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beliefs of the reformed faith

What is Reformed Faith?

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  • Michael Horton

What is the reformed faith? This article explains the basic beliefs of the reformed faith which must be understood in light of the reformation. 

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  • Old Testament
    • OT Introduction (General)
      • Pentateuch (General)
      • Historical Books (General)
      • Wisdom Literature (General)
      • Prophetic Books (General)
      • Minor Prophets
    • OT History of redemption
      • Creation to Babel
      • Time of the Patriarchs
      • Exodus as event
      • Conquest and Occupation of the Promised Land
      • The Kingship
      • Exile as event
      • Restoration and Hope
    • OT Themes
      • Temple and Tabernacle
      • The nations
      • Exile
      • Holy War
    • Geography
    • OT Maps
      • General
      • Pre-Flood (up to 2200 BC)
      • Patriarchs (2200-1500 BC)
      • Exodus (1550-1200 BC)
      • Canaan; Conquest and Judges (1200-1000 BC)
      • Samuel, Saul, David and Solomon (1020-922 BC)
      • Divided Kingdoms (922-721 BC)
      • The Exile (721-539 BC)
      • Assyria, Babylonia and Persia (800-300 BC)
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      • Sermons on Daniel
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      • Sermons on Amos
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      • Sermons on Habakkuk
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      • Sermons on Haggai
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  • New Testament
    • NT Introductions (General)
      • Synoptic Gospels
      • Apostle John and his Writings
      • Apostle Paul and his Writings
      • Apostle Peter and his Writings
      • Luke and Acts as Unity
      • Epistles to the Jewish Christians
      • Historical Jesus
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      • Apostleship
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      • Sermons on 1 Thessalonians
    • 2 Thessalonians
    • 1 Timothy
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      • Sermons on James
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      • Sermons on 2 Peter
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    • 3 John
    • Jude
      • Sermons on Jude
    • Revelation
      • Sermons on Revelation
  • Revelation & Scripture
    • Revelation of God
      • General Revelation of God
      • Special Revelation of God
    • Scripture
      • Scripture - General
      • Unity of Scripture
      • Inspiration and Authority of Scripture
      • Clarity of Scripture
      • Sufficiency of Scripture
      • Necessity and Purpose of Scripture
      • Scripture and the Testimony of the Spirit
      • Biblical criticism
    • Canon
      • Canon - General
      • Apocrypha Books
    • Bible translation
      • Principles for Bible translation
      • History of Bible translation
      • Different Bible translations
  • Interpretation & Hermeneutics
    • Process and Practice of Interpretation (General)
    • Interpretation (General)
    • Literary forms
    • Steps for Exegesis and Sermon making
    • The need for Interpretation and Hermeneutics
    • The Goal of Interpretation
    • Interpreter
    • Historical Cultural Background
    • Biblicism
    • Aids and Computer Aids for Exegesis
    • Relationship OT and NT
    • Christ-centered Interpretation
    • History of Interpretation
  • Doctrine of faith (What we believe)
    • Doctrine and truth
      • Nature of truth
      • Nature of doctrine
    • Doctrine of God
      • Nature and being of God
      • Trinity
      • Attributes of God - General
      • Impartiality of God
      • Love of God
      • Majesty and glory of God
      • Patience of God
      • Anger and wrath of God
      • Repentance of God
      • Sovereignty of God
      • Names and Titles of God
      • Presence and absence of God
    • Eternal decrees of God
      • Reprobation
      • Election
      • God's all-sovereign counsel
    • Creation and Providence
