I was watching this informative if a little dry video of 10 characteristics of Reformed Theology, and if you’re curious what they are without having to watch the full hour, I made a quick list with some notes.

1. Reformed theology is unmistakenly a Christian theology

It’s not part of a Christian sect, but another way to say “biblical theology.”  Reformer were not seeking to reinvent Christianity but rediscover it after they felt that the church had gotten away from core principles of the Bible.  They went back to the ancient sources of the church; newer isn’t necessarily better.  They affirmed teachings of the early church creeds and the original Word of God as given in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Reformers asserted the truth of the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  God is the focal point of all theology.

2. Reformed theology is a biblical theology

If God is the foundation of all of theology, then all of theology is based on God’s Word (Bible).  We need God to know God and what He’s revealed of himself to us in the Bible.  The Bible is “breathed out” by God and is holy, inspired, without error, and infallable.  The Bible is also sufficient.  Reformers held to sola scriptura — the Bible alone is all we need for training and learning about God.  We are to be servants of God’s Word.  The Bible alone is the ultimate authority in faith and practice.

3. Reformed theology is evengelical theology

The heart of Reformed theology is the gospel — the evangel, the good news.  We do not create righteousness, but inherit it from God.  Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone.  It is a gracious gift from God.  We are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works — the fruit of our faith.

4. Reformed theology is a Calvinistic theology

Every individual is sinful and in rebellion against God.  God has graciously and eternally chosen a people for his own possession while justly passing over others.  Christ’s death secured redemption for his people.  The Holy Spirit ensures all of the elect will come to Christ in faith and repentance.  Every blood-bought person will faithfully persevere from this world to the next.  In other words, it’s what God does to save us in Jesus, not what we do for him.

5. Reformed theology is Christ-centered

We exalt both the person and work of Jesus Christ.  There are two periods in Jesus: His state of humiliation (his descent unto death) and his state of exaltation (one day he will come again in glory).  Jesus is 100% God and 100% man in the incarnation.  Jesus became what he was not (a man) but remained what he always was (God).  Jesus also worked as a mediator between God and man — prophet, priest, and king.  Only through Jesus can salvation be attained; there is no other way.

6. Reformed theology is a covenental theology

We organize the gospel within the framework of the Bible and our redemption.  Covenent theology is a lens through which God’s Word is interpreted, as well as the lens that scripture gives us to look at God, man, and the world.  There are three covenants: works (pre-Fall relationship between God and Adam, no mediator, conditioned upon Adam’s perfect obedience), grace (post-Fall relationship between God and people, based on Jesus’ work as mediator, relationship by representation), and redemption (eternal Trinitarian foundation of the covenant of grace).

7. Reformed theology is an ecclesiastical theology

It’s about the church, the people called out by God to become redeemed saints.  A standard refrain of the Bible: “I will be your God, you will be my people.”  The church forms the center of God’s work in this world.  It is Jesus’ church, not our church, and it does not answer to man.  We are not meant to be a church-less Christian.

8. Reformed theology is a confessional theology

The church has a public confession open to public scrutiny.  We are not a cult; we do not hide what we believe.  We shout to the world — we confess — what we believe.  A confession is a topical summary of what the Bible teaches.  Confessions are formal declarations of God’s teaching.

9. Reformed theology is an experiental theology

It not only focuses on the mind but also the heart.  There is a world of difference between knowing about God and knowing God.  We want to cultivate a mind for truth and a love for God.  The Christian life is marked by suffering, self-denial, the rejection of sin, and putting on the qualities of Christ.  We live our lives attempting to know Christ and have our hearts transformed.

10. Reformed theology is a doxological theology

The key to worship is the central role of scripture in shaping the public praise of God.  When we gather to worship, we worship the Lord’s way.  We sing his word, pray his word, preach his word, and see his word in the sacraments.  God’s precepts fuel God’s praise.  To God alone be the glory.