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You are here: Home / R.C. Sproul / What does Reformed Theology teach?

What does Reformed Theology teach?

October 2, 2010 by Christina

“What Reformed theology teaches is that it is true the believer makes the right response and the non-believer makes the wrong response. But the reason the believer makes the good response is because God in His sovereign election changes the disposition of the heart of the elect to effect a good response. I can take no credit for the response that I made for Christ. God not only initiated my salvation, He not only sowed the seed, but He made sure that that seed germinated in my heart by regenerating me by the power of the Holy Ghost. That regeneration is a necessary condition for the seed to take root and to flourish. That’s why at the heart of Reformed theology the axiom resounds, namely, that regeneration precedes faith. It’s that formula, that order of salvation that all semi-Pelagians reject. They hold to the idea that in their fallen condition of spiritual death, they exercise faith, and then are born again. In their view, they respond to the gospel before the Spirit has changed the disposition of their soul to bring them to faith. When that happens, the glory of God is shared. No semi-Pelagian can ever say with authenticity: “To God alone be the glory.” For the semi-Pelagian, God may be gracious, but in addition to God’s grace, my work of response is absolutely essential. Here grace is not effectual, and such grace, in the final analysis, is not really saving grace. In fact, salvation is of the Lord from beginning to end. Yes, I must believe. Yes, I must respond. Yes, I must receive Christ. But for me to say “yes” to any of those things, my heart must first be changed by the sovereign, effectual power of God the Holy Spirit.”

– R.C. Sproul

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Filed Under: R.C. Sproul, Reformed Theology

Comments

  1. Petra Hefner says

    October 2, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    Probably the clearest explanation I’ve read so far! Total depravity gives God’s Grace its true effectual meaning. Grace alone! God will not share His glory! (Is. 42:8 and 43:11)

    Great post! Thank you for sharing! Wishing you a restful night and a blessed Sunday!

    • Christina says

      October 2, 2010 at 11:43 pm

      I agree. I thought he explained so well what holding to the semi-Pelagian view really means. It means an insistence upon sharing the glory that He alone is due. It’s amazing, isn’t it? Thank you, Petra. I wish you a restful night, too…and a beautiful Lord’s day tomorrow!

      Love you!

  2. persis says

    October 3, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    I appreciate Dr. Sproul’s clarity of explanation so much. Thanks for posting this. Hope you had a blessed Lord’s day today.

    • Christina says

      October 3, 2010 at 10:09 pm

      Bless you my sister! I did have a beautiful day today — and now, we gear up for another week! May His grace abound to you!

  3. Becky says

    October 4, 2010 at 8:23 pm

    Welcome back!

    One of my favorite authors is Dr. R.C. Sproul.; he has such a gift to explain “difficult things” in such a “simple” way.

    Thank you!

    • Christina says

      October 5, 2010 at 10:17 am

      Thank you, Becky! It is good to be back! RC Sproul is definitely one of my favorite teachers. And, I am with you — I have benefited greatly from his ability to to present complex things in such a simple and clear way.

      Hope you are having a beautiful day!

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