      • God as Father and Providence
      • Rule and Preservation of all things
      • Creation
      • Angels - General
      • Testing from God
      • Suffering - General
      • Suffering - as punishment
      • Suffering - as gift
      • Disasters
      • Blessing and Prosperity
      • God's goodness to all people (Common grace)
    • Man
      • Man - God (Nature of man)
      • Man as Image of God
      • Free will
      • Christian
    • Evil and Sin
      • Sin - General
      • Evil
      • Satan and demons
      • Origin of sin
      • Result of sin
      • Punishment for sin
      • Original sin and imputation of guilt
      • Evil enemies: Satan, self & world
      • Man of sin / Antichrist
      • Occultism
      • Demon possession and exorcism
    • Jesus Christ
      • Christ as Mediator
      • Person of Christ - General
      • Work of Christ - General
      • Work of Christ - Incarnation
      • Work of Christ - Life on earth & Suffering
      • Work of Christ - Crucifixion and burial
      • Work of Christ - Resurrection
      • Work of Christ - Ascension
      • Offices of Jesus - General
      • Offices of Jesus - Prophet
      • Offices of Jesus - Priest
      • Offices of Jesus - King
      • Jesus' Titles - General
      • Jesus' Titles - Son of God
      • Jesus' Titles - Son of man
      • Jesus' Titles - Messiah
      • Salvation (General)
      • Reconciliation - God and man
      • Reconciliation and atonement - General
      • Reconciliation - Man and man
      • Grace/Merit
    • Covenant
      • Covenant in paradise
      • Covenant - General
      • Covenant with Noah
      • Covenant with Abraham
      • Covenant at Sinai/Moses
      • Covenant with David
      • New Covenant
      • Aspects of the covenant - Promises
      • Aspects of the covenant - Conditions
      • Aspects of the covenant - Faithfulness
      • Aspects of the covenant - Covenant people
      • Covenant and Election
    • Israel
      • Israel (General)
      • Israel and church
      • Covenant and land
      • Israel and prophecy
      • Israel and Romans 9-11
      • Anti-Semitism
    • Order of salvation
      • Application of redemption
      • Calling
      • Regeneration
      • Faith (General)
      • Doubt and Assurance
      • Repentance (General)
      • Repentance - Sorrow
      • Justification (Right with God)
      • Adoption (in the family of God)
      • Sanctification (Grow in Christ)
      • Perseverance of the Believer (Remaining a Christian)
    • Holy Spirit
      • Person of the Holy Spirit
      • Work of the Holy Spirit
      • Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
      • Holy Spirit as Paraclete
      • Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ
      • Baptism with the Holy Spirit
      • Filled with the Holy Spirit
      • Sealed with the Holy Spirit
      • Gifts of the Holy Spirit (General)
      • Fruit of the Holy Spirit (General)
      • Gifts of the Holy Spirit - Speaking in tongues
      • The Unforgivable sin (Sin against the Holy Spirit)
      • Signs and miracles
    • Church
      • Church - General
      • Images for the church
      • Church and Jesus Christ
      • Attributes of the church - General
      • Attributes of the church - Unity
      • Attributes of the church - Holiness
      • Attributes of the church - Apostolic
      • Attributes of the church - Catholic/Universal
      • Marks of the church (Pure preaching, sacraments, discipline)
      • Functions of the church - General
      • Functions of the church - Believing
      • Functions of the church - Celebrating
      • Functions of the church - Teaching
      • Functions of the church - Witnessing
      • Functions of the church - Service and Charity
      • Church membership
      • Church fellowship
      • Church government
      • Church discipline
      • Church federation
      • Reformation of the church
    • Sacraments
      • Sacraments (General)
      • Circumcision and baptism
      • Passover and Lord's supper
    • Kingdom of God
    • Last things (Future)
      • Expectation and return of Christ
