Introduction: The Final Note of the Reformation
We conclude our series on the great principles of the Reformation, known as the Five Solae. We have discussed how Scripture alone is our ultimate authority (Sola Scriptura), that our salvation is possible only through Christ ( Solus Christus), only by grace (Sola Gratia), and only through faith (Sola Fide). And now we come to the fifth principle, which is the crown and the summary of all the others: Soli Deo Gloria — “To God alone be the glory.”
I first heard this expression when I was about fifteen or sixteen years old. I came across a CD of a youth choir. The group was called “Gloria,” and they had a song where, in the chorus, the female voices solemnly sang: “Soli Deo Gloria,” and the male voices echoed: “To God alone be the glory.” Back then, it sounded to me like just a beautiful musical motto. But over time, I realized that behind these three words lies not just aesthetics, but a profound theological truth describing the very essence of existence.
Interestingly, it was a musician who popularized this motto in the concise form we know today. The great 18th-century composer Johann Sebastian Bach signed almost all of his works with three letters: SDG. Soli. Deo. Gloria. He wanted to emphasize that his brilliant scores were not the fruit of his own greatness, but a gift from God that should return to its Source as praise. His example was followed by other contemporaries, such as Handel and Graupner. They understood that their talents did not belong to them; their purpose was to return glory to the One to whom it rightfully belongs.
When theologians, centuries later, tried to briefly summarize the essence of the 16th-century Reformation, “Soli Deo Gloria” proved to be the most accurate expression. Moreover, this principle describes the essence not only of Christianity but of the entire universe. The Apostle Paul expressed this most concisely in Romans 11:36:
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
In this verse, Paul uses three short prepositions — FROM, THROUGH, and TO — to show three aspects of God’s glory.
I. Everything FROM Him: God as the Source of All
The first thing Paul asserts is: “Everything is from Him.” This means that God is the primary cause and the source of everything that exists. But here we encounter a question often asked by modern people: “If God is self-sufficient and lacks nothing, why does He need our glory at all? Can we add anything to His infinite greatness?”
When C.S. Lewis first came to faith, this trait of God was a major stumbling block for him. He wrote that God’s demand for praise seemed “immodest” to him, something like the behavior of a vain woman fishing for compliments. Another modern theologian, John Piper, notes that many Christians feel uncomfortable when they hear about the “God-centeredness of God.” It seems natural to us that we should exalt Christ, but it sounds strange to hear that Christ exalts Christ.
However, Lewis later realized his mistake. In his book Reflections on the Psalms, he writes: “Praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.” We glorify what we value. We cannot remain silent when we see a beautiful sunset or taste an exquisite meal. Our admiration demands expression in words. God calls us to praise Him not because He has an “attention deficit,” but because He is the most beautiful and valuable Being in the universe, and our enjoyment of Him reaches its fullness only when we express it in praise.
The Self-Sufficiency of the Creator
The Bible clearly states that God does not need anyone or anything. The Apostle Paul preached in Athens:
“The God who made the world and everything in it… is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:24-25).
For many of us, accustomed to evaluating the value of things by their utility, this sounds strange. We value tools because they help us work. We value friends because they relieve our loneliness. But God created the world not out of deficit, but out of abundance. The desire to create the universe arose in Him not from weakness or boredom. God has always been perfectly happy in the fellowship within the Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The creation of the world was an act of pure generosity. Just as an artist creates a painting to pour out their vision of beauty onto the canvas, so God created the universe so that His splendor would be reflected in it. When we look at the incredible complexity of the starry sky or the microscopic precision of a living cell, we see not just “forces of nature.” We see the handwriting of an Author who, through His creation, says: “Look at how great, wise, and beautiful I am!”
In the book of Genesis, we read that God created man in His own image and likeness. This means He endowed us with the ability to reflect His qualities on a small scale. He put a piece of His glory in us so that we would be like mirrors. God is the Creator, and He gave Adam creative work in the garden. God is the Ruler, and He entrusted man with the responsibility to care for the earth. God is Love, and He gave us the ability to enter into deep relationships. The purpose of man was to live in this world, enjoying its gifts, while constantly remembering the Source and returning glory to the Creator.
The problem of the Fall was precisely that the “mirrors” turned away from the Source of light. We wanted to shine on our own. We decided we could be gods for ourselves. And at that moment, we “fell short of the glory of God.” We became like burnt-out light bulbs that still have their shape but have lost their purpose — to shine.
