This blog post is a continuation from the previous post, including two footnotes from Key Points of Calvinism (with two explanatory footnotes), and a personal note from me about Calvinism.
Characteristics of Calvinistic Theology. To do theology is to listen attentively to Scripture. Calvinism rejects the scholastic approach (based on reason), emphasizing the authority of God’s Word. Calvinism reminds us that God is to be adored, not merely investigated. Theology is an act of worship, not mere intellectualism. Calvinism rejects the Church Fathers as a final source of appeal for theological understanding, allowing for the fact that they were mistaken in some points, but that Scripture is never wrong. Calvinism emphasizes the practical application of theology.
On a personal note: Because Calvin and Calvinism are so routinely (and wrongly) vilified, I do not like to talk about Calvinism, preferring the terms “Reformed,” and “the doctrines of grace.” The Reformed doctrines of grace, as distinct from Lutheranism, is claimed by many groups including Presbyterians and Reformed Baptists.
Footnotes (from previous post):
[1] Luther taught that the Law was not valid for this third purpose, since Luther taught that Christians having been freed from the Law entirely. Reformed (Calvinistic) theology understands only the ceremonial and civil aspects of the Law as being non-binding on Christians, while the moral aspect is timeless.
[2] A very simple explanation of Covenant Theology begins before time with the Covenant of Redemption between the members of the Trinity, in which they set forth the plan to save a people by grace to put grace on display. The Covenant of Works was between God and Adam in the Garden. Adam broke the Covenant of Works when he sinned. God then began unfolding the Covenant of Grace by not killing Adam on the spot, and by promising a Deliverer, who would defeat Satan and redeem God’s people. In a series of covenants throughout the Old Testament, more of the Covenant of Grace is unfolded, each looking forward to the Deliverer who was to come. The Covenant of Grace was fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who is the Deliverer who defeated Satan and saved His people from their sins. The Covenant of Grace will be fully consummated when Christ comes again and establishes the New Heavens and the New Earth.