      • Dispensationalism
      • Life after death (Intermediate state)
      • Signs of the times
      • Death and Resurrection of the body
      • Final Judgment
      • New Heaven and New Earth & Hell
  • Creeds & Confessions
    • Authority and binding to the Confessions
    • Character of the Confessions
    • Apostolic Creed
    • Westminster Confession
      • General
      • Chapter 1
      • Chapter 2
      • Chapter 3
      • Chapter 4
      • Chapter 5
      • Chapter 6
      • Chapter 7
      • Chapter 8
      • Chapter 9
      • Chapter 10
      • Chapter 11
      • Chapter 12
      • Chapter 13
      • Chapter 14
      • Chapter 15
      • Chapter 16
      • Chapter 17
      • Chapter 18
      • Chapter 19
      • Chapter 20
      • Chapter 21
      • Chapter 22
      • Chapter 23
      • Chapter 24
      • Chapter 25
      • Chapter 26
      • Chapter 27
      • Chapter 28
      • Chapter 29
      • Chapter 30
      • Chapter 31
      • Chapter 32
      • Chapter 33
    • Canons of Dordt
      • General
      • Chapter 1
      • Chapter 2
      • Chapter 3/4
      • Chapter 5
    • Heidelberg Catechism
      • General
      • Lord's Day 1
      • Lord's Day 2
      • Lord's Day 3
      • Lord's Day 4
      • Lord's Day 5
      • Lord's Day 6
      • Lord's Day 7
      • Lord's Day 8
      • Lord's Day 9
      • Lord's Day 10
      • Lord's Day 11
      • Lord's Day 12
      • Lord's Day 13
      • Lord's Day 14
      • Lord's Day 15
      • Lord's Day 16
      • Lord's Day 17
      • Lord's Day 18
      • Lord's Day 19
      • Lord's Day 20
      • Lord's Day 21
      • Lord's Day 22
      • Lord's Day 23
      • Lord's Day 24
      • Lord's Day 25
      • Lord's Day 26
      • Lord's Day 27
      • Lord's Day 28
      • Lord's Day 29
      • Lord's Day 30
      • Lord's Day 31
      • Lord's Day 32
      • Lord's Day 33
      • Lord's Day 34
      • Lord's Day 35
      • Lord's Day 36
      • Lord's Day 37
      • Lord's Day 38
      • Lord's Day 39
      • Lord's Day 40
      • Lord's Day 41
      • Lord's Day 42
      • Lord's Day 43
      • Lord's Day 44
      • Lord's Day 45
      • Lord's Day 46
      • Lord's Day 47
      • Lord's Day 48
      • Lord's Day 49
      • Lord's Day 50
      • Lord's Day 51
      • Lord's Day 52
    • Belgic Confession
      • General
      • Article 1
      • Article 2
      • Article 3
      • Article 4
      • Article 5
      • Article 6
      • Article 7
      • Article 8
      • Article 9
      • Article 10
      • Article 11
      • Article 12
      • Article 13
      • Article 14
      • Article 15
      • Article 16
      • Article 17
      • Article 18
      • Article 19
      • Article 20
      • Article 21
      • Article 22
      • Article 23
      • Article 24
      • Article 25
      • Article 26
      • Article 27
      • Article 28
      • Article 29
      • Article 30
      • Article 31
      • Article 32
      • Article 33
      • Article 34
      • Article 35
      • Article 36
      • Article 37
    • Thirty Nine Articles of Religion
    • Different Confessions
    • Preaching of the Confessions
  • Doctrine of life - Ethical principles
    • Christ and the Christian life
    • Purpose of Christian life
    • Discovering the will of God - General
    • Use of Scripture in ethics
    • Seeking the kingdom of heaven
    • Christian freedom
    • Discipleship
    • Following and Imitation of Christ
    • Old Testament Ethics
    • Ten Commandments
      • Ten Commandments (General)
      • First commandment
      • Second commandment
      • Third commandment
      • Fourth commandment
      • Fifth commandment
      • Sixth commandment
      • Seventh commandment
      • Eight commandment
      • Ninth commandment
      • Tenth commandment
    • Law
      • Law (General)
      • Fulfillment of the Law
      • Theonomy
      • Law and Gospel
      • Legalism
    • Case Laws
    • Natural Law
    • Creation order
    • Sermon on the Mount and Ethics
    • Guidance of the Spirit
    • Identity of God's people
    • Love and hate
    • Common good
    • Authority
    • Position of the Christian in this world
