TO THE GLORY OF GOD ALONE
Romans 11:33-36
Anthony Collins, who lived in the 1700’s, was a Justice of the Peace and English writer and a well-knowndeist. Deists believed in the existence of God but reject revealed religion based on the Scriptures, instead basing their belief on physical nature,human reason and personal experience.
They rejected supernal events such as prophecy and miracles and instead believed that God does not interfere with human life and the laws of the universe he created. They believe God created the world and then has let it go like we would wind up an alarm clock and let it wind down on its own without interfering with it.
Deism became prominent in England and the United States in the 1600 and 1700’s. It was most prominent among those raised as Christians who found thy could not believe in the trinity, the divinity of Jesus, miracles, or the inerrancy of Scripture, but
who did believe that there was one God.
One day when he was out walking he crossed paths with a common man. “Where are you going?” he asked. “To church, sir.” “What are you going to do there?” “To worship God, sir.”
Collins asked, “Is your God a great or little God?” “He is both, sir.” “How can he be both?” “He is so great, sir, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him; and so little that He can dwell in
my heart” the man replied.
Collins later declared that this simple answer had more effect on his mind than all the volumes he had ever read about God, and
all the lectures he had ever heard.
God is greater than our mind can imagine. We cannot figure him out through our own reasoning because he is immortal and invisible so we cannot comprehend him or see him. A.W. Pink – “The foundation of all true knowledge of God must be a clear mental apprehension of his perfections as revealed in Scripture.”
Salvation of mankind
The theme of the book of Romans is that salvation from sin comes from God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
As Paul closed the book of Romans he says that God chose the Jews, but they rejected Christ and therefore God offered salvation to anyone who would believe Jesus died for their sins.
Romans 10:12 There is no distinction between Jew and Gentile;
for the same Lord is Lord of all.Then in :13 Paul quotes from Joel 2:32 everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
At the close of Romans 11 Paul breaks into a doxology to exalt the wisdom of God in bringing salvation to both Jews and Gentiles.
DIVINE WISDOM – beyond our comprehension :33
Wisdom– is skill or expertise in a specific area of life.
In the NT the word wisdom is used in two ways:
1. Practical wisdom in the affairs of life.
It is shown in forming the best plans and selecting the best means
to accomplish them so they take place the way you intended.
2. Spiritual wisdom is knowledge and moral insight.
It is knowing what is morally right or wrong and choosing to do what is right. God’s law gives us his guidance of what is right.
Unsearchable– because we cannot fully understand his wisdom.
Isaiah 55:8-9 God told us that he thinks differently than we do.
My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher
than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
God is so wise his knowledge cannot be measured. He knows everything about what took place in the past, what is happening in the present and what will happen in the future. He knows what is possible and what is impossible. He has the ability to apply his infinite knowledge with perfect skill to accomplish is will.
John Calvin – “The riches of God’s wisdom are deeper than our reason can penetrate to.” We are human and God is divine.
Inscrutable (NIV beyond tracing)– because God doesn’t leave
us footprints to follow, instead he wants us to just trust him.
Psalm 77:19 In referring to Israel leaving the land of Egypt: Your path led through the sea, though your footprints were not seen.
God directed the people to cross the Red Sea as he parted it for them even though they did not see his presence.
We cannot understand why God does certain things that he does. His actions and decisions defy our human understanding.
Application
God doesn’t ask me to understand why he does what he does.
He asks me to trust him even though I don’t understand his will.
Swindoll said, “God is too kind to do anything cruel . . .
God is too wise to make a mistake . . .
God is too deep to explain Himself . . .
DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY – needing no explanation :34-35
Three questions are asked to help us understand the wisdom of God in planning our salvation – all assume a negative answer.
1. Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Since God is infinite (unlimited in his knowledge) and we are finite (limited in ours) we cannot comprehend what God is thinking or understand what he does or why he does it.
2. Who has been his counselor?
Since God knows everything, including how to wisely apply his knowledge no one could ever act as his advisor. He doesn’t need
our limited knowledge to help him make the right decisions.
