The Protestant reformers diligently struggled to place the priority of God’s sovereignty back where it belonged, front and center in our theology. In Adam, all humans died and are currently under the curse of sin. Our spirit is dead and not capable to respond to the gospel call. God in His grace and mercy, must bring us to life. We must acknowledge that He alone has the power to save. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians writes, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved (Eph 2:4-5)”. We stand as trophies of God’s grace. For all of eternity God will be glorified for what He has accomplished in the redemption of man. As mentioned earlier, God does not receive glory simply for man’s salvation, but for his sanctification and glorification. An important part of the reformation was removing sanctification out the hands of Christians. Our sanctification is not based upon good works or discipline as the Roman Catholic Church has taught. We are saved, sanctified, and glorified by the power of God’s grace through faith ALONE. The moment man claims any responsibility, no matter how little, it removes glory that belongs to God alone.
The reformers held that not only our redemption is for God’s glory, but our entire life. The first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man?” The answer, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” To the Corinthians, Paul teaches them, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31).” Our entire lives are to be focused on giving glory to God. Many Christians have been misled to believe that there is a sacred and secular lifestyle. For hundreds of years under the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, men and women left their jobs and families to join monasteries supposing this was a life separated from the secular world. Their ambition was to focus their entire life for what they considered to be sacred, or glorifying to God. No such distinction exists. This world is the reflection of God’s glory. As part of this creation, we are called to give Him glory in all that we do, not just on Sundays or in a church building. In work, worship or play, God is given glory from His redeemed children. We want God to be praised for whatever happens in our lives. In faith we rest in the promises given to us in the gospel, and these promises reveal His glory to us. We use these truths to aid our lives in glorifying God. Therefore, God is to receive glory alone for our life lived here on this earth as well as our salvation, sanctification and glorification.
