John Calvin 1509-1564
What it means to be “Reformed”
While our beliefs and heritage as a Church are ultimately rooted in God’s Word, we also believe that we are indebted to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century for its understanding of the Bible. Beginning with the work of Martin Luther and continuing on in the life and work of John Calvin (along with other “Reformers”), we believe that the Reformation was a “Back-to-the-Bible” Movement where God intervened i
n human history to draw many people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. It was really the recovery of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Protestant Reformation was marked by the “Five Sola’s”:
Salvation by:
- Grace Alone (Sola Gratia)
- Through Faith Alone (Sola Fide)
- In Christ Alone (Sola Christos)
- As Revealed in the Scriptures Alone (Sola Scriptura)
- To the Glory of God Alone (Sola Deo Gloria)
Martin Luther 1483-1546
The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith (written in 1647) is one of the foundational documents for understanding the Scripture as understood by many of the Protestant Reformers linked to John Calvin. The WCF teaches the sovereignty of God in salvation from beginning to end. The confession also teaches the Biblical idea of covenant. Because his agreement (“Covenant of Works”) with Adam and Eve was broken through their sin, God made an agreement (“Covenent of Grace”) with his son Jesus Christ to give his life for sinful people. This Covenant of Grace was progressively revealed throughout the Bible in “sub-covenents” with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David. It is ultimately fulfilled in Christ’s death and resurrection, the “New Covenent” that is the reality to which the Old Testament points.