    • Christian mind
    • Conviction and tolerance
    • Discernment
    • Christian lifestyle
    • Responsibility & Collective Responsibility
    • Compromise
    • Conflicting obligation
    • Conscience
    • Impartiality
    • Justice
    • Tradition and accomodation
    • Wisdom and prudence
    • Submission
    • Indifferent things (Adiaphora)
    • Ethics of Christian Community
    • Self-denial and Hedonism
    • Virtue
    • Temperance and Abstinence
    • Worldview
    • Vocation
    • Truth and lying
  • Doctrine of life - Ethical themes
    • Gender - Role of manhood and womanhood
    • Sexual Ethics
      • Sexual Ethics - General
      • Homosexuality
      • Premarital Sex
      • Sex Education
      • Lustfulness and Chastity
      • Pornography
    • Dating and Singleness
    • Marriage and Family
      • Marriage (General)
      • Family (General)
      • Adoption
      • Procreation and Family Planning
      • Adultery
      • Celibacy
      • Childhood
      • Adolescence
      • Young Adulthood (Twenties and Thirties)
      • Middle-Age (Forties and Fifties)
    • Divorce and remarriage
    • Education (General)
      • Christian education
      • Purpose of Education
      • Discipline
      • The child
      • Theories of Education
      • Child development
      • History of Christian Education
    • Parenting
    • Schooling
      • Teaching and Learning (General)
      • The Christian school
      • Home schooling
      • Teaching methods
      • The Curriculum and Evaluation
      • The Teacher
      • The School Board
      • Parents and the School
      • Church and the School
      • Place of Government in Education
    • Friendship
    • Hospitality
    • Economics
      • Economics (General)
      • Code of ethics for economists
      • Economic Theories
      • Development
      • Inequality
      • Scarcity
      • Sustainability
      • Income Distribution
    • Work & Employment
    • Business Ethics
      • Business Ethics (General)
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Labour Standards
      • Minimum Wages
      • Prices
      • Trade Unions and Strikes
      • Wages and Salaries
    • Wealth & Poverty
      • Money and Possessions
      • Tithing
      • Generosity
      • Borrowing and Lending
      • Poverty
      • Consumerism
      • Gambling
      • Taxes
      • Prosperity gospel
    • Environmental Ethics
      • Environmental Ethics (General)
      • Energy and Energy Consumption
      • Global Warming
    • Public Ethics
      • Public Ethics (General)
      • Human Rights
      • Equality and Discrimination
      • Race and Racism
      • Nationalism and Patriotism
      • Judicial System
      • Crime and Punishment
      • Capital Punishment
      • Social welfare
      • Social gospel
    • Political Ethics
      • Government - Role and Responsibility
      • Democracy
      • Civil Disobedience and Revolution
      • State and Church Relationship
      • War and Peace
      • Terrorism
      • Genocide
      • Pacifism
      • Nuclear Weapons
      • Interrogation and Torture
      • Refugees and Genocide
      • Political involvement
    • Christ and Culture
    • Bioethics
      • Genetic Engineering
      • Bioethics (General)
      • Cloning
      • Reproductive Technologies
      • Prenatal Diagnosis
      • Contraception
      • Surrogate Father/Mother
    • Medical ethics
      • Medical Ethics (General)
      • Health
      • Illness
      • Disabilities
      • Health Care
      • Forgoing and Withdrawing Treatment
      • Organ Donation and Transplantation
      • Definition of Death
      • Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide and Letting Die
      • Abortion
      • Sterilization
      • Late Miscarriage & Stillbirth
      • Epidemics
    • Beauty and Arts (General)
    • Appearance
    • Visual Arts
    • Music
    • Drama and Cinema
    • Food and Food Consumption
    • Media and Censorship
    • Sabbath and Sunday
    • Recreation and entertainment
    • Speech and Communication
    • Sport
    • Time Consumption and Priorities
    • Other topics
  • Spirituality & Godliness
