Contend for the faith: god's truth vs. errors in reformed theology
Reformed Theology originated in the 16th century when men such as Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin attempted to reform the false teachings of the Catholic Church. Though much good came from the Reformation, errors such as predestination and infant baptism remained. In this article, we will explore some of these errors and compare them with the truth of God's Word.
Both The Westminster Confession of Faith and The Westminster Larger Catechism, which outline Reformed Theology, will be quoted in this article. Please keep in mind that not all who hold to Reformed Theology accept all positions of these Catechisms.
Reformed Theology on Baptism
Consider first of all The Westminster Confession of Faith on baptism: "Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the
person.”¹
Is it necessary to go fully under the water when getting baptized?
The word “baptize” is the Greek word “baptizó,” meaning, “To baptize, to immerse, to dip."² Immersion means “To put under water or other fluid; to plunge; to dip.”³ Hence, the word baptize literally means to be put under water, an indication that baptism, when properly administered, is when one is submerged under water. This method of immersion was exemplified by Jesus, who "when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:" (Matthew 3:16).
What is the purpose of putting someone under the water when baptizing?
When a person is baptized by immersion, it represents being spiritually put in the grave with Christ, dying to our old self, and then rising up again to walk in spiritual life!
The problem with sprinkling someone with water, as Reformed Theology teaches, is it doesn't signify being buried and dying to self. Just as sprinkling some dirt on a dead body at the cemetery wouldn't be a proper burial, baptism by sprinkling doesn't represent a proper burial of the old man.
Romans 6:4 states, "Therefore we are buried with him [Jesus] by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Although Paul is not talking about water baptism in Romans 6, it still serves as the foundation for water baptism by immersion. Simply put, water baptism is the visible example of the invisible spiritual baptism spoken of in Romans 6:4.
What about baptizing infants?
The Westminster Confession of Faith records “Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents are to be baptized.”⁴
Because baptism is only for those who have made the personal decision to accept Christ, and babies are unable to do that yet, infant baptism is not biblical. Consider how the Ethiopian Eunuch was only allowed to get baptized after Phillip made certain of the Eunuch's personal decision to get saved:
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."
As seen from Scripture, and the fact there are no instances in the Bible of babies being baptized, we can see that baptism is reserved only for those who have personally accepted Christ.
As we'll see later, Reformed Theologians teach that salvation isn't a choice man gets to make, nor does man need to (or even can) understand salvation. With that type of erroneous thinking, baptizing all people - no matter the age - makes sense. Yet, numerous Scripture passages declare the need for a personal decision, which we'll examine later in the article.
Reformed Theology on Salvation
Many (but not all) Reformed Theologians hold to the acrostic “TULIP,” which explains their doctrine of soteriology (salvation). Keep in mind that some Reformed Theologians only hold to some of the points of TULIP, while rejecting others.
What are the five points of TULIP?
Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints
What is Total Depravity?
The Westminster Confession of Faith explains Total Depravity in this way: “Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.”⁵
First, Total Depravity teaches that because man is totally dead to sins, he can do nothing to save himself. The Bible confirms this in Romans 3:10, which states, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" and Isaiah 64:6, which says "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." The Bible is clear that man is neither morally good or capable of doing good in the eyes of God.
However, Total Depravity also teaches that because man is spiritually dead, it’s not possible for him to learn the truth of salvation and receive Christ, unless God has first chosen and enabled him to respond to the gospel.⁶
In simpler words, it's like saying: “Just like it’s impossible for a dead man to understand anything you say to them, it’s impossible for a spiritually dead man to understand salvation,” or, "Because it’s impossible for a dead man to ask something, it’s impossible for a spiritually dead man to ask Christ to save them."
While it is true we are spiritually dead, God has still given us the ability to learn the gospel truth and the free will choice to accept or reject it. A prime example of this is found in the story of Nicodemus in John 3; who, of his own will, searched out the truth and came to Jesus by night. Jesus responded to Nicodemus' search for truth by giving a free-will invitation, inviting him to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Even though man doesn't have the ability to save himself from hell, he still has the responsibility to search out the truth and ask Jesus to save him.
Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Acts 16:31 says, "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
Another proof that man is capable of knowing the truth is that the Bible actually says it's not possible for man to get saved unless they first are told the truth: "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). Were it impossible for an unsaved man to understand the truth, God would not have commanded men to preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).
Since Reformed Theologians teach that man does not have the ability to accept Christ, nor find out spiritual truth, how then does one get saved in that line of thinking? The answer is found in the next point in TULIP, Unconditional Election.
What is Unconditional Election?
The Westminster Confession of Faith describes Unconditional
Election in the following way: “By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.”⁷
During elections, people choose who they want to be in office. In spiritual terms, Unconditional Election is the belief that God elects (or chooses) some people to go to heaven. By default, this means that those whom God has not chosen will go to hell. This teaching is often summarized as “predestination" (see figure below).
Unfortunately, Reformed Theology even goes so far as to teach that God only chooses some babies that die to go to heaven: “Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit…”⁸ Another way to say this would be that only chosen (elect) infants will be saved.
What verses do Reformed Theologians use to support predestination?
Ephesians 1:3-4
While it is true the Bible does teach election, it does not teach that God chooses people for salvation. Rather, Ephesians 1 is simply saying that God has predetermined that whoever gets in Christ Jesus will be saved (notice how it says "chosen us in him [Christ Jesus].)" To illustrate this, imagine a large cruise line begins to sink in the ocean. The captain says, "Whoever gets in the lifeboats will be saved." The captain isn't choosing who will get saved, he's simply saying that whoever makes the choice to climb in the lifeboat will be saved from drowning. Similarly, God has predetermined that whoever decides to get in the "lifeboat" of Christ Jesus will be saved - but the choice to get in is still up to us!
