Reformed believers have been entrusted with Reformed Doctrine in the jewels of the Reformed Confessions: The Belgic Confession, The Canons of Dordt, The Heidelberg Catechism, and The Westminister Confession of Faith.
And, what is most distinctive or salty in this Reformed Doctrine is the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation summarized by “TULIP”, the acronym for the following Five Points of Calvinism: “Total Depravity”, “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace” and “Preservation of the Saints”. “TULIP” can further be summarized in one word “predestination”.
“Predestination” seems binding to man.
“2 “The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!” Psalm 2:2-3
Predestination seems unjust to man.
“You will say to me then, “ Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” Romans 9:19.
But, God laughs and scoffs at them.
“4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Psalm 2:2-6.
“On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.” Romans 9:20-24.
But, some Reformed Believers are more concerned about pleasing man than pleasing God. Rather than guarding “TULIP” that has been entrusted to them, they hide “TULIP” or minimize it or marginalize it.
And when enough people in their church and denomination fall in line, over time, they lose their precious “TULIP”, their Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, and their church and denomination becomes “man-centered” just like every other church and denomination.
In a very important book written by Loraine Boettner titled The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination. The following link is to “Chapter XXVII – The Practical Importance Of The Doctrine”.
These distinctions which we have set forth between Calvinism and Arminianism are broad and important; and until one has made a special study of these truths he does not realize what a large amount of heresy has been incorporated into the Arminian system. If one system is true, the other is radically false. As strict Calvinists we believe these doctrines to embody final truth and to be eternally right. We believe this to be the only system of Christian truth which is taught in the Bible and the only one that can be logically and respectably defended before the world. …”
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.” Matthew 5:13
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 