What Every Christian Needs To Know (5): To God Be The Glory Alone

Monday, Jun. 8, 2009 Posted: 10:20:39PM HKT

We come now to the last core truth that every Christian ought to know. We have spoken about Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone and faith alone. Our last truth is “Soli Deo Gloria”, or “Glory to God alone”.

Someone once said that this is the heart of the Reformed faith. This may appear to be a generalizing of what the Reformed faith teaches, but still, there is something true about it. The basic presupposition of our Reformed faith is that God is sovereign. He is the sovereign King who wills all things according to His own good pleasure. From His throne in heaven, He controls all the issues of history and life, including our salvation and final destiny.

When the medieval Roman Catholic Church taught that salvation was partially dependent on human merits and good works, our Protestant fathers saw the danger of this man-centered teaching. If man has to do something to be saved, then it takes away all the glory that is due to God in initiating and converting a dead and lost sinner. The Bible teaches that our salvation is wholly a work of God’s grace. Eph 2v8-9 teaches that our salvation is by grace alone. In stating this simple truth, it also tells us that our salvation is never because of what we have done by our good works. Otherwise, we have a reason to boast. The Bible tells us that we should boast only in the cross of Jesus Christ, Gal 6v14. This is because our blessed Lord Jesus alone saves us.

The motto “To God be the glory alone” is not simply an axiomatic truth to be applied in understanding the issue of our salvation. In fact, this basic teaching has become for every Christian person a basic approach in looking at every issue in life. The Christian’s worldview is stated in 1 Cor 10v31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” Here the Bible tells us that in all that we do in every day life, we should do them with a view to glorify God. This ultimately is our main purpose in life: “To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever”.

As Christians, we look at life from God’s point of view. This perspective changes our outlook in everything. We look at the universe as God’s creation. We look at our individual existence as God-given. We look at life as a gift to serve Him and to live for Him. And we regard all our material wealth and lack, our comfort and adversities as God’s providential portion for us. When we look at life with this God-centered vision, we will never despair even in the most difficult circumstances. For, even in the greatest trial, there is our God who is in control. He is the prime mover in history. He is the source of all comfort. He is the Saviour of man. He is the Infinite who holds the universe in his hands. The apostle Paul concluded his teaching on God’s sovereignty in Romans 11 with a moving doxology in v36. He wrote, “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

This is what every Christian confesses with the highest praise.

The late Pastor Cheah Fook Meng was pastor of Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church. This article was originally published in CERC's Tracts and Essays column and is reproduced here with permission.

Pastor Cheah Fook Meng
The Christian Post (Singapore) Guest Contributor