1 Peter 1:2
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."
Again, while the Bible does teach election - it's not teaching that God personally chooses who will get saved. Rather, this verse is showing the omniscience of God (in other words, that God is all-knowing). God knows the future, and hence, He knows every single person that will get saved: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father." By His divine power to look into the future, God has already chosen all those that decided to (or will decide to) get saved to be His redeemed.
John 6:44
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."
At first glance, it may seem that Jesus is saying that God is choosing only some men for salvation. Consider however, that other portions of Scripture make it very clear that God doesn't just draw some men, He draws all men! The Bible says in John 12:32, And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. In John 6:44, it says "And when he [The Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" The Bible shows that God draws all people, by means of the Holy Spirit, to the Lord Jesus Christ. God is an equal opportunity God - everyone is given the offer of salvation, but it's still up to use whether or not we respond to His invitation.
What verses contradict the teaching that God chooses people for salvation?
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Contrary to Reformed Theology, the Bible teaches a "whosoever will doctrine" - in other words, whoever wants to get saved, can get saved!
What is Limited Atonement?
The Westminster Confession of Faith also teaches that Jesus only died for the people that God chooses to get saved: “…Christ’s one only sacrifice, the alone propitiation for all the sins of the elect.”⁹
The word propitiation means payment. Simply put, Reformed Theologians teach that while on the cross, Jesus only paid the sin debt for those that God chose for salvation. However, the Bible says differently in 1 John 2:2: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Additionally, John 3:16 shows that God sent His Son for the entire world: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Jesus, speaking of the time when He would be lifted up on the cross, said that He would draw all men to Himself: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." John 12:32
We can rest in the fact that the offer of salvation is free and for all men.
What is Irresistible Grace?
The Westminster Larger Catechism explains Irresistible Grace this way: “Effectual calling is the work of God’s almighty power and grace, whereby (out of His free and special love to His elect, and from nothing in them moving Him thereunto) He doth, in His accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by His Word and Spirit; savingly enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer His call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein.”¹⁰ (emphasis added).
Irresistible grace is the teaching that if God has chosen you for salvation, He makes you “willing” to accept Him, or, in other words, makes it so you can’t reject Him.With teachings like Irresistible Grace and Unconditional Election, it's evident that Reformed Theology takes man's free-will out of the picture. You can’t choose to accept Christ; God is the one that chooses you; and, on the other hand, you can’t choose to reject Christ if God has chosen you!
Contrary to this teaching, consider the story of the two sinners who died next to Jesus. One rejected him, but the other accepted him:
Luke 23:32 “And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.”
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
What is Perseverance of the Saints?
The Westminster Larger Catechism explains Perseverance of the Saints this way: "True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God, and His decree and covenant to give them perseverance, their inseparable union with Christ, His continual intercession for them, and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."¹¹
In summary, Perseverance of the Saints teaches that once man accepts Christ, he cannot lose his salvation. The Bible confirms the doctrine of eternal security in John 10:28: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
However, regarding the title "Perseverance of the Saints," it could mislead one into thinking that salvation is up to him by maintaining a close walk with God. One notable reformed theologian, RC Sproul, noted that a better term to use would be "preservation of the saints."¹²
No matter how this term is described, it's important that we don't mistake salvation for sanctification; Christians, even after salvation, will always struggle with following Jesus (sanctification). In fact, that's why it's a daily call to pick up your cross (Luke 9:23). If there's been a day when you have neglected to pick up your cross, you can rest assured your salvation has not been lost, for salvation is completely dependent upon the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Endnotes
1. Westminster Divines. The Westminster Confession of Faith. ©2025 Ligonier Ministries, published 12 May 2021, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/westminster-confession-faith. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
2. Strong’s Greek 907. “baptizó.” Lexical Summary. Bible Hub. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025. https://biblehub.com/greek/907.htm
3. “Immerse.” An American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, webstersdictionary1828.com, ©2025 MasonSoft Technology Ltd. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
4. Westminster Divines. The Westminster Confession of Faith. ©2025 Ligonier Ministries, published 12 May 2021, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/westminster-confession-faith. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
5. Westminster Divines. The Westminster Confession of Faith. ©2025 Ligonier Ministries, published 12 May 2021, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/westminster-confession-faith. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
6. Westminster Divines. The Westminster Confession of Faith. ©2025 Ligonier Ministries, published 12 May 2021, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/westminster-confession-faith. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
7. Westminster Divines. The Westminster Larger Catechism. Section: What Man Ought to Believe Concerning God. ©2025 Ligonier Ministries, published 12 May 2021, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/westminster-larger-catechism. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
8. Westminster Divines. The Westminster Confession of Faith. ©2025 Ligonier Ministries, published 12 May 2021, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/westminster-confession-faith. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
9. Westminster Divines. The Westminster Confession of Faith. ©2025 Ligonier Ministries, published 12 May 2021, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/westminster-confession-faith. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
10. Westminster Divines. The Westminster Larger Catechism. Section: What Man Ought to Believe Concerning God. ©2025 Ligonier Ministries, published 12 May 2021, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/westminster-larger-catechism. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
11. Westminster Divines. The Westminster Larger Catechism. Section: What Man Ought to Believe Concerning God. ©2025 Ligonier Ministries, published 12 May 2021, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/westminster-larger-catechism. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
12. Sproul, R. C. “TULIP and Reformed Theology: Perseverance of the Saints.” Ligonier Ministries, 2025, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/tulip-and-reformed-theology-perseverance-saints. Accessed Nov. 2025.
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