Reformed
The Reformed / Calvinist tradition, confessing standards like the Westminster Confession.
Like all the Christian traditions here, this one shares the common faith of the creeds (see what Christians hold in common). What follows is where it reads the contested passages distinctively.
How Reformed reads the contested passages
The rock is Peter's confession (or Christ himself); the church is built on the apostolic confession that Jesus is the Christ. The keys are the gospel, given to the whole church.
Key points: Christ the only foundation (1 Cor 3:11; Eph 2:20); no papal office; the power of the keys is the Word.
Representative voices: John Calvin
Sources: Westminster Confession ch. 25
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Christ is truly but spiritually present; by the Spirit believers feed on the crucified Christ by faith. John 6 is chiefly about believing in Christ.
Key points: "The flesh profits nothing" (6:63); a true communion, not a physical eating; sign and reality distinguished yet joined.
Representative voices: John Calvin
Sources: Westminster Confession ch. 29; Calvin, Institutes 4.17
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Most Protestants inherited and kept the Western filioque, confessing the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son — while many today seek reconciliation with the East over the wording.
Key points: Continuity with the Western creed; the Son''s sending of the Spirit.
Sources: Westminster Confession ch. 2
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Baptism is the covenant sign that replaces circumcision, rightly applied to believers and their children; it signifies and seals union with Christ, though grace is not conferred automatically by the act.
Key points: Covenant continuity with circumcision; household baptisms; sign and seal, received by faith.
Sources: Westminster Confession ch. 28
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Those truly born again will persevere; the "enlightened" who fall away tasted the church's outward blessings without being regenerate. The warnings are a real means God uses to keep his own.
Key points: Perseverance of the saints (John 10:28–29); warnings as means of grace; true vs. nominal faith.
Sources: Westminster Confession ch. 17
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We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone — it works. James targets a dead, claimed faith, and "justify" here means "show to be righteous."
Key points: Justification by faith alone (Rom 3:28); works as fruit and evidence; Abraham's faith proven by obedience.
Representative voices: Martin Luther; John Calvin
Sources: Westminster Confession ch. 11; Belgic Confession Art. 24
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Baptism does not itself save; it is the sign and seal of what saves — faith, repentance, regeneration, union with Christ. Scripture can still say baptism "saves" by sacramental union: sign and thing-signified are so joined that the name of one is given to the other.
Key points: Sign and seal, not the cause; sacramental union (WCF 27.2); "the answer of a good conscience."
Representative voices: Derek Thomas; the Westminster divines
Sources: Westminster Confession 27.2; Ligonier
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