    • Fear of the Lord & Godliness
    • Spiritual exercises
    • Means of grace
    • Prayer
      • Prayer - General
      • Intercession
      • God answering prayers
      • Practice of prayer
      • Bodily posture in prayer
      • Private prayer
    • The Lord's Prayer
      • Lord's prayer - General
      • Beginning and Conclusion of Lord's prayer
      • First petition - Hallowed your Name
      • Second petition - Your Kingdom come
      • Third petition - Your will be done
      • Fourth petition - Give us today our daily bread
      • Fifth petition - Forgive us our debts
      • Sixth petition - And lead us not into temptation
    • Fasting
    • Meditation
    • Singing
    • Listening to sermons
    • Personal Devotions (General)
    • Reading of Spiritual Literature
    • Family worship
    • Preparation for home visitation
    • Christ and the new life
    • Personal relationship with God
    • Walking with God
    • Spiritual warfare & struggle against sin
      • Spiritual warfare (General)
      • Struggle against Temptation
      • Living with Hope
      • Desertion by God
      • Place of sin in the believer's life
      • Spiritual growth and backsliding
    • Sanctification of the whole life
    • Spirituality and experience
    • Gratitude
    • Different Fruit of the Holy Spirit
    • Blessedness
    • Different Fruit of the flesh
    • Heavenly mindedness
    • Joy in the Lord
    • History of Spirituality
  • Worship & Liturgy
    • Principles of Worship
      • Principles of Worship (General)
      • Worship as Communion with the Triune God
      • Worship as Communion with the People of God (General)
      • Worship as Gathering and Communion of the Local Church
      • Worship as Communion with Young and Old
      • Worship as Communion with the Church of all Ages and Places
    • Elements of the worship service
      • Liturgy - General
      • Call to worship and Salutation
      • Confessing of sin and assurance of pardon
      • Praise in music and song (General)
      • Public Prayer
      • Scripture reading
      • Preaching (place in worship service)
      • Gifts and offerings
      • Corporate confession of faith
      • Sacraments in the worship service
      • The Amen
      • Benediction
    • Different Liturgies
    • Church music
      • Character and principles of church music
      • Musical instruments
      • Musicians
      • Psalms as songs
      • Hymns
      • Church choir
      • History of church music
    • Liturgical year
      • Liturgical year (General)
      • Christmas
      • Good Friday
      • Easter Sunday
      • Ascension Day
      • Pentecost
    • Church architecture
  • Church Leadership and Offices
    • Church leadership (General)
    • Offices - General
    • Pastor/Preacher - General
    • Pastor/Preacher - Qualifications
    • Pastor/Preacher - Task
    • Pastor and his wife and family
    • Theological Training
    • Elder - General
    • Elder - Qualifications
    • Elder - Task
    • Deacon - General
    • Deacon - Qualifications
    • Deacon - Task
  • Preaching
    • Preaching (General)
      • Preaching, election and the free offer of the gospel
    • Principles of Preaching
    • Purpose and Function of Preaching
    • Types of Preaching
    • Preaching Method and Sermon Preparation Process
    • Sermon Evaluation
    • History of Preaching
    • Preaching style and delivery
    • Steps for making a sermon
  • Pastoral care
    • Principles of Pastorate
    • House Visitation
    • Confidentiality
    • Psychology
    • Care in Abuse and Neglect
      • Abuse - General
      • Spiritual Abuse
      • Sexual Abuse - General
      • Child Sexual Abuse
      • Clergy Sexual Abuse
      • Spousal Abuse
      • Elder Abuse
      • Emotional and Verbal Abuse
      • Ministry to Abusers
    • Care in Addictions
    • Care in Conflict and Bad Relations
    • Care in Depression
    • Care in Self-Esteem and Inferiority
    • Care in Anger
    • Care in Anxiety
    • Care in Crisis
    • Care in Psychological illnesses
    • Care in Autism
    • Care in Loneliness
    • Care in Aging
    • Care in the Dying Process
    • Care in Grief
    • Care in Burial Practices
    • Care with Last Will and Testament
    • Care in Honouring and Grieving the Dead
    • Care in Suicide
    • Other themes of Pastorate
  • Youth ministry and catechism
    • Principles of Youth ministry
    • Material for Youth ministry and catechism
      • In Thy Hands Children Material
        • In Thy Hands Part 1
        • In Thy Hands Part 2
    • Public profession of faith
  • Church Government
    • General Principles of Church government
    • Church Order
      • Purpose and observance of the Church order
      • Offices
      • Church Assemblies - General
      • Church Assemblies - Consistory
      • Oversight of doctrine and worship
      • Church Discipline
      • No Lording
    • Different systems of Church government
    • Church government and civil government
  • History & Church History
    • Church history - General
      • Historical writing
    • Church history - Early Church
      • John of Damascus
      • Tertullian
      • Polycarp
      • Patrick of Ireland
      • Origen
      • Melito of Sardis
      • Marcion
      • Justin Martyr
      • John Chrysostom
      • Jerome
      • Irenaeus of Lyons
      • Ignatius of Antioch
      • Gregory of Nazianzus
      • Early Church (general)
      • Didache
      • Cyril of Alexandria
      • Cyprian
      • Council of Nicea
      • Constantine the Great
      • Clement of Alexandria
      • Basil the Great
      • Augustine
      • Athanasius
    • Church history - Reformation
      • John Calvin
      • John a Lasco
      • Hugh Latimer
      • Heinrich Bullinger
      • Martin Luther
      • John Knox
      • Peter Vermigli
      • Philipp Melanchthon
      • Zacharius Ursinus
      • William Tyndale
      • Ulrich Zwingli
      • Theodore Beza
      • Renaissance
      • Reformation in The Netherlands
      • Reformation in Germany
      • Reformation in France
      • Reformation in England
      • Reformation in Eastern Europe
      • Reformation (General)
      • Guido de Bres
    • Church history - Middle Ages
    • Modern Church History
      • Church history - Oceania
      • Church history - South America
      • Church history - North America
      • Church history - Europe
      • Church history - Asia
      • Church history - Africa
    • Different theologies
      • Roman Catholic
      • Evangelical
      • Charismatic theology
      • Reformed
      • Five points of Calvinism
  • Defending the faith (Apologetics)
  • Mission & Evangelism
    • Biblical Basis of Missions
    • Missions and Evangelism
    • God as Missionary God
    • Missions as Work of God
    • Missions and the Glory of God
    • The Great Commission
    • Missions and local church
    • Missions and every believer
    • Church growth
    • The Missionary
    • The Mission Board
    • The Sending Church
    • Missions and Money
    • Short-term Missions
    • Mission Training
    • Missions to Children and Youth
    • Different Mission Approaches
    • Trends in Missions
    • History of Missions
    • Missionary and Culture
    • Missionary and Politics
    • Missions - Word and Deed
    • Missions and the Social Gospel
    • Mission, election and the free offer of the gospel
    • The Message in Missions
    • Mission and the Point of Contact
    • Prayer and Missions
    • The Mission Encounter
    • Boldness in Missions
    • Material to use in Missions
    • Missions and the New Convert
    • Worship in the Mission Field
  • Other religions
    • Relationship between Christianity and other religions
    • African Traditional Religions
    • New Age
    • Judaism
    • Islam
    • Cults
    • Jehovah's Witnesses
    • Atheism
    • Other religions (General)
    • Sects (General)
  • Faith & Science
    • Faith & Science (General)
    • Evolution
  • Philosophy & Culture
Christianity knows nothing of hopeless cases. It professes its ability to take the most crooked stick and bring it straight, to flash a new power into the blackest carbon, which will turn it into a diamond Alexander Maclaren
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