Total depravity

Question: "Total depravity - is it biblical?"

Answer: Total depravity is a phrase used to summarize what the Bible teaches about the spiritual condition of fallen man. It is the name “total depravity” can cause people to have wrong ideas about what is meant, yet what is important is not the name assigned to the doctrine but how accurately the doctrine summarizes what the Bible teaches about the spiritual condition of fallen man.

The doctrine of total depravity is an acknowledgement that the Bible teaches that as a result of the fall of man (Genesis 3:6) every part of man—his mind, will, emotions and flesh—have been corrupted by sin. In other words, sin affects all areas of our being including who we are and what we do. It penetrates to the very core of our being so that everything is tainted by sin and “…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” before a holy God (Isaiah 64:6).  

Quote # 1 - The total depravity of man is seen throughout the Bible. Man’s heart is “deceitful and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). The Bible also teaches us that man is born dead in transgression and sin (Psalm 51:5, Psalm 58:3, Ephesians 2:1-5). The Bible teaches that because unregenerate man is “dead in transgressions” (Ephesians 2:5), he is held captive by a love for sin (John 3:19; John 8:34) so that he will not seek God (Romans 3:10-11) because he loves the darkness (John 3:19) and does not understand the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:14). Therefore, men suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18) and continue to willfully live in sin. Because they are totally depraved, this sinful lifestyle seems right to men (Proverbs 14:12) so they reject the gospel of Christ as foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18) and their mind is “hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is unable to do so” (Romans 8:7).

The Apostle Paul summarizes the total depravity of man in Read - Romans 3:9-18. He begins this passage by saying that “both Jews and Greeks are all under sin.” Simply put, this means that man is under the control of sin. The fact that unregenerate people are controlled by their selfish, sinful tendencies should not come as a surprise to any parent. What parent has to teach his or her child to be selfish, to covet what someone else has or to lie? Those actions come naturally from the child’s sin nature. Instead, the parent must devote much time to teaching the child the importance of telling the truth, of sharing instead of being selfish, of obeying instead of rebelling, etc.

Quote – “In the rest of this passage Paul quotes extensively from the Old Testament in explaining how sinful man really is. For example, we see that 1—no one is without sin, 2—no one seeks after God, 3—there is no one who is good, 4—their speech is corrupted by sin, 5—their actions are corrupted by sin, and 6—above all, they have no fear of God. So, when one considers even these few verses, it becomes abundantly clear the Bible does indeed teach that fallen man is “totally depraved,” because sin affects all of him including his mind, will and emotions so that “there is none who does good, no not one” (Romans 3:12).”

Arminian v. Calvinism (Fact man cannot do it himself): Since Scripture is very clear that all of man is affected by sin and so much so that “no one seeks after God,” then how can anyone possibly become a Christian? The answer is that God must overcome man’s depravity in such a way that man is able to recognize his spiritual state and his hopeless condition apart from the grace of God. Man’s spiritually blind eyes must be open and the bondage of sin that renders him hopelessly enslaved must be broken so that he can respond in faith to the gospel message and the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Some Christians believe that God accomplishes this through some type of universal grace whereby God brings man to a condition where he has the ability to choose or reject Him. Others believe that for a man who is “dead in trespasses and sins” to be able to understand and respond to the gospel in faith, he must first be born again or regenerated by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3). It is only after God infuses spiritual life into a dead sinner that he can “see the kingdom of God.” Those that hold this view see this as being a sovereign act of God, whereby men are born again “not of the blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). Homework: prove prevenient grace by Scripture.

However, even when the doctrine of total depravity is properly understood, many people will reject the doctrine, but that fact should not surprise us, since the world generally thinks of man as being basically good. Therefore, the idea that man by nature is a depraved sinner runs contrary to most modern religious, psychological and philosophical views of the basic nature of man. But the fact is that the Bible does teach the depravity of the human heart, and the root cause of man’s problem is not the environment he is raised in but his wicked and selfish heart. Properly understood, the doctrine of total depravity will destroy the hopes of those who place their faith in any type of works-based system of salvation and will recognize that God’s sovereign grace is man’s only hope. While the doctrine of total depravity destroys man’s self-righteousness and any misconceptions about man’s ability to be saved through his own free will, it leaves one asking the same question the disciples asked of Jesus in Matthew 19:25-26: “Then who can be saved?” Of course the answer remains the same: “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:25-26).

