Tenants of Reformed Theology

Order of Service

• Prayer of Invocation
• Sermon
• Pastoral Prayer

---

Sermon Title: Tenants of Reformed Theology

Scripture: Matthew 22:29-32

I. Background: The Reformation and the Scriptures

A. Martin Luther's 95 Theses (1517) shifted biblical authority away from the Roman Catholic Church's exclusive interpretation B. The printing press made the Bible accessible to every individual C. With individual access came the need for sound principles of interpretation D. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate guide, but principles of interpretation are necessary helps E. Framework for the study: the Five Solas rather than TULIP, as the Solas capture the whole of Reformed theology

1. Sola Scriptura — Scripture Alone
2. Sola Gratia — Grace Alone
3. Sola Fide — Faith Alone
4. Solus Christus — Christ Alone
5. Soli Deo Gloria — To the Glory of God Alone F. Focus this session: Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 1, paragraphs 6 and 9

II. First Principle — Good and Necessary Consequence (WCF 1.6)

A. Statement from the Confession: "The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life is either expressly set down in scripture or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from scripture" B. Definition (Ryan McGraw): doctrines or precepts truly contained in and intended by the Divine author of scripture, not stated on the surface of the text, but legitimately inferred from one or more passages C. Biblical example: Matthew 22:29-32

1. Jesus debates the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection
2. He quotes Exodus 3:6: "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"
3. From the present-tense verb I am, Jesus draws a necessary inference: God is God of the living, therefore the resurrection is real
4. This is good and necessary consequence modeled by Jesus himself D. The inference must be both good (legitimate, not arbitrary) and necessary (required by the text, not merely possible)
5. Counterexample: Luther's inference from Joshua 10 that the sun orbits the earth — possible but not necessary, therefore not a valid application of this principle E. Response to the objection that this elevates human reason
6. McGraw: "God is aware of all the consequences of his words"
7. Human reason is an instrument employed to draw legitimate conclusions from scripture, not a source of truth independent of scripture — it is sanctified reason F. Key doctrines that depend on good and necessary consequence
8. The doctrine of the Trinity — scripture never uses the word triune; inferences must be drawn from passages such as Matthew 28:19
9. The full deity and eternal sonship of Christ — centuries of Christological confessions rest on this principle
10. Women's access to the Lord's Table — 1 Corinthians 11 uses a masculine Greek word for brothers, yet good and necessary consequence extends the application to all believers G. Practical application: use a Bible with cross-references; know your scriptures

III. Second Principle — Scripture Interprets Scripture (WCF 1.9)

A. Statement from the Confession: "The infallible rule of interpretation of scripture is the scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any scripture, it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly" B. Foundation: the unity of scripture — God never contradicts himself; his word is coherent throughout C. Biblical example: the Lord's Supper

1. Luther's error — taking "This is my body" (Luke 22) in a strictly literal sense led to the doctrine of consubstantiation
2. The corrective: John 6:48-63 — Jesus says "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life," clarifying that his language is spiritual
3. The Reformed conclusion: Christ is spiritually present to the faithful at the Table, not physically present in or around the elements D. Practical application
4. Daily reading of scripture is itself an inference from passages such as Psalm 1
5. When a passage is difficult, search for a clearer passage on the same subject
6. Both principles require the help of the Holy Spirit — Jesus promised the Spirit as a guide; we are not left on our own