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The Five Solas
God's Glory Alone---The Majestic Heart of Christian Faith and Life: What the Reformers Taught...and Why It Still Matters
Renowned scholar David VanDrunen tracks the historical and biblical roots of the idea that all glory belongs exclusively to God. God's Glory Alone is a beautiful reflection on how commitment to God's glory alone fortifies us to live godly lives in this present age.
Reinvigorating one of the five great declarations of the Reformation—soli Deo gloria—
Examines the development of this theme in the Reformation, in subsequent Reformed theology and confessions, and in contemporary theologians who continue to be inspired by the conviction that all glory belongs to God.Turns to the biblical story of God's glory, beginning with the pillar of cloud and fire revealed to Israel, continuing through the incarnation, death, and exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ, and culminating in Christ's Second Coming and the glorification of his people.Addresses several of today's great cultural challenges and temptations that attempt to draw us away from a God-centered instead of self-centered way of life.This book leads you into a renewed sense of awe and adoration for our Creator and Redeemer as it mines deeply into the biblical and theological truths about God's glory that stand at the center of the Christian faith.
—THE FIVE SOLAS—
Historians and theologians have long recognized that at the heart of the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation were five declarations, often referred to as the "solas." These five statements summarize much of what the Reformation was about, and they distinguish Protestantism from other expressions of the Christian that they place ultimate and final authority in the Scriptures, acknowledge the work of Christ alone as sufficient for redemption, recognize that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, and seek to do all things for God’s glory.
The Five Solas Series is more than a simple rehashing of these statements, but instead expounds upon the biblical reasoning behind them, leading to a more profound theological vision of our lives and callings as Christians and churches.
Reinvigorating one of the five great declarations of the Reformation—soli Deo gloria—
Examines the development of this theme in the Reformation, in subsequent Reformed theology and confessions, and in contemporary theologians who continue to be inspired by the conviction that all glory belongs to God.Turns to the biblical story of God's glory, beginning with the pillar of cloud and fire revealed to Israel, continuing through the incarnation, death, and exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ, and culminating in Christ's Second Coming and the glorification of his people.Addresses several of today's great cultural challenges and temptations that attempt to draw us away from a God-centered instead of self-centered way of life.This book leads you into a renewed sense of awe and adoration for our Creator and Redeemer as it mines deeply into the biblical and theological truths about God's glory that stand at the center of the Christian faith.
—THE FIVE SOLAS—
Historians and theologians have long recognized that at the heart of the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation were five declarations, often referred to as the "solas." These five statements summarize much of what the Reformation was about, and they distinguish Protestantism from other expressions of the Christian that they place ultimate and final authority in the Scriptures, acknowledge the work of Christ alone as sufficient for redemption, recognize that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, and seek to do all things for God’s glory.
The Five Solas Series is more than a simple rehashing of these statements, but instead expounds upon the biblical reasoning behind them, leading to a more profound theological vision of our lives and callings as Christians and churches.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 5, 2016
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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VanDrunen begins by discussing the Reformers' emphasis on the Glory of God and the way that impacted the movement, its concerns, goals and means. I don't recall being struck by any particular insights here, but it was a pretty worthwhile overview.
The strongest section was Part 2, where VanDrunen considered the Biblical teachings on God's glory. How God's glory was manifested in the cloud during the Exodus and following, then how the Incarnation of the Son displayed His glory. Finally, he considered the glorification of God's saints and how that leads to God being glorified. This part could have been more detailed and more extended to greater effect and use if you ask me, but it was a good start to one's own investigation to the topic.
In Part 3, "Living for God's Glory Today," VanDrunen seeks to apply these thoughts to our daily lives -- which sadly, was the weakest part of the book. He had a lot to say about the way that smartphones/social media/the Internet is affecting our minds/attention spans and therefore the way we act in worship/respond to the preached Word, etc. -- and on the whole, his comments were probably sound, but the way he 1. presented his case, 2. dwelt on it, 3. kept beating this equine after it had expired made him seem like a cranky Luddite rather than a thoughtful teacher with pastoral concerns.
