Reformation
500 Lent Course Session 5
Review so far
Sola No. 4: Solus Christus - In Christ Alone
Christianity is Christ! The clue is in the title. Take
Christ out and we are more or less left with inanity!
“Solus Christus
is an excellent summary of theology’s first principle, and first love. The
gospel is essentially the announcement – the setting forth in speech – of what
is in Jesus Christ.” Vanhoozer, After
Babel, p149
Colossians 2:3; Ephesians 3:8
Acts 4:12 – The only Saviour; John 14:6 – The only way to
God the Father
Christ’s unique person – The eternal Son – The God-Man –
Hebrews 4:15; Colossians 2:9
Christ’s unique saving work – incarnation – life – death
– resurrection – ascension – return – 2 Corinthians 5:19
Christ the Anointed One / Messiah (cf. OT) as prophet,
priest and king (see Institutes
II.15.1-6, Letham, The Work of Christ) – revealer, reconciler, ruler
1 Timothy 2:1-6 – As God and man Christ is uniquely
qualified to be our Mediator – represents both God and man – as a man he can
die; as God his death is of infinite value
Christ’s saving work – all that is needed for salvation -
John 19:30 - “It is finished” – not “I am finished”, a cry of victory, “done!”,
“accomplished!”, “achieved!” – price fully paid, Jesus’ saving work complete
Christ unique sinless means he is the only possible
saviour – the lamb of God without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19) – an
acceptable sacrifice – everyone else is part of the problem not part of the
solution!
The cross as essential and central – Emil Brunner, “Luther
certainly hit the nail on the head when he described Christian theology… as a theologia crucis [a theology of the
cross]. The whole struggle of the Reformation for the sola fides, the soli deo gloria,
was simply the struggle for the right interpretation of the Cross. He who
understands the Cross aright – this is the opinion of the Reformers –
understands the Bible and understands Jesus Christ.” Luther says: “this text – ‘He
bore our sins’ – must be understood particularly thoroughly as the foundation
upon which stands the whole of the New Testament or the Gospel, as that which
alone distinguishes us and our religion from all other religions…. Whoever
believes this article of faith is secure against all errors, and God and the
Holy Ghost is necessarily with him.” The
Mediator, p435 citing Luther Works
v25, p330 – 1 Peter 2:24
Christ as the centre and goal of the Scriptures - Luke 24;
John 5:39-40 – The Written Word leads us to the Incarnate Word
Every spiritual blessing in Christ – Ephesians 1:3
Faith unites us to Christ – what is in Christ (light,
life, love etc.) is all ours in Him (Luther’s marriage analogy – Christ’s
riches, status ours, our debts his etc.)
Colossians – Christ is supreme (1:15ff) therefore Christ
is sufficient, so stick with him (2:6ff) – no need to add anything to Christ –
in fact, adding anything to Christ as necessary for salvation takes away from
Christ’s saving work – he alone is powerful to save
Gospel plus something is actually less than the gospel –
not saving good news any more
As opposed to our good works / morality – we cannot save
ourselves (see sessions on grace and faith) – we need a Saviour not just a bit
of help or a few tips nor education nor example etc.
Not religion or “church” without Christ etc. Not by sound
theology
As opposed to the saints esp. Mary – no excess merit of
the saints – not as mediators – not to be prayed to
Notice that Mary calls God her Saviour – she is not the
rescuer, she was in need of rescue (as we all are)
Cf. The sacrifice of Christ and the supposed sacrifice of
the Mass – the once for all nature of Christ’s sacrifice – Hebrews 9-10 – his
unique and final High Priesthood
Also Turks at the gates
Galatians 1:6-9 – stick with the grace and gospel of
Christ as proclaimed by the Apostles
What might people
be tempted to add to Christ? Or depend on instead of Christ?
Sola No. 5: Soli Deo Gloria - To The Glory of God Alone
What do you think
of as glorious? What answers might you give in a word association game for
“glory”?
What is the
ultimate aim (or aims) of your life? How might others describe their ultimate
goals?
Is your God to
small? Do you underestimate or neglect his glory and greatness? How?
Vandrunem: “Soli
Deo Gloria can be understood as the glue that holds the other solas in place, or the center that draws
the other solas in a grand, unified
whole.” (p15) – the logical consequence of the other solas – a necessary and fitting conclusion of them – salvation is
the work of God alone so he alone gets the glory
The Te Deum
Laudamus - “We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord….”
Etc. (BCP Morning Prayer)
Glory – Hebrew: kabod
– heaviness, weight, substance, mass, worth, presence, value, splendour,
reputation, honour – God substantial (cf. human dust!)
Rick Warren: The glory of God: “It is who God is. It is
the essence of his nature, the weight of his importance, the radiance of his splendour,
demonstration of his power, and the atmosphere of his presence. God’s glory is
the expression of his goodness and all his other intrinsic, eternal qualities.”
(The Purpose Driven Life, p53)
The glory cloud – Exodus 13:21-22; 14:19-20; 16:6-10;
19:9, 16-18; 40:36-38; Numbers 9:15-23 cf. Psalm 97:1-2 – clouds surrounding
God; Psalm 99:7 – associated with the Holy Spirit – Isaiah 63:11-15; Nehemiah
9:19-20; Haggai 2:5 – tabernacle – Exodus 40:34-35
Moses’ request to see God’s glory – Exodus 33:18-23 –
note connection with God’s presence (vv14-15), name, character etc.