Glory in the Work of Salvation
But even this rebellion did not take God by surprise. The story of redemption did not begin in Eden; it was planned before the creation of the world. The book of Revelation speaks of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) who was “slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8). This is a staggering thought: God knew that man would sin, and He pre-planned the sacrifice of His Son to reveal an even deeper facet of His glory — His sacrificial love.
Here we see something remarkable: God saves us not just for our sake, but for His Name’s sake. Through the prophet Isaiah, God says:
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake…” (Isaiah 43:25).
And further:
“For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath… For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this… I will not yield my glory to another” (Isaiah 48:9-11).
For those seeking the truth, this can be the key to understanding God. If God is the ultimate Good, then the most loving thing He can do for His creation is to reveal Himself in all His fullness. If He directs our attention to anything less than Himself, He is, in effect, depriving us. The salvation of sinners who justly deserve only punishment is the greatest demonstration of how great God is in His grace.
The Apostle Paul, in the Letter to the Ephesians, emphasizes that our adoption happened “to the praise of his glorious grace” (Eph. 1:6). We are the showcase of His mercy. When we, recognizing our spiritual poverty, accept salvation as a gift, we thereby acknowledge that God is an infinitely kind Giver. A redeemed Adam knows more about God than Adam did before the Fall. He has known the depth of God’s forgiveness, which could not have been known without the need for salvation.
II. Everything THROUGH Him: Glory and Suffering
Paul’s second preposition is “THROUGH Him.” This speaks of God’s providence. God didn’t just wind up the clock of the universe and walk away. He sustains life in every atom and governs the course of history. But here arises the most difficult question: “If everything is through Him and under His control, how do we explain evil and suffering? How can God’s glory shine in a world full of pain?”
We love “success stories.” We understand how God is glorified when Augustine repents after years of his mother Monica’s prayers. We see the power of prayer and the triumph of grace. But how do we see God’s glory in stories that look like total failure?
When a Mission Seems in Vain
In 1850, Captain Allen Gardiner and six companions set out for Tierra del Fuego to evangelize the local tribes. They were full of faith and determination. However, a series of tragic accidents — they forgot gunpowder for their guns, and the supply ship was delayed — led to the entire group dying of starvation. The last entry in Gardiner’s diary, written with a failing hand, read: “Marvelous are the kindness and love of God toward me, a sinner. I am not hungry or thirsty, though five days without food…” To an outsider, it looked like a catastrophe and a senseless waste of lives. Why would God allow such a senseless death of His devoted servants?
Or the story of William Borden, heir to the multi-million dollar fortune of the Borden family. He refused to manage a vast business empire for the sake of a mission in China. On his way to his place of service, during a stop in Egypt to study Arabic, he contracted spinal meningitis and died suddenly at the age of 25. He never reached China. In his Bible, three short phrases were found, written at different periods of his life: “No reserves” (when he gave up his wealth), “No retreats” (when he chose the mission), and “No regrets” (when he was dying).
And, of course, the famous story of Jim Elliot and his four friends who, in 1956, tried to establish contact with the aggressive Waorani tribe in the jungles of Ecuador. Five young, talented men, who left behind wives and small children, were killed by spears on a riverbank before they could ever preach. The secular press, including the New York Times, openly asked: “To what purpose was this waste?”
Why did the Sovereign Lord of history allow His best soldiers to fall before they could even tell the Gospel? If God is all-powerful, why didn’t He protect them?
God’s Sovereignty Over Evil
The Bible does not give us cheap answers, but it asserts the truth of God’s complete control over everything that happens. The prophet Amos asks: “If a calamity occurs in a city, has not the Lord caused it?” (Amos 3:6). The prophet Jeremiah echoes him: “Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?” ( Lamentations 3:38). Job, after losing his children and property in one day, says words that are staggering in their depth: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21).
Christianity resolutely rejects dualism — the idea that God and Satan are two equal powers fighting for the universe. No, Satan is just “God’s Satan,” as Luther said. He acts only within the boundaries determined for him by the Creator. God’s providence does not just “fix” the consequences of evil; God uses evil itself for His glorious and often incomprehensible purposes.
The ultimate example is the Cross of Jesus Christ. The murder of the Son of God was the most hideous sin in history. It was the result of Judas’s betrayal, Pilate’s cowardice, the Pharisees’ hatred, and the soldiers’ cruelty. But the Apostle Peter, in his first sermon, says that all this happened “by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge” (Acts 2:23). God used the sins of lawless men to bring about the plan of salvation written before the creation of the world. On the Cross, God’s glory shone brightest: there, perfect justice, punishing sin, and perfect love, sacrificing itself, met.
