Essential Reformed Beliefs:

1) The Power and Authority of Scripture

2) The Sovereignty of God

God is in control of all things.
He is moving all things toward his intended purposes.
He draws believers, by His Spirit, to willingly join Him in that work, by faith.

3) The Responsibility of Man

Those who are truly saved are those who truly believe, and receive, the gospel.
The Gospel consists of three main parts:
Sin is not Safe (All humanity is fallen, and are, by nature, objects of God’s wrath.)
But all is not lost (God, in his mercy, has sent the one and only Savior to bear the penalty of our sins on the cross, Christ Jesus.)
If you’ll count the cost (This salvation can be yours through the repentance of your sins and the surrender of your life to him.)

4) The “Five Points” of Calvinism (T.U.L.I.P)

Total Depravity (We cannot save ourselves, and are by nature, objects of wrath.)
Unconditional Election (God chooses us, but not because we are inherently special people.)
Limited Atonement (Christ died to pay for the sins of those whom God has chosen.)
Irresistible Grace (The message of the gospel dynamically brings the elect to salvation.)
Perseverance of the Saints (Those who truly believe will continue to live by faith, through the indwelling and power of his Holy Spirit.)

5) Redemptive Historical Hermeneutics (approach to understanding the scriptures)

The Bible tells one story of redemption for Adam’s race, from Creation to New Creation.
Jew and Gentile together are saved through faith in Christ.

6) Covenant Theology

7) Creedal and Confessional

We “agree to agree” on what the Bible teaches.
We believe that the Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed are faithful ecumenical expressions of the Christian faith.
We subscribe to the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dort as faithful explanations of that faith in greater detail.

8) The Common Grace / Special Grace distinction

9) Kingdom Theology / Worldview Emphasis

Establishing his eternal kingdom on earth is God’s ultimate goal.
This kingdom will come in its fullness only after Christ’s Second Coming.
Yet, God seeks to bring about various aspects of his kingdom through the lives and works of his children now.
God claims ownership of every area of life and society.
Every sphere of society is commissioned by, and answerable to, Him.

10) The Five Solas of the Reformation