Why important: worship - As the first of the five doctrines of what is called “Calvinism,” the doctrine of total depravity correctly focuses man’s attention on the rest of these “doctrines of grace” which declare the wondrous work of God in the salvation of sinners.

Synod of Dort

Synod of Dort 1618 to 1619 – primarily here I’m gonna focus on the Calvinists opponents The Arminians (not Armenians like The Kardashians) since we’ll be spending so much time reviewing Calvinist theology in the coming weeks. **Remember right from the start that much like the week we spent on John Calvin there was NOT a Medieval separation of Church & State, so aberration from Orthodox doctrine was not a Religious debate but an execution-able offense.

The Five Articles of Remonstrance were theological propositions advanced in 1610 by followers of Jacobus Arminius, in disagreement with interpretations of the teaching of John Calvin & Theodore Beza in the Dutch Reformed Church.             

The Five Articles of Remonstrance were subject to review by the Dutch National Synod held in Dordrecht. Their decision, known as the Canons of Dort, opposed the Remonstrance with Five Heads of Doctrine; each in answer to one of the Articles of the Remonstrance. It was this response, which gave rise to what has since become known as the Five Points of Calvinism or TULIP.

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What did the Remonstrance believe?

“Conditional Election” – C.E. states that God elects individuals to salvation based on His foreknowledge of who will believe in Christ unto salvation on their own, thereby on the condition that the individual chooses God.

                  **Just a quick historical note – Semi-Pelagians thought that the beginning of faith is an act of free will, but later growing in faith - was the work of God. This was deemed a heresy in the Second Council of Orange in 529. ** There is very little difference between Arminianism & Semi-Pelagianism

“Universal Atonement” Limited atonement is the belief that Jesus only died for the elect – whomever they are. While U.A. is the belief that Jesus died for all, but that His death is not effectual until a person receives Him by faith. 

“Mostly Totally depraved” In general, Arminians believe there is an “intermediate” state between total depravity and salvation. In this state, made possible by prevenient grace, the sinner is being drawn to Christ and has the God-given ability to choose or reject salvation.

“God’s Limited Free-Will (& Man’s Free-Will to Resist Grace)” Irresistible grace argues that when God calls a person to salvation, that person will inevitably come to salvation. Resistible grace states that God calls all to salvation, but that most people resist and reject this call.

“Conditional Salvation” C.S. is the view that a believer in Christ can, of his/her own free will, turn away from Christ and thereby lose salvation. Note - many Arminians today deny "conditional salvation" and instead hold to "eternal security" like Calvinists.

Events:

The synod consisted of 39 pastors and 18 Elders from the Belgic churches, 5 professors from the universities of Holland, 19 delegates from the Reformed churches in Germany and Switzerland, and 5 professors and bishops from Great Britain. France was also invited but did not attend. The Synod was thus constituted of 86 voting members in all. There were 154 formal sessions and many side conferences held during the six months that the Synod met to consider these matters.

Quote #1 - **The purpose of the Synod was to settle the controversy over Arminianism. It was subsequently alleged that the outcome had already been decided. According to Frederick Calder, "condemnation [of the Remonstrant doctrines] was determined before the national synod met."^[5] On the other hand, beyond the condemnation of the Arminians, the theological formulations of the Canons of the Synod by no means gave support to all the Calvinists wanted. The more extreme views of Dutch Calvinists were moderated in the detailed debates.

Simon Episcopius (1583–1643) was spokesman of the 14 Remonstrants who were summoned before the Synod in 1618. At the opening of the synod, Episcopius asked to speak.

Quote # 2 - "Episcopius [...] insisted on being permitted to begin with a refutation of the Calvinistic doctrines, especially that of reprobation, hoping that, by placing his objections to this doctrine in front of all the rest, he might excite such prejudice against the other articles of the system, as to secure the popular voice in his favor. The Synod, however, very properly, reminded him [...] that, as the Remonstrants were accused of departing from the Reformed faith, they were bound first to justify themselves, by giving Scriptural proof in support of their opinions. The Arminians would not submit to this plan of procedure because it destroyed their whole scheme of argument [...] and were thus compelled to withdraw. Upon their departure, the Synod proceeded without them."^[9]

What was the outcome?
The Synod concluded with a rejection of the Arminian views, and set forth the Reformed doctrine on each point, namely: TULIP.  
The thirteen Remonstrant ministers, including Episcopius, had been charged to remain in Dort until further instruction. The Remonstrant ministers who had been present were summoned by the lay-commissioners of the synod and directed to abstain from ministerial activities such as preaching, exhorting, administering the sacraments, and visiting the sick. Furthermore, Episcopius was commanded not to write letters or books promoting the doctrines of the Remonstrants.
On July 5, they were called to the States-General assembly where they were requested to sign The Act of Cessation, the legalization of the order to desist from the ministry. When they refused to sign it, they were sentenced as "disturbers of the public peace" and ordered to leave the United Provinces. However, in the 18th century, Arminian theology spread to England where it became integral to the theology of the Methodist churches.