The Fruit of Suffering and God’s Faithfulness
If we focus only on the moment of suffering, we see defeat. But God’s plan unfolds over decades and centuries. The story of the missionaries did not end there. William Borden’s death was publicized in newspapers and inspired thousands of young people in the US to dedicate themselves to missions. Jim Elliot’s and Nate Saint’s widows did not leave Ecuador. They continued to study the language and, two years later, made peaceful contact with the same tribe. They settled among them, and many Waorani, including the direct killers of the missionaries, became Christians. One of the killers later became a pastor and baptized the children of those he had once pierced with a spear. Only God can write such a story. To Him alone be the glory for such an ending.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:28 that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” The word “all things” includes illness, loss, and the “thorn in the flesh.” God uses our weaknesses so that His power may be evident. When we are weak, we stop hoping in ourselves and start trusting Him. And in this trust in the midst of the storm, God is glorified most. God’s glory is not that He delivers us from all problems, but that He walks through those problems with us, changing our hearts.
III. Everything TO Him: Glory as the Goal
The third preposition is “TO Him.” All creation is like a great river that eventually flows into the ocean of God’s glory. In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, composed in the 17th century, the first question is one every Christian should know: “What is the chief end of man?” The answer: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”
Notice that little word “and.” It doesn’t mean that first we must do the hard work of glorifying God, and then, maybe, He will allow us to be happy. No, these two actions are inseparable. We glorify God by enjoying Him. As John Piper says: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
Worship as a Natural Response
Often we perceive praise as an obligation. “I have to go to church and praise God.” But true praise is not a tax we pay to a Supreme Being. It is the heart’s natural response to beauty.
C.S. Lewis wrote that people naturally tend to praise what they enjoy. When we see a stunning performance by an actor, we applaud. When we taste an incredibly delicious dessert, we say, “Oh, that’s divine!” We cannot remain silent about what gives us joy. If you love your wife or husband, you will praise them. Praise does not just express our pleasure; it completes it. We don’t just enjoy the beauty of a sunset — our enjoyment is finalized when we exclaim, “Look how beautiful that is!”
To glorify God means to find our highest satisfaction in Him. If we seek happiness in money, career, or relationships more than in God, we become idolaters. Idolatry is when we give the glory belonging to God to His creation. But the tragedy of idolatry is that creation can never satisfy the thirst of the human heart. Only an infinite God can satisfy a soul created for infinity.
Everyday Glory and SDG
The Apostle Paul carries this high principle into the very thick of our lives:
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).
For a seeker, this can be a real discovery. It turns out that Christianity is not just about prayers and fasts. It is a new way of doing everything.
Johann Sebastian Bach signed his manuscripts SDG regardless of whether it was the majestic Mass in B Minor for a cathedral or a small piece for teaching students. For him, everything was service. He understood that the laws of musical harmony are God’s laws, and following them is to glorify the Author of music.
The Danger of Religious Formalism
The greatest enemy of Soli Deo Gloria is not atheism, but religious pride. When we begin to think that God owes us something for our righteousness or our service, we are trying to steal His glory. The prophet Isaiah warned of a people who “honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
God doesn’t need our formal “Praise God” if it is not backed by a humble realization of His greatness. Praise without admiration is an insult. True SDG is born in a heart that understands: “I am a sinner saved only by grace, and everything I have belongs to Him.”
For those still looking into Christianity, it is important to understand: God is not calling you to slavish submission to a despot hungry for flattery. He is inviting you to the greatest adventure — knowing the One who is the Source of all joy, beauty, and meaning. To glorify Him is simply to acknowledge reality: He is the Sun, and we are but planets glowing with His reflected light. And in that light, we find our true value.
Conclusion: Life Under the Sign of SDG
The principle of Soli Deo Gloria puts everything in its place. It takes the crown off of man and returns it to God. It gives us a solid foundation for hope: if everything is from Him, then we have everything we need; if everything is through Him, then we are safe even in the storm; if everything is to Him, then our lives have the highest meaning.
To God alone be the glory. Not to our talents, not to our wisdom, not to our religiosity. Everything good we have is His gift. Everything difficult we have gone through is His school. Everything we strive for is His presence.
Let us conclude with the words from the Epistle of Jude, which are among the most beautiful doxologies in the Bible:
“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen” (Jude 1:24-25).
Soli Deo Gloria!