What is "Reformed"

“Reformed” identifies theological distinctions as compared to other Protestant denominations (in general), and with the Roman Catholic Church (in particular). The 16th century Protestant Reformation was a watershed moment in the history of the Christian Church. During the years spanning from the fall of the Roman Empire (5th century AD) to the Reformation (a period of just about 1,000 years), the purity of the gospel was obscured behind layers of ritual and sacramentalism that was being practiced in the Roman Catholic Church.

In particular, the gospel of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone, was “lost.” We say “lost” to emphasize that we’re not saying that for a period of over 1,000 years no one was saved. What we’re saying is that the Roman Catholic Church added much to the gospel and thereby confused and muddled its message. In a sense, if people were saved, it was in spite of what the Roman Catholic Church officially taught, not because of it.

The Protestant Reformation brought a return to the purity of the gospel message, as well as a return to the Scriptures as the sole source of infallible authority of faith and practice for the people of God. Again, Roman Catholic doctrine was a combination of Scripture and church tradition—a two source theory of authority.

Most churches who are members of the Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS), which follows in the tradition of the Protestant Reformation, have as part of their name Reformed to identify with this rich tradition. For Emmanuel Reformed Church (ERC) “Reformed” is our middle name. That means we consider ourselves descendants of the 16th & 17th century Protestant Reformers. Men such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, John Knox, and others who fought for the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

During that period, the Reformers came up with slogans, or “battle cries” if you will, that summarized all for which they were fighting. These slogans are known as The Five “Solas” of the Reformation. They are:
 

1. Sola Scriptura — or “Scripture alone.” This means that in the church and the life of the believer, only Holy Scripture is the sole, infallible source of authority. The Roman Catholic Church taught that Scripture plus church tradition together were sources of authority in the church. But as Martin Luther so aptly put it, popes and councils may (and do) err. It is only the Word of God that carries the stamp of infallibility and inerrancy
2. Sola Fide — or “Faith alone.” Here was the material cause of of the Protestant Reformation. It was this doctrine that divided the Reformers from Rome. “Faith alone” teaches that it is faith alone that is the means by which we justified before God. Rome, on the other hand, teaches that faith plus works (I.e., partaking of the sacraments, particularly penance) is what justifies one before God. In other words, for the Reformers, justification is a declaration made by God. For Rome, justification is a process that will not be complete in this lifetime
3. Sola Gratia — or “Grace alone.” Along with Sola Fide, this teaches that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone, which is what Paul says in Ephesians 2:8. Again, in contrast to the Roman Catholic Church, they teach that we are saved by grace, but not alone. It is through partaking of the sacraments of the church that one is made righteous. Again, this adds works to the grace of God
4. Solus Christus — or “Christ alone.” The faith by which we are saved must be placed in Christ alone. Only Jesus Christ saves. Peter says in Acts 4:12, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Any doctrine that says “Christ and...” is a perversion of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. It is by His life and death that we are saved. His life because He lived in perfect accordance to the law of God, and it is this righteousness that is imputed (i.e., transferred) to us through faith. His death because by His death He fully atoned for the sins of those who would believe and appeased the wrath of God that our sins deserve.
5. Soli Deo Gloria — “or to God’s glory alone.” All of this, our salvation, everything, is to redound to God’s glory, and God’s glory alone.
    

Another thing the Reformers left us with is a veritable treasure trove of confessional documents that serve as faithful summaries of what the Bible teaches. Three such documents serve as the subordinate standards in the RCUS and they are: The Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession of Faith, and the Canons of Dort (taken together they are known as the Three Forms of Unity).

Click here to learn more about the Three Forms of Unity.

Click here to learn more about the  RCUS.