Then followed the political condemnation of the statesman Johan van Oldenbarnevelt who had been the protector of the Remonstrants. For the crime of general perturbation in the state of the nation, both in Church and State (treason), he was beheaded on 13 May 1619, only four days after the final meeting of the Synod. The jurist Hugo Grotius was given a life sentence in prison; but he escaped with the help of his wife.

 Quote # 3 - "The victory of orthodoxy was obscured by the succeeding deposition of about two hundred Arminian clergymen, and by the preceding though independent arrest of the political leaders of the Remonstrants, at the instigation of Maurice. Grotius was condemned by the States-General to perpetual imprisonment, but escaped through the ingenuity of his wife (1621). Van Olden Barneveldt was unjustly condemned to death for alleged high-treason, and beheaded at the Hague (May 14, 1619). His sons took revenge in a fruitless attempt against the life of Prince Maurice." (Schaff, Creeds, Vol. I, 514)

 Quote # 4 - “The Synod gave a very close examination to the ‘five points’, which had been advanced by the Remonstrants, and compared the teaching in them with the testimony of Scripture. Failing to reconcile that teaching with the Word of God, . . . they unanimously rejected them. They felt however, that a mere rejection was not sufficient. It remained for them to set forth the true Calvinistic teaching in relationship to those matters, which had been called into question. This they preceded to do, embodying the Calvinistic position in five chapters which have ever since been known as the five points of Calvinism." (Steel and Thomas, The Five Points of Calvinism, P&R Publishing, 1963, p. 14, quoting Ben A. Warburton, Calvinism, p. 61.)

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Quote: Me & Spurgeon on Conversion – often from our limited POV we think we became a Christian when we came to God.  However when this issue is viewed in light of Scripture: any True Christian will see what the Scriptures say: ‘The Election is from the Lord (Ephesians 1); the Call is from the Lord (Romans 8); the Coming to Christ is from the Lord (John 6); the Conversion is from the Lord (John 3); & the Faith & Repentance are from the Lord (Ephesians 3 & 2 Timothy 2).  And we finally learn the extent of His Grace & Mercy & Worth of Worship lies in the fact that the whole of Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9, Psalms 37:39, Revelation 7:10)’.

From Charles Spurgeon:

“One week-night, when I was sitting in the house of God, I was not thinking much about the preacher’s sermon, for I did not believe it.  The thought struck me, how did you come to be a Christian?  I sought the Lord.  But how did you come to seek the Lord?  The truth flashed across my mind in a moment – I should not have sought Him unless there had been some previous Influence in my mind to make me see my need of Him.  I prayed, thought I, but then I asked myself, how did I come to pray?  I was Induced to pray by reading the Scriptures.  How did I come to read the Scriptures?  I did read them, but what led me to do so?  Then, in a moment, I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith, and so the Doctrines of Grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, ‘I ascribe my change wholly to God.’”

While studying Synod of Dort....a quote

Crisis in the Reformed Churches is sort of a mini-library on the Synod and Canons of Dort.

I especially liked the chapter on preaching by P. Y. De Jong.  He well argued that the Canons of Dort have everything to do with the church’s preaching and piety.  Here are a few helpful quotes.

“If salvation is solely of God, then preaching as the chief calling of the church will have quite another content than if salvation is viewed as a venture in which God and man in some sense cooperate.”

“Interwoven with all the doctrines [of the Canons] here defined are statements concerning the necessity, nature, message, efficacy, and consequences of gospel proclamation.”

“Because the proclamation of God’s love in Christ Jesus is the divine antidote to the deadly poison of sin that dooms men to death.  Apart from the gospel none can or will come to a saving knowledge of God in Christ Jesus.  It is this desperate plight that, according to the Canons, must continually be set before men’s eyes and mind and hearts.  In such preaching sinners are addressed by the God of all grace and justice.”

