What is the Reformed Faith?

Conclusion

1. A Faithful Reformed Church

There would be no such thing as a Reformed church today if God had not sent the great Reformation. But the Reformation was not only a mighty work that came from God; it was also effected through men. That it was God's work did not make their work easy. It was the Reformers, therefore, who taught us to understand that the work of reforming the church is not finished. They said, "Ecclesia reformata semper reformanda est": the church that is Reformed is always reforming.

A faithful Reformed church is therefore a church that is constantly striving to think and act, to believe and live, according to the written word of God. "The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error" (WCF, XXV:5). Also, some have degenerated horribly. It follows, then, that there is but one antidote to degeneration, namely, continued diligence. It is for this reason that the vows taken by ministers in the OPC include the promise "to be zealous and faithful in maintaining the truths of the gospel, and the purity, the peace, and the unity of the church, whatever persecution or opposition may arise unto you on that account" (Form of Government, XXIII).

2. The Doxologies of Revelation 4 and 5

The apostle John received a vision of the church worshiping God and saying:

·         You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created and have their being. (Rev. 4:11)

They fall down before the Lamb and sing this new song:

·         You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

because you were slain,

and with your blood you purchased men for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign on the earth. (Rev. 5:9-10)

They are then joined by myriads of angels and the entire creation, singing:

·         To him who sits on the throne

and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever! (Rev. 5:13)

No words of our making could better summarize the heart of the Reformed faith than these divinely inspired doxologies. "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!" (Rom. 11:36).