Soli Deo Gloria

On October 31st, 1517, the Protestant Reformation began when

Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the Whitford Castle church door. The Protestant Reformation was a movement in the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe which tried to reform the

Roman Catholic Church because of perceived doctrinal and moral corruption that undermined the

Christian gospel. The result was excommunication in the

Protestant movement. These Latin phrases, sola scriptura, scripture alone, sola praxis, grace alone, sola fide, faith alone, sola

Christus, Christ alone, and soli deo gloria, to the glory of God alone, were the fundamental principles of the

Protestant reformers. They were developed over time to summarize the theological conviction of reformers and are central to the doctrine of salvation.

In April of 1518, the head of the Augustinian Order called for a formal disputation on the ideas that Martin Luther had put forth.

This gave Luther an opportunity to expand his concerns. At the meeting,

Luther put forward a theology of the cross as opposed to a theology of glory.

A theology of glory expects total success, finding all the answers, winning all the battles, and living happily ever after.

The theology of glory is all about my strength, my power, and my works.

A theologian of glory expects his church to be perfect and always grow. If a theologian of glory gets sick, he expects

God to heal him. If he experiences failure and weakness, if his church has problems, and if he is not healed, then he is often utterly confused, questioning the sufficiency of his faith, and sometimes questioning the very existence of God.

To better understand the theology of glory, one need only look at the adjective included in the five

Latin phrases, the word alone. The use of this simple term suggests that the theology of glory understood

God's Word of Scripture, grace, faith, and Christ were insufficient.

The Catholic Church adhered to what Martin Luther called the theology of glory, in opposition to the theology of the cross.

In which the glory for a sinner's salvation could be attributed partly to Christ, partly to Mary, partly to the saints, and partly to the sinner himself.

The reformers responded, no, the only true gospel is that which gives all glory to God alone, and is taught in the scriptures.

This true and biblical gospel proclaimed by the reformers was about how man can be justified before a holy

God. Not by any merited favor, but by grace alone.

Not by any works a man can do, such as the confession, penance, indulgences, but by faith alone.

Not by any other sacrifice, such as a mass, but only in Christ alone.

Not found in the church, the papacy, or tradition, but in scripture alone.

And not for the veneration, worship, or glory of Mary, the saints, or angels, but for the glory of God.

For Luther, the bottom line was the bondage of the will, or the deadness of the human soul.

The Bible tells us that we are totally helpless. Ephesians 2 verses 1 and 3 say,

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formally evolved according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Among them we too all formally lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging in the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

We were dead in our trespasses and sins, and by nature we were children of wrath.

Only grace can raise us from the dead, and only

Christ can be our punishment. These two miracles, life and death, and wrath removed, can only be received as a gift.

Thus, it is to the glory of God alone. When reflecting on today's subject of God receiving all the glory, you may have thought,

I'm a Baptist. I know that we do not glorify God.

This, I'm sure, is true for many of us here today. However, these two verses may shed some light on our weakness and who we do glorify instead of God.

Proverbs 14 .12 There is a way which seems right unto a man, but in the end is the way of death.

2 Timothy 3 .2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, and unholy.

Of God, the Bible tells us. Scripture is from God. 2 Timothy 3 .16

All Scripture is inspired by God. Grace is from God. Ephesians 2 .8

For by grace you have been saved through faith, it is not of yourselves. Faith comes from God.

Hebrews 12 .2 Looking unto Jesus, the founder and perfecter of faith.

Christ was sent by God. John 3 .17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Genesis 1 .1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Proverbs 16 .9

The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Psalms 103 .19

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.

Psalm 19 .1 The heavens are telling the glory of God, and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Romans 13 .1 Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Ephesians 1 .11 -12 Also, we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose, who works all things according to the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to move in Christ would be to the greatest glory.

Colossians 1 .16 -17 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.

All things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1 .3 And He is the radiance of His glory, and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.

When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of His majesty on high.

Hebrews 11 .10 For He was looking for the city which has a foundation, whose architect and builder is

God. John 3 .16 For God so loved the world that everyone believing in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

1 John 1 .9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Philippians 1 .6 For I am confident in this very thing, that He who began a work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Revelation 4 .11 Worthy are you, our Lord and our God, to receive glory, honor, and power.

For you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.