“Such preaching alone is relevant.  It speaks truly to the need of man.  It humbles the proud.  It warns the impenitent.  It encourages those who sorrow for their sins and seek after God.  It begins and ends with the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be praise, honor, and adoration forever and ever.”

Here’s the full info on the book: Crisis in the Reformed Churches: Essays in Commemoration of the Great Synod of Dort, 1618-1619 ed. Peter Y. De Jong (Grand Rapids: Reformed Fellowship, repr. 2008).

SDG - Texts from John Piper

November 24, 2007 

Biblical Texts to Show God’s Zeal for His Own Glory

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• Article by John Piper 
• Topic: The Glory of God
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Probably no text in the Bible reveals the passion of God for his own glory more clearly and bluntly as Isaiah 48:9-11 where God says,

For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

I have found that for many people these words come like six hammer blows to a man-centered way of looking at the world:

For my name’s sake!
For the sake of my praise!
For my own sake!
For my own sake!
How should my name be profaned!
My glory I will not give to another!

What this text hammers home to us is the centrality of God in his own affections. The most passionate heart for the glorification of God is God’s heart. God’s ultimate goal is to uphold and display the glory of his name. 

God chose his people for his glory:

He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace. (Ephesians 1:4-6, cf. vv. 12, 14, NASB) 

God created us for his glory:

Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, every one who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory. (Isaiah 43:6-7) 

God called Israel for his glory:

You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified (Isaiah 49:3). 

I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory. (Jeremiah 13:11) 

God rescued Israel from Egypt for his glory:

Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works . . . but rebelled by the Sea, at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power. (Psalm 106:7-8) 

God raised Pharaoh up to show his power and glorify his name:

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Romans 9:17) 

God defeated Pharaoh at the Red Sea to show his glory:

And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord . . . And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. (Exodus 14:4, 18; cf. v. 17) 

God spared Israel in the wilderness for the glory of his name:

I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. (Ezekiel 20:l4) 

God gave Israel victory in Canaan for the glory of his name:

Who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? (2 Samuel 7:23) 

God did not cast away his people for the glory of his name:

Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord . . . For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake. (l Samuel 12:20, 22) 

God saved Jerusalem from attack for the glory of his name:

For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David. (2 Kings 19:34; cf. 20:6) 

God restored Israel from exile for the glory of his name:

Thus says the Lord God, It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name.. . . And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name. . . . And the nations will know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 36:22-23; cf. v. 32) 

Jesus sought the glory of his Father in all he did:

The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. (John 7:l8) 

Jesus told us to do good works so that God gets glory:

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16; cf. 1 Peter 2:12) 

Jesus warned that not seeking God’s glory makes faith impossible:

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (John 5:44) 

Jesus said that he answers prayer that God would be glorified:

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13) 

Jesus endured his final hours of suffering for God’s glory:

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again’ (John 12:27-28). 

Father, the hour has come; glorify your son that the Son may glorify you. (John 17:1; cf. 13:31-32) 

God gave his Son to vindicate the glory of his righteousness:

God put [Christ] forward as a propitiation by his blood . . . to show God’s righteousness . . . It was to show his righteousness at the present time. (Romans 3:25-26) 

God forgives our sins for his own sake:

I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25) 

For your own name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. (Psalm 25:11) 

Jesus receives us into his fellowship for the glory of God:

Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7) 

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son of God:

He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:14) 

God instructs us to do everything for his glory:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (l Corinthians 10:31; cf. 6:20). 

God tells us to serve in a way that will glorify him:

Whoever serves, [let him do it] as one who serves by the strength which God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (l Peter 4:11) 

Jesus will fill us with fruits of righteousness for God’s glory:

It is my prayer that . . . [you be] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9, 11) 

All are under judgment for dishonoring God’s glory:

They became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images. (Romans 1:22, 23) 

For all havesinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) 

Herod is struck dead because he did not give glory to God:

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory. (Acts 12:23) 

Jesus is coming again for the glory of God:

They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10) 

Jesus’ ultimate aim for us is that we see and enjoy his glory:

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24) 

Even in wrath God’s aim is to make known the wealth of his glory:

Desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, [God] has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory. (Romans 9:22-23) 

God’s plan is to fill the earth with the knowledge of his glory:

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14) 

Everything that happens will redound to God’s glory:

From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36) 

In the New Jerusalem the glory of God replaces the sun:

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives its light, and its lamp is the Lamb (Revelation 21:23).