He did however, use Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung's material on Vainglory from her book, Glittering Vices (and her book on Vainglory in particular) in a much more interesting way than she did -- so that's a plus.
In the end, it really didn't do much for me, but was solid enough to recommend. A pretty easy, if sometimes dry, read (hard to imagine that this subject would lend itself to a dry book). I'm still planning on getting the rest of the series, hoping the other authors give something more engaging.
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VanDrunen begins by discussing the Reformers' emphasis on the Glory of God and the way that impacted the movement, its concerns, goals and means. I don't recall being struck by any particular insights here, but it was a pretty worthwhile overview.
The strongest section was Part 2, where VanDrunen considered the Biblical teachings on God's glory. How God's glory was manifested in the cloud during the Exodus and following, then how the Incarnation of the Son displayed His glory. Finally, he considered the glorification of God's saints and how that leads to God being glorified. This part could have been more detailed and more extended to greater effect and use if you ask me, but it was a good start to one's own investigation to the topic.
In Part 3, "Living for God's Glory Today," VanDrunen seeks to apply these thoughts to our daily lives -- which sadly, was the weakest part of the book. He had a lot to say about the way that smartphones/social media/the Internet is affecting our minds/attention spans and therefore the way we act in worship/respond to the preached Word, etc. -- and on the whole, his comments were probably sound, but the way he 1. presented his case, 2. dwelt on it, 3. kept beating this equine after it had expired made him seem like a cranky Luddite rather than a thoughtful teacher with pastoral concerns.
He did however, use Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung's material on Vainglory from her book, Glittering Vices (and her book on Vainglory in particular) in a much more interesting way than she did -- so that's a plus.
In the end, it really didn't do much for me, but was solid enough to recommend. A pretty easy, if sometimes dry, read (hard to imagine that this subject would lend itself to a dry book). I'm still planning on getting the rest of the series, hoping the other authors give something more engaging.
June 22, 2017
I received a copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Actual Rating: 3.85
This was a quick read. I thought it was a great read. When I picked it up again, I could not put it down. This is also my third Christian non-fiction book. I am glad I read it. It talked about Christianity and faith. It talks about how God alone can control everything. I thought it was thought-provoking. I thought it was inspirational read. Overall, a must read for Christians.
Actual Rating: 3.85
This was a quick read. I thought it was a great read. When I picked it up again, I could not put it down. This is also my third Christian non-fiction book. I am glad I read it. It talked about Christianity and faith. It talks about how God alone can control everything. I thought it was thought-provoking. I thought it was inspirational read. Overall, a must read for Christians.
January 4, 2017
This is a very good book. There were parts that I enjoyed greatly, but others were terribly dry. All the content was in my estimation orthodox and Bible saturated but at times it seemed like passages or lists just strewn together. It seemed like the author needed a few more transitions between them, and when he did this it was great. The third section on applying the theme of God's glory alone to today's world was great! High recommendation
May 8, 2022
The first two parts are good, although there were a couple dry periods and repeated concepts, overall it was worth the read. But the last part lost me. It felt like an entirely different book.
April 5, 2018
Thorough though I do believe there is some reputation. I found chapter 6 to be most enlightening.
November 19, 2024
This book honestly had a really slow start and was hard to read at times, which was a bit shocking for me. The author seemed to beat around the bush a lot and was really repetitive. However there were several beautiful chapters that I will never forget. Totally worth the read.
October 30, 2022
This book is okay. I found it somewhat mediocre and not really enjoyable. Overall, it was a bit dull and hard for me to get into. (I read theology regularly, so I'm fairly confident it was the writing and not the content. I mean, really, the glory of God is a pretty awesome thing, not dull!) The quality and usefulness seemed to vary considerably from section to section, starting strong and finishing VERY weak.
There are three sections: the glory of God in Reformed theology, the glory of God in Scripture, and living for the glory of God today. The first section was pretty good. It explained what the Reformers taught about the glory of God (and about Soli Deo Gloria as it fit into the bigger picture of Reformation theology) and I really have no complaints about this section except that because it only comprises one section of the book it was brief and maybe a bit rushed. One thing the author does exceptionally well is defining all special vocabulary as it's introduced. There is a lot of distinctively Reformed theology woven throughout the book that will be unfamiliar to non-Reformed readers, but all of it is presented in a manner that makes it contextually clear, or explicitly defined.
