Now, getting to where we get the word “reformed” from.  The word has its roots in the Protestant Reformation. The Roman Catholic Church was charged with many abuses, and those who came out of the RCC were reformers, such as Martin Luther, who wanted a return to scripture and not the traditions of men. Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door at Wittenberg, and he just wanted to have a conversation about what scripture actually teaches. However, the Roman Catholic Church leaders believed they were the ones to determine what should be taught and what should not, and they would not have Martin Luther challenge them. Thankfully, by the Lord’s hand, Martin Luther prevailed.

During the time of the Protestant Reformation, we find another controversy between the students/followers of Jacob Arminius and John Calvin. The Arminians wrote 5 articles called the Remonstrance against the teachings of the Dutch Reformed Church.  These teachings more aligned with Roman Catholic theology, and sadly is what much of the Protestant Community believes today.  In contrast, the students of Calvin, responded to the Remonstrance with the 5 points of Calvinism or Doctrines of Grace, which the scriptures teach.

Why does any of this matter? For one, Arminian teaching and Calvinistic teaching both can’t be correct. One is correct and the other isn’t.  It is a matter of believing the truth or believing a lie.  It involves reading all of scripture and applying it to our lives and not just taking certain scriptures out of context.  For example, Acts 16:31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  However, James 2:19 says, “even the demons believe and tremble.”  So, can one simply believe in Christ and be saved, with even demons believing? No, one can’t  be saved by just having an intellectual acknowledgment of the Lord Jesus, without being born again.  True belief only occurs with repentance and a new life that Christ grants to sinners.

Next, Arminians will quote John 3:16 as their proof of Free Will which states:  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The word “whoever” doesn’t mean that a lost sinner can exercise their free will and choose Christ or leave Christ when they please.  Ephesians 2:1 says that lost sinners are dead in sin, including their wills.  They can’t do or choose anything leading to God or holiness.

If you are going to believe that John 3:16 teaches Free Will, then you are going to have to deny all the other scriptures that contradict Free Will such as:

Acts 13:48 – “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” John 1:12-13 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 6:44 – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:65 – “And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

So, we can see from scripture that you didn’t exercise your will for your first birth, and the true believer will not exercise his will with his second birth, being born again. The Holy Spirit regenerates the lost sinner, granting him repentance and faith, declaring him justified before God, and the fruit of that is a new life, heart, mind and a changed will that desires Christ.  As Jonah prayed in the belly of the great fish, “Salvation is of the Lord.” So, what is Reformed Theology and why does it matter? Because it is Biblical Christianity!