Soli Deo Gloria - edited

Soli Deo Gloria

Book recommendation: Attributes of God or Sovereignty of God by A W Pink, gets us outside of our sinful carnal desire to dwell on ourselves & spend time meditating on who God is & how “other” or unlike ourselves He is.

Solas Review: What have you thought of the Solas guys? Tell me something about each? We’re basically over ½ though our class.

How is a person justified before God? Answer: Through Faith Alone, What is the sole authority for the Christian in matters of faith and practice? Answer: The Scriptures Alone, Upon what basis are we made righteous before God? Answer: By Grace Alone, Through whom are we made righteous before God? Answer: In Christ Alone, which is a GREAT modern Hymn by the way

Today, we will answer the following question: What is the reason for man's salvation? The answer to that question is the glory of God alone. All things are done for the glory of God, and it is to God alone that all glory belongs.

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Review Key Verses:

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Soli Deo gloria emphasizes the glory of God as the goal of life. Rather than striving to please church leaders, keep a list of rules, increase our material possessions, our goal is to glorify the Lord. The idea of soli Deo gloria is found in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

So what did the Reformers mean by the slogan "To God Alone be the Glory?" This slogan gives us the reason for God's saving activity. The reason why God justifies mankind by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone is to manifest to all the world the glory of God in the salvation of his people.

In a previous class, we looked at Ephesians 2:8-9. In that passage, we see that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works WHY? "so that NO ONE may boast!" In salvation, all boasting is silenced! No one can claim any credit when it comes to salvation (I believe) because even the faith we exercise to make salvation a reality is graciously granted to us by God. Any questions?

What is God’s glory? - God's glory is the totality of all his attributes made manifest. In Exodus 33:18, Moses asks God to show him his glory. God responds by giving him a glimpse of his glory (for no one can see God's glory in its fullness and live):

Quote #1 –

The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:5-7)

In this brief glimpse Moses gets of God's glory, Moses learns of the infinite graciousness and mercy of God as well as the infinite justice and holiness of God. God is glorified in showing grace and love and mercy to the righteous, and he is glorified in showing judgment and wrath and justice to the wicked.

How else does God reveal his glory?

The glory of God is also something that is manifest all throughout creation. (Psalm 19:1) & (Romans 1:20). The universe, being the work of God's hands, shows forth his glory in a multitude of ways. God's glory is made even more evident in the creation of mankind who was created in his image (Genesis 1:26-27). The ultimate display of God's glory and his "exact imprint" is Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:3) who fully manifests the glory of God among mankind.

Quote #2 –

So, how does this relate to Christians living in the 21st century? No different than it did for Christians living in the Reformation or at any other point in history. The glory of God is the ultimate purpose for everything that exists. Paul told the Corinthian church that whatever they did, they needed to do it to "the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). That exhortation is as true today as it was the day it was first penned. The particular problem we face in the 21st century is that the church is infected with a lot of man-centered theology. From Theological Liberalism to the Seeker-sensitive movement to the Emergent church movement; all of these philosophies are infected with a man-centered approach to doing church. They may have begun with the best of intentions, but once you untether the glory of God as your basis for doing anything, you deviate from the God-ordained means and methods for doing church. We need to return to a more God-centered focus in our practice – preaching the word faithfully, administering the sacraments regularly, living God-honoring lives day to day, and trusting the Holy Spirit to do his work. Only then will we see the glory of God manifest in his church.

Conclusion:

The final sola is the great underlying reason behind the importance of the first four. The Reformers knew the Biblical truth that: “from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:36, ESV). They were held captive by a passion for God’s glory, and a conviction that He Himself would “not give [His] glory to another” (Isa. 48:11). And they knew that to depart from the Word of God and compromise the Gospel of Salvation by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone, was to cast contempt on God’s glory.

Quote #3 John Calvin, writing to the Catholic Cardinal Sadolet, thus said: “You . . . touch upon Justification by Faith, the first and keenest subject of controversy between us . . . . Wherever the knowledge of it is taken away, the glory of Christ is extinguished.” Oh, that we would have such concern for the glory of our Savior!

My prayer is that this brief remembrance of the Reformers and the great truths they preached will stir within your heart a passion to faithfully spread this glorious Gospel of Salvation by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone. We need a host of Luther-like men today - and a host of churches to stand behind them in their proclamation of the Gospel. Were the Reformers perfect? No. Did they have some obvious faults? Yes. But considering the time in which they lived and the darkness from which they were delivered, they were very great men.