Lecture 20: Calvin and Reformed Theology

Calvin and Reformed Theology ........................................................

Lecture 20

Reformed and Reformation don’t mean the same thing .... The

Reformed are one part of the Reformation, not the whole Reformation.

They tend to be a little further way from Catholicism than Lutheranism

is. There’s a kind of spectrum here; Lutheranism is closer to

Catholicism largely because Lutheranism has a more Catholic notion

of the sacraments.

T

he Reformed tradition constitutes just one branch of the Reformation,

which is different from the Lutheran Reformation. The Reformed

were more thorough in breaking with Catholic piety and sacramental

practices than the Lutherans. The designation “Reformed” comes from the

phrase, “the church reformed according to the word of God.” The Reformed

wing of the Reformation originated in Switzerland, beginning with Zwingli

in Zurich, and continuing with its most important ¿ gure, John Calvin, in

Geneva. The Reformed tradition in England includes Puritans, Presbyterians,

Congregationalists, and Baptists.

Reformed and Lutheran theology agree on three characteristically Protestant

sola statements against Roman Catholic theology: sola ¿ de, sola gratia,

and sola scriptura. Sola ¿ de (“faith alone”) means we are justi¿ ed by faith

alone, apart from works of the Law. Catholics also teach justi¿ cation by

faith, but that don’t add “alone.” Good works are also required for salvation,

because we are justi¿ ed by “faith working by love” (Gal. 5:6). The “alone”

here excludes good works, particularly works of love, which should be

done but make no contribution to justi¿ cation. Protestants agree that faith

works through love, but make this part of sancti¿ cation, not justi¿ cation.

They say it contributes nothing to ultimate salvation. For Protestants, faith

necessarily results in good works, but good works do not contribute anything

to salvation.

Sola gratia (“grace alone”) means we can never do anything to earn or

deserve salvation. The word “alone” here excludes merit. Even after grace

and faith, our works earn no merit before God. By contrast, for Catholics,