The second section, the glory of God in Scripture, starts to develop some weaknesses. Overall, the information is good. It, too, seems to be rushing through information that probably ought to be a whole book of its own. The framework used to tie together this section of the book gets a little wobbly, in my opinion, and in a few places even a little forced. There are a couple places where I believe the author is reading too much into the Scriptural text. There is, for example, a presumption that all of the Old Testament prophets were taken "into the cloud," which seems to be mere speculation and which, in my opinion, the circumstances of some of the prophets' encounters with God make seem unlikely. There is a lot of fascinating detail provided, however, about the cloud; I would have liked to see that section expanded.
He goes on to talk about the glorification of God in Christ and here is where I think the writing starts to really fall apart. This chapter, and the following chapter, about the glorification of Christ in His people, feel disjointed and a little hard to follow. There's almost an OVER-emphasis on suffering, reminiscent of aceticism, that seems to imply that the only way to bring God glory is to be miserable. Mostly, it just feels scattered.
The third section has the potential to be the most practical, except it isn't. The overall tone is "how the modern era stinks and how not to be part of it." These chapters are just...odd. The subject selection is weird, the focus is weird, and they're pretty impractical and unhelpful.
The first of these chapters is "worship and prayer in an age of distraction." After giving lip service to the idea that technology has some benefits, the remainder of the chapter is spent telling us how awful technology is, and making some absolute statements about how it not only distracts, but also destroys our ability to think deeply, build relationships, etc. The advice offered is to make sure there's tech-free time when we're NOT worshiping or praying so we're accustomed to functioning in that context when we ARE worshiping or praying.
I found that rather silly advice to dedicate a whole chapter to. If he wanted to talk about worship and prayer, I would have preferred that he simply talk about worship and prayer. If he wanted to talk about the technological age, I would have preferred that he talk about how to use technology in a way that glorifies God. Instead, I feel he missed the point, suggesting that people AVOID technology because it might be a temptation, rather than suggesting that people develop the godly CHARACTER necessary to use technology wisely (and know when we really do just need to set it aside). Technology is a tool, not an end in itself, so the result is largely dependent on how we choose to use it.
The following chapter was little better. "The fear of the Lord in an age of narcissism" was conceptually better, but again there was a tone of, "the world is terrible, so don't be like them." True, perhaps, but not especially helpful. I found it to be over-reactive, missing the big picture and focusing on details. We are, for instance, told that "Feeling special is narcissism." Baloney. Feeling special CAN be narcissism, depending on what context is provided for it to determine its focus. In a humanistic context, it may be a perception that one is somehow better than others, or special because of one's own doing. In a biblical context, however, it may be the recognition that, as a HUMAN, one is made in the image of God, that one is called and precious in His sight. To consider that narcissism is ridiculous. The offered solution is to not be narcissistic, to be humble (and pass this on to our children). Which is great, but not actually a solution. The "how" is missing.
The final chapter talks about the fact that this age is temporary, so there's a tension between our living fully today and anticipating the age to come. I have no major quibbles with this. However, this chapter is largely built on a couple of theological frameworks, so there is potential here for theological clashes between the author and any given reader, more than in other parts of the book. (I know I've heard some debate over "two kingdom" theology, in particular, which is one of the ideas presented in the chapter.)
One final idea I saw woven throughout the last several chapters of the book was that corporate worship is the most important means by which we glorify God. While many readers probably agree with this, I found it to be an idea he very strongly asserted (in several different places), without ever making a case for it. It's a pretty strong statement to say that something is "THE most important," and I would have liked to see him demonstrate Scripturally why he makes it.
I don't know that I would recommend reading this cover-to-cover, but there was much to be gleaned from the first section, and the first chapter in the second section, in particular, so if you don't mind reading only individual sections, I think you can find some valuable content here.
(Vine Voices review for Amazon)
There are three sections: the glory of God in Reformed theology, the glory of God in Scripture, and living for the glory of God today. The first section was pