Getting Job-ed
To conclude our study in the Five Solas of the Reformation, in part 6 of 6 we’ll discuss Soli Deo Gloria, the Glory of God Alone. This is the pinnacle of what the Five Solas are pointing to, and truly, what the universe’s purpose is pointing to. To some, this may be the most offensive of the Solas and to others, their purpose for existence.
All of the universe is created to glorify God. Nothing exists for any other purpose. The entire Bible is pointing to this: there is a God that creates a world that will see His glory, and to praise that glory is the purpose of that world. We were created to praise something and we do it all of the time (as noted by C.S. Lewis, we praise anything and everything). We just don’t praise the One that is truly worthy of our praise. The glory and praise should not go to ourselves, a church, political movement, ideology, religion, the Pope, a Christian leader, etc. When we stand in front of God, we’ll truly understand that it’s only God that is truly worthy of our praise. That’s how we need to see God through Scripture.
Genesis
The Book of Genesis sets the trajectory of the entire Bible. First of all, we see that there is a preexisting, self-existing God. This God creates the universe out of nothing, only by His own Word and for His own will. He creates people to reflect His image and commands their loyalty. They rebel against a holy King, which sets the course of human history (Genesis 1:27-27, 2:15-17, 3:1-6). The question is, is the King, God, obligated to have mercy on rebellious people? No. Not at all. We tend to think that God owes us something or that He has to give us mercy. In the language of the Bible and talking about historical Kingship, a King is not at all obligated to let rebellious people off Scott-free. He is neither obligated to let them off, nor is He just if He lets them go unpunished (Romans 3:21-26). Any mercy that is given is not deserved (Exodus 33: 18-19). Any mercy that is given is mercy that deserves our complete loyalty. Yet as the Bible shows, mankind is always the unfaithful one in this covenant relationship.
If God is infinitely holy, to a degree we can’t even fathom, how can He let rebellious mankind off the hook? Right? Think about it: if God and His glory is infinitely holy and of infinite value, He, by His nature, cannot let mankind go after such an insurrection (Exodus 34:6-7). Yet He did and does currently every single day. This was a problem that Paul sincerely felt he needed to address in Romans 3:21-26 (pay close attention to the reason Paul says that Jesus was given as the propitiation for our sins: in order to show God’s righteousness).
For the sake of My Name…
So why did God allow man to continue to live and show mercy on people? For His namesake and for His glory. Read the entire Old Testament and you’ll see a repeating theme of why God acts: for His glory. There is no change heading into the New Testament either.
Rescuing an undeserving people brings Him glory because those people are absolutely undeserving, which means He is the only hope for them being acquitted from His judgment. God does not intend for anyone else to get the glory for His rescuing of people. Look at the New Covenant promises given through Ezekiel in the Old Testament (looking forward to Jesus’ coming and what He will do for His people):
Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes… And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules… Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations. It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord God; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel. Ezekiel 36:22-23, 26-27, 31-32 ESV
God intends to rescue a people for Himself from every tribe, tongue, and nation that will see Him for who He is and enjoy Him forever (Revelation 5:9, Revelation 21-22).
For His Glory
God intends to strip away anything and anyone else that could possibly get the glory for rescuing His people. I encourage you to read Romans 9 (possibly the most offensive chapter in the entire Bible) and see if that’s the conclusion you have from it. God intends to be the only hope for His people, or else that would rob Him of His glory. And also, God getting the glory from rescuing His people is actually for our benefit and not just some kind of ego trip. Isaiah 48: 9-11 ESV:
“For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.“
God getting the glory is fulfilling what creation was intended to do. This is for His praise, which is for our benefit. All of history, all events, will culminate to this intended purpose: the Glory of God. We need to learn, as Christians, to not just accept this as fact and submit to it, but to truly love and cherish this doctrine.
Conclusion
The Five Solas of the Reformation are so incredibly important for us today. This isn’t just a blurb in the history book of church history: we need this today in our churches. As stated in the first article, the church should always be reforming to the truths of Scripture (Semper Reformanda). I hope that through this study you have been seeing a theme: Through Scripture Alone we are shown that we are saved by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone, to the Glory of God Alone. May we cherish this and grow in this truth every day of our lives.
-Austin