3. Who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?
Since God is our creator, provider andredeemer we are in debt
to him. We could never give him anything that would make him
in debt to us.
We owe everything we have and are to God. Augustine wrote, “We count on God’s mercy for our past mistakes, on God’s love for our present needs and on God’s sovereignty for our future.”
DIVINE GLORY – Both now and forever :36
Temporal Events
From him – because he is the original source of everything in life.
God created everything there is and that we enjoy in life.
We should thank him for everything that he has given us.
Through him– because he is the sovereign controller of our lives.
God is in complete control of everything that happens in our life.
Nothing happens in your life that God does not allow or cause.
To him – because he is the ultimate goal of everything in life.
Everything belongs to God because it was created for his pleasure.
I should bring praise to God by my actions and in my attitudes.
Eternal Glory
Glory – Gk. doxa from which we get our word doxology.
A doxology is to give glory, honor and praise to God.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow . . .
Revelation 5:13Every creature in haven and on earth sang:
To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise
and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!
God should receive the glory in everything because everything comes from him and through him. The focus of our thoughts should be continually God-centered, not self-centered.
Belief in – To the glory of God alone
The Reformers believed that our salvation from the beginning to the end was the result of what God did for us, not anything we do.
Therefore, God alone is to receive all the glory for our salvation not anything we have to done to earn it.
John Calvin – “All power of action resides in the Spirit himself,
and thus all praise ought to be entirely referred to God alone.”
We are to praise God alone for saving us from our sins.
Fanny Crosby expressed it in the words of the hymn in 1872:
To God be the glory great things he has done
so loved his world that he gave us his son.
Andrae Crouch expressed it in his song called My Tribute.
To God be the glory for the things he has done.
With his blood he has saved me; with his power he has raised me;
To God be the glory for the things he has done.
APPLICATION
As a doctrine, it means that everything that is done is for God's glory to the exclusion of mankind's self-glorification and pride.
The first statement in the Westminster Confession of Faith says,
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”
Our main purpose in life is to give God the glory he deserves.
R.C. Sproul – “Everything that God does, everything that God allows and ordains is in the supreme sense for His glory. It is also
true that while God seeks His own glory supremely, man benefits when God is glorified.”
1. Walk
Our walk with God should bring glory to God who saved us.
We honor God by becoming more and more like Christ.
Our lives should demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).
2. Work
Our work should bring glory to God who created us.
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive
the inheritance as your reward.
3. Worship
I Chron. 16:29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.
Worship is to glorify God for who he is (his character) –
loving, kind, holy, forgiving, sovereign, just, righteous . . .
Worship should glorify God for what he has done (his works) –
which most important is in saving us from our sins.
God cannot be glorified in our worship if it is entertainment because the focus is on us and how we feel instead of God.
True worship focuses on praising God, not on how we feel.
CONCLUSION
Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany, the same town in which Martin Luther was born 200 years earlier in 1483.
He attended the same school as Luther did and was greatly influenced by Luther’s legacy in the reformation.
His father was an organist at St George’sChurch and taught him
to play the violin and harpsichord. His uncles were all professional
musicians, who played as church organists and court musicians.
His mother and father both died when he was ten and he moved in with his older brother who was also a church organist. There he copied, studied and performed music. He also received valuable teaching from his brother in playing musical instruments.
During his life Bach became famous as an organist because he played so well, but he was not particularly well-known as a composer even though he composed hundreds of pieces. He composed sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra and
individual instruments.
Bach said that the aim of all music was to be to the glory of God and that his purpose in life was to create church music dedicated “to the glory of God.” He initialed his blank manuscripts before he began to compose the music with the letters “I.N.J” which meant
In the name of Jesus. When the manuscript was completed he
would initial it S.D.G (Soli Deo Gloria) To God alone, the glory.
Summary
First, God is to be praised for who he is.
Second, God is to be praised for saving us from our sins.
Third, God is to be praised for his many blessings to us.
Fourth, God is to be praised by using the gifts he had given us.