The Five Solas of the Reformation: Sola Deo Gloria

The 18th Century of Discovery.

The 18th century was what they called the Enlightenment thinking era, this was a period of various revolutions and revolts against monarchs; such revolutions was the French Revolution which saw the people rise to power and overthrow the monarchs to establish a democracy and liberty. As great as that sounds, it saw the deaths of 600,000 to 1.3 million people, some were executed without trial, lynched by the mobs or many died in prison.

This revolution would later inspire a colony across the sea to break away from their king and establish a republic of their own, and such the American Revolution ignited in the hearts and minds of those colonisers and opened their doors to all who were oppressed and downtrodden and be given liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

For Indonesians, the first coffee shipment arrived in Amsterdam in around 1710, coffee was introduced by the Dutch and grown on the island of Java, to this day, Indonesia is one of the largest producers in the world all thanks to the Dutch in bringing it from the Middle East.

It is also in this century that Captain James Cook explores and maps New Zealand and Australia, it is here in 1770 that Cook claims the East Coast of Australia for Great Britain Captain James Cook would later be killed in Hawaii in 1779.

A well known composer

But an up and coming composer would rise during the 18th century. Coming from a large family of musicians one of his well known arrangements that many Christians are familiar with called ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’. Do you know who the composer of that arrangement is?

His name is Johann Sebastian Bach, who was born in Eisenach, Germany in 1685 but would rise to populace at the start of the 18th century. Johann Sebastian Bach would grow and be involved with his Lutheran church and be inspired by Jesus and the gospel.

It is said that after a few months of his passing, his estate consisted of five harpsichords, two lute-harpsichords, three violins, three violas, two cellos, a viola da gamba (something that looks like a violin), a lute, a spinet (something that looks like a harpsichord) and 52 sacred books which include works of Martin Luther and Josephus, especially Bibles.

In one of the Bibles, Bach wrote on the side of 2 Chronicles 5:13 “NB Bey einer andächtigen Musiq ist allezeit Gott mit seiner Gnaden Gegenwart” (NB (Please note) In a music of worship God is always present with His grace).

But what is interesting is the initials he writes on most of his music, the first initials are J.J. and at the end S.D.G. The first is Jesu Juva, which is Latin for ‘Jesus Save Me!’, the one in the end is ‘Soli Deo Gloria’ (To the Glory of God Alone!).

Johann Sebastian Bach believed that all his works are to God’s glory, there is nothing about him that man should glorify save the God of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things and Redeemer of man. Bach said “I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music”. He also adds, “The final aim and reason of all music is nothing other than the glorification of God and the refreshment of the spirit”.

Sola Deo Gloria

And that is just it, all things, not only music should be Sola Deo Gloria; ‘to the glory of God alone!’

This last sola encapsulates all 4 solas:

Sola Scriptura

Sola Christus

Sola Fide

Sola Gratia

Because ultimately it all leads to the glory of God alone for His grace has given us Jesus, and in Jesus who we find in Scripture our faith grows. Here we glorify God for by His mercy He has given these solas for our salvation.

There is nothing in us that can save us, these solas don’t save us, only God alone is our salvation, by grace through the faith in Jesus Christ that is revealed to us through His scripture. This is why our God should be glorified and praised.

Why Sola Deo Gloria?

So, the Reformers and Protestant must have had a reason to come up with this doctrine to protest the Roman Catholics understanding of Sola Deo Gloria.

For the Roman Catholics, they believe in Sola Deo Gloria but you have to remember that they also have the Virgin Mary and the various saints that play apart in understanding God’s glory.

According to the Catholics the Virgin Mary and the saints are honoured and not worshipped for their roles that point to God’s glory.

They also believe that through the Catholic church they are the channel through which God’s glory is made manifest in the world.

The Catholic church still has that human element, they believe that the work of sinful people could contribute to salvation.

Glory to God alone!

The only thing that we contribute is giving glory back to God alone, we glorify Him for all He has done in our lives.

What was it that Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31?

1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT

31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

In what way have you glorified the God in all you do this week? How will you glorify the God in the coming week? Do you glorify the God only through the good days? How do you glorify God on the bad?

But what is glory? How is that different from praise or honour?

The meaning of glory

The Greek word δόξα (doxa), apart from the word glory, considers this word to have perception of dependence of fame and honour on extraordinary performance. It can also mean brightness, splendor or radiance. For God, His shekinah glory or brightness, splendor and radiance affected His interaction with the Hebrew people.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, no one could look or talk to him because of the glory that surrounded his face that he was asked to wear a veil.

Paul talks about Moses and the veil in 2 Corinthians 3:13-15, but we too can have that brightness, splendor and radiance like Moses if we seek the Lord, commune with Him and follow His Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:16–18 NLT

16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Friends, this veil as Paul mention is the veil that covers our minds in understanding God’s intention for us, God wants to transform us into His glorious image. God wants to free us and the only way we can be free is through Sola Deo Gloria - the glory of God alone.

This glorious image is none other than Jesus Christ:

2 Corinthians 4:6–12 NLT

6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

In verse 10 reveals why we part take in the Lord’s supper as we are reminded of the Body that was broken for our salvation and the blood that was poured for our sins.

It’s a reminder that only in God, His grace and love has revealed to us a path out of our sinful condition and a revelation of His character in Jesus Christ. Does God deserve to be glorified for all He has done for us?

But I will continue to ask this very important question at each communion service, what has changed since your last communion service? How have you drawn closer to the Lord? How have you changed from glory to glory in the face of Jesus Christ?

Friends, everything that God has done reveals to us that glory belongs to God alone. But, Scripture reveals that we too will receive glory when He returns.

1 Peter 5:4 NLT

4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

Sola Deo Gloria - to the glory of God alone, will you glorify God in all actions of your life? Will you partake in this service and glorify Him in all He has done for you?