1 Samuel 4:21-22 – Phinehas’ wife calls her son Ichabod =
no glory – the glory of the Lord has departed with the capture of the ark
Glory cloud filling the temple – 1 Kings 8:10-11; 2
Chronicles 5:13-14; 7:1-3
Visions of God: Ezekiel 1 esp. v28; 3:12, 23; Isaiah 6
The glory cloud departing from the temple – Ezekiel
10:18-19
God is the Glory of Israel (1 Samuel 15:29), the King of
Glory (Psalm 24:8, 9, 10) and the God of Glory (Psalm 29:3; Acts 7:2). God the Father
the Father of Glory (Ephesians 1:17) – God’s name glorious and awesome
(Deuteronomy 28:58)
NT Greek: doxa LXX
for kabod – secular Greek, opinion,
reputation
We give God glory (praise, honour, esteem) because he is
glorious!
John Calvin: “Our being should be employed for [God’s]
glory: for how unreasonable would it be for creatures, whom he has formed and
whom he sustains, to live for any other purpose than for making his glory
known? … The whole order of things would be strangely subverted, were not God,
who is the beginning of all things, the end also…. God justly claims for
himself absolute supremacy, and that in the condition of mankind and of the
whole world nothing is to be sought beyond his own glory. It hence follows, that
absurd and contrary to reason, and even insane, are all those sentiments which
tend to diminish his glory.”
Calvin: “We never truly glory in him until we have
utterly discarded our own glory…. The elect are justified by the Lord in order
that they may glory in him, and in none else.” Institutes 3.13.2
The glory of God revealed in creation – Psalm 19; 8 –
Calvin, creation the theatre of God’s glory, Institutes 1.14.20, Commentary
on Hebrews 11:3
God Himself, the Giver not just his gifts! – Seek first –
Matthew 6:33
The passing nature of human glories – Psalm 103:14ff –
wealth uncertain (Matthew 6:19ff), fame fleeting etc.
Heaven as glory – when a Christian dies they have been “called
to glory” – BCP, “the hope of glory” – future glory – Romans 8:17-18; Titus
2:13, we await the glorious appearing of our great God and Savour, Jesus Christ
– “he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead”
Jesus the radiance of God’s glory – Hebrews 1:3 – his
glory seen by the apostles, John 1:14 – the crucified Lord of Glory, 1
Corinthians 2:8 – Transfiguration reveals Christ’s glory – 2 Corinthians 4:3-6,
God has given us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
Christ
Glory revealed by Jesus’ signs – John 2:11; 11:4; also
work of the Spirit 16:14; disciples 17:10 – esp. Jesus’ death – 12:23-28;
13:31; 17:1-4; Christ’s glory 17:22, 24
Jesus a reversal of worldly glory – greatness in humble,
self-sacrificial service not status / display – Philippians 2:5-11 – John 5:44;
12:42-43
2 Corinthians 11:30; 12:8-10 – glorying in weakness
Basil the Great of Caesarea (d. 379): “A man glories fully and perfectly in
God when he does not extol himself on account of his own righteousness, but
knows that he is lacking in true righteousness, and that he is really justified
by faith alone in Christ. Paul boasts of the fact that he despises his own
righteousness, but seeks that righteousness by faith which comes through
Christ, which comes from God, so that he may know him and the power of his
resurrection and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
that if possible he may somehow attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Homily 20.3)
Luke 2:14 – The song of the angels
Romans 3:23 – all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God
Cf. Babel – Genesis 11 – a false striving for glory
without God
Nebuchadnezzar’s failure to glorify God – Daniel 4:30-34,
37
Herod fails to glorify God – Acts 12:21-24
Ephesians 1:6, 12-14 – God saves his people for the sake
of the glory of his name – Psalm 79:9; 102:15
We glorify God by bearing fruit as Jesus’ disciples –
John 15:8
Isaiah 42:8; 43:7; 48:11; 61:1
Jonathan Edwards, The
End for Which God Created the World – no need or inadequacy in our perfect
Triune God - his own glory – the overflow of God’s goodness
Is it egotistical
of God to want to glorify himself?
No, because God is the highest possible good, the sum of
all perfections, it is good for God to glorify himself. It is for our good.
Westminster Shorter
Catechism: “Q: What is the chief end of man? A: To glorify God and enjoy
him for ever”
1 duty not 2, glorify God by enjoying him
John Piper: “God is most glorified in us when we are most
satisfied in him”
The alternative – some praise to me!
Good works not to earn salvation but out of gratitude and
for the glory of God (see quotations from The
Augsburg Confession 20.27-28 and Cranmer, Sermon on Salvation, quoted in Reformation
Anglicanism, p170)
J. S. Bach – manuscripts: “JJ” = Jesu juva = Jesus, help!
- “SDG”
How do the other
solas lead to the glory of God alone?
Salvation entirely the sovereign, gracious work of God
Psalm 29:2; 115:1
1 Corinthians 10:31 – everything to be done to the glory
of God
Romans 11:33-36; Revelation 1:5-6
Kipling’s, Non
Nobis Domine (1934) – “Not unto us, O Lord! / The Praise or Glory be” etc.
(hymn, Google!)
Habakkuk 2:14; Revelation 21:1-2, 22-26 – The New
Jerusalem: the glory of God gives it light and the glory of the nations will be
brought into it
Summary
[Salvation] according to Scripture alone, in Christ
alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, to the glory of God alone
Which sola seems
most important or relevant to you? Is there one you think we especially risk
neglecting?
How will the solas
help to shape your prayers and praises, the way you think and live, your
evangelism?
What do you think
Luther or Calvin might make of the state of the church / society today?
Further reading /
resources:
John Piper, God’s
Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards (Crossway,
1998)
David Vandrunem, God’s
Glory Alone: The Majestic Heart of the Christian Faith and Life – What the
Reformers taught… and why it still matters – The 5 Solas Series (Zondervan,
2015)
Glen Scrivener sermons - http://christthetruth.net/2010/08/04/christ-alone-sermon/
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment