s inability to obey perfectly, pointing to their need for a Redeemer. Through the prophets, God promised a new covenant written on His people’s hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
• Reformed theology is also known for many adhering to a summary of salvation called five-point Calvinism. This framework is often remembered by the acronym TULIP, where each letter stands for a doctrine of grace. “T” for Total Depravity is shown when God declared that “every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). “U” for Unconditional Election is illustrated in God’s sovereign choice of Abraham and Israel apart from their merit (Genesis 15; Deuteronomy 7:7-8). “L” for Limited (or Particular) Atonement is foreshadowed by the sacrificial system, where atonement was made for a specific people (Leviticus 16:15-16). “I” for Irresistible Grace is hinted at in God’s promise to give His people a new heart and Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27). “P” for Perseverance of the Saints is reflected in God’s preservation of a faithful remnant (Isaiah 10:20-21). These strands are not fully developed yet, but they serve as the roots of doctrines that the New Testament reveals more clearly.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Reformed theology in the New Testament continues to stress God’s sovereignty in salvation. Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd who gathers those the Father has given Him: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). This illustrates both God’s initiative—people come because the Father has given them—and the security of salvation—those who come will never be cast out. Paul echoes this in his letters, reminding believers that they were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5). Reformed theology takes these passages seriously as teaching that salvation begins with God’s purpose, not with human decision.
• The New Testament also reveals the new covenant in Christ’s blood. At the Last Supper, Jesus declared, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). The author of Hebrews later explained that Jesus is the mediator of this better covenant, which provides true forgiveness and transforms the heart (Hebrews 8:6-13). Unlike the Mosaic covenant, which was conditional and temporary, the new covenant rests entirely on Christ’s completed work. Reformed theology views this covenant as the climax of God’s sovereign plan, promised in the Old Testament.
• From this covenant emphasis, Reformed theology often sees the church as the continuation of God’s one covenant people. Many in this tradition believe that the church is the true Israel of God, inheriting the promises through Christ and fulfilling what the Old Testament anticipated (Romans 9:6-8, 11:17-24; Galatians 3:7, 29). That's why Reformed theology is generally non-dispensational, emphasizing unity between Old Testament believers and the church rather than making sharp distinctions.
• Reformed theology also underscores the sufficiency of Scripture. Paul stated that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The apostles regularly cited the written Word as the ultimate authority for doctrine and practice (Acts 17:11). This conviction shaped the Reformation and remains central to Reformed thought: God’s Word is complete, authoritative, and sufficient for faith and life.
• The doctrines of grace, later summarized as TULIP in church history, are clearly taught in the New Testament. “T” for Total Depravity is shown when Paul states, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God” (Romans 3:10-11). Humanity is spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1), unable to seek God without His intervention. “U” for Unconditional Election is illustrated in God’s choice of Jacob over Esau “though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad” (Romans 9:11-13). “L” for Limited (or Particular) Atonement is reflected in Jesus’ words, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). His death effectively secures salvation for those given to Him by the Father. “I” for Irresistible Grace is taught when Jesus declared, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44), and when Acts records how “the Lord opened” Lydia’s heart to respond to Paul’s message (Acts 16:14). “P” for Perseverance of the Saints is promised in Jesus’ words, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28-29). Paul reinforced this in the “golden chain” of Romans 8:29-30, where all whom God predestines He also glorifies. Together, these five doctrines reveal the New Testament’s consistent message: salvation is entirely God’s work from start to finish.
• Meanwhile, the New Testament affirms human responsibility. While emphasizing divine election, Paul also preached, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Peter urged his listeners at Pentecost, “Repent and be baptized every one of you” (Acts 2:38). Reformed theology does not reduce these truths into a contradiction but holds them together as a complementary tension. God sovereignly calls and saves, and humans are genuinely commanded to repent and believe.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Reformed theology is more than a set of doctrines; it is a God-centered way of viewing the world. It humbles us by demonstrating that salvation is entirely by grace and not based on human merit. It elevates Christ as the center of Scripture and the only hope for sinners. It anchors the church in Scripture as the ultimate authority for faith and practice.

For believers, these truths foster both confidence and humility: Confidence because God’s sovereign plan cannot fail, and He promises to complete the work He started in His people (Philippians 1:6); Humility because salvation depends not on us but on God’s mercy. Reformed theology also motivates worship, reminding us that all of life is to be lived for the glory of God alone (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Even so, faithful Christians may disagree on specific aspects of this system. Some may accept the five points of Calvinism without adopting covenant theology, while others may be Reformed in soteriology but hold dispensational views of eschatology. What unites believers is not complete agreement on all theological systems but the gospel itself.

If you are in Christ, you can rejoice that your salvation rests in God’s sovereign grace. If you are not yet a believer, the call remains the same as always: repent and believe the gospel. God saves sinners by grace, and that invitation is freely offered to all who will come.

UNDERSTAND

• Reformed theology is rooted in the Protestant Reformation.
• Reformed theology emphasizes God’s sovereignty, the authority of Scripture, and salvation by grace through faith.
• The eschatology of Reformed doctrine is covenantal rather than dispensational.

REFLECT

• What elements of Reformed theology especially resonate with you?
• How does it impact your worship to know that God’s grace and mercy enable your salvation?
• If you adhere to Reformed theology, how does that theological framework impact your study of the Bible?

ENGAGE

• How can we explain the differentiation of reformed theology to what came characterized theology and church practice before the Protestant Reformation?
• How can we clearly explain God’s sovereignty in salvation to others without minimizing human responsibility?
• How can we engage with believers who hold different theological systems while maintaining unity around the gospel, God’s Word, and who God is?