Historically, the Reformed faith is that branch of Protestant Christianity which grew out of the reforming work of John Calvin (1509-1564) in sixteenth century Geneva, Switzerland. From there, Calvinist theology spread throughout Europe, but especially into the Netherlands and Scotland. It was a Scotsman  named John Knox (1514-1572), who, after fleeing the persecutions of Mary I of England (“Bloody Mary”), brought Reformed theology back to his native Scotland and pushed for the institution of the Presbyterian form of government within the Scottish Church. Beginning in the early-1700s, several waves of Scottish and Scotch-Irish (Scots who had first migrated to the Ulster region in northern Ireland) migrants brought Presbyterianism to America.

 

Above all, the Reformed faith is, as one great Dutch theologian put it, a celebration of the mighty and wonderful works of God!  The blessing of God’s favor has come to us sinners, not because we have earned it but because He has freely chosen to give it (Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 1:21-23).  If Reformed theology could be summed up in a phrase, it would be the words of Jonah: “Salvation belongs to the Lord” (Jonah 2:9)!

 

God’s favor comes in Jesus Christ (John 3:16), the eternal Son of God (John 1:1-2), who took on human flesh to live, die, and rise for us and our salvation (Romans 4:25, Philippians 2:1-10, Colossians 1:15-20).  Through Christ, “a great exchange” has taken place: He has borne our sins, and we have been credited with His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), and, thus, a new reality has begun and a new creation has emerged (2 Corinthians 5:17).

 

We are able to know this, believe this, and rest in this because the Holy Spirit has come to us, breathing these truths into our hearts (John 3:1-15; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:13-14).  This is faith: not merely knowing about what God has done in Jesus Christ, but believing He has done it for you!  For your sake!  On your account, and long before you ever asked for it or sought it.  Believe that and let everything else go, and salvation has already come to you (Acts 16:29-31).

 

And those God claims, those on whom God pours His Spirit - those He justifies - He will also sanctify (Romans 6:1-14; Romans 8:28-30).  What God begins, He will not leave incomplete;  what He starts, He will finish (John 10:27-29; Philippians 1:6).  Though we still battle daily with the sin that lingers in us, we are no longer separated from God.  This is the good news at the heart of our faith, which we are called and sent to share with the world: God Himself has come to us sinners, to close the gap we created and have no way to close ourselves! (Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 2:10-12). 

 

Therefore, we run the race of faith in assurance, confidence, and hope, obeying His words and striving to be conformed more and more to His image (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 15:49; 2 Corinthians 3:18), because our life is now bound up with Christ who reigns on heaven’s throne until He comes again to make us and all things new (John 14:1-7; 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10; Ephesians 2:6; Philippians 3:1-21; Colossians 3:1-4; Revelation 21:5).