To God’s Glory Alone (Soli Deo Gloria)

The Five Solas (“Alones”) of the Reformation – Oct. 29

In the week leading up to Oct. 31 (Reformation Day) we will be looking at the 5 Alones (Solas), watchwords of the Reformation: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone, Christ Alone, and To God’s Glory Alone.

To God’s Glory Alone (Soli Deo Gloria)

Philippians 2:5-11

5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8     he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

All glory and praise belongs to God. From beginning to end the Bible declares that God is to be honoured and glorified. Human beings’ highest calling, most profound purpose, is, in the words of the Shorter Catechism, “To glorify God and to enjoy God forever.” Human beings are most ourselves, most fully human, most fully who we were made to be, when our lives are lived glorifying God.

The passage from Philippians declares this truth. Jesus, fully human and fully divine, lived his life to the glory of God, towards the purpose of God being glorified. Jesus Christ is our example of how to live human life. Yes, in the end God will exalt Jesus, but even Jesus being exalted results in God being glorified. God receives the glory for raising Jesus Christ to life again, God receives the glory for giving us salvation, God receives the glory for the actions of our lives that bring good into the world. All of it is to and for God’s glory.

In a world that tells us to put ourselves first, to be proud of what we have done – followers of Jesus declare that the praise and honour goes to God alone who is the one who made us, who gifts us, who saves, who fills us with the Holy Spirit, and who brings about the good we seek to do. All of that is God working in and through us, therefore all we do is to God’s praise and glory. To God be glory and praise forever. Amen.  

PRAYER:

God of glory, show us how to give glory to you and you alone. Teach us to walk in the way of Jesus, that all glory goes to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.