Beth-El Baptist Church

11/18/2012

Greg Tomlinson


Is the principle of “to the glory of God alone” Biblical?


One of the Five Sola's of the Reformation is that all glory is to be due to God alone. This statement is particularly associated with the salvation of an individual. It identifies that when a person is saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ, that all glory associated with that salvation truth belongs to God and to God alone. The one being saved is to receive none of the glory associated with his salvation.


  1. What does it mean to give God glory?

Genesis 31:1; 45:9-13 Isaiah 8:7

Exodus 16:6-8; 28:1-3


To give God glory is to recognize the riches, power, and authority of God and to apply those attributes of God to the present situation. When God receives ALL of the glory, it means that whatever was accomplished was accomplished ONLY on the basis of God's riches, power and authority. The people involved with the event are claiming no personal ability to accomplish but God's ability to accomplish. No personal resources by God's resources to accomplish. Specifically, when the event is the salvation of an individual, then to give God ALL the glory means that the individual who is saved did nothing to contribute to or aid in his own salvation. It also means that no one else did anything to contribute or aid in his salvation. The only reason the person is saved because of what God did and how God did it.


  1. Why can't I take any credit or receive any glory?

Romans 4:4-5; 5:15-16; 6:23 11:5-7 1 Corinthians 4:7; 15:1-4

Galatians 3:1-3 Matthew 16:15-17

Philippians 1:6 Ephesians 2:8-10


The reality is that my salvation is either completely the results of my efforts and desires or it is in spite of my efforts and desires. If salvation is the result of my efforts, then I have incurred a debt before God, meaning that God would owe me salvation as a result of my works. If salvation is the result of my efforts, then salvation is not by grace otherwise grace is not grace but it is some sort of reward for a job well done. The scriptures refer to salvation being a “gift of God”. This means that it is not owed nor obtained by the efforts of the recipient just like birthday, anniversary, or Christmas gifts that I received are not obtained by my efforts and money by the efforts and money of another.


  1. How can God receive all of the glory?

Isaiah 50:1-2 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Galatians 4:4-6 Psalm 9:7-8; 51:3-5

1 John 4:9-10 Romans 3:4-10; 9:15-16


God has obligated Himself to function in accordance with His perfect and holy nature. God MUST judge sin and cannot let sin go unpunished. In order for man to enter into the presence of God and to be accepted by God, God must find a way to maintain His perfect justice for the damage that each person has done to the nature and character of God (in whose image we are made – Genesis 1:26-27) and at the same time God must find a way to demonstrate the depth of His love and mercy in finding a way to have the punishment of sins paid for. This can only be accomplished if God alone makes the payment for sin with no obligation on the part of the recipient of His grace.


  1. Does God receive any glory for those who do not believe?

Matthew 5:16 Philippians 2:9-11

Psalm 51:3-5 Romans 9:22-23


Although unbelievers deserve the judgment that they received, God will be glorified in their unrighteousness. Their judgment demonstrates the holiness of God and His perfect justice and thus creates a stark contrast between the condemned unbeliever and the justified believer so that the believer might be even more appreciative of the grace he has received from God.