The final of the five sola statements turns out to be the most important; ‘to the glory of God alone’. It declares is that the meaning of life, the universe and everything is ‘to bring glory to God’. This statement more than the other four rules out good works as a means of salvation, as every other world religion declares. In 1 Cor 10:31, Paul does not say ‘whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it to earn your salvation’; he says ‘do all to the glory of God’.
If we were to eat or drink for the purpose of earning God’s favour, then it is not for God’s glory; it is for ours. ‘Works righteousness’ is a way of being able to say ‘I have done enough to earn my way into paradise; look at what an excellent Christian I am’. However, if salvation is a gift (i.e. by grace alone), then our good works are not a means to earning salvation; they are our response TO salvation.
The beauty of this structure is that the more good works we do, and the more obedient and godly we become, the more glory goes to God. Think about it. What declares God’s worth more; believing he is worth MOST of our effort and obedience, or ALL our effort and obedience? Yet God’s glory is seen most clearly in the cross. While some think the purpose of salvation was for humans to go to heaven, this is but a by-product. The real purpose of Good Friday was to declare God’s glory.
Not only does God show how loving He is in sending his only Son; but Jesus shows how worthy the Father is, in that he would willingly submit to infinite punishment in order to do the Father’s will. So whatever we do, let’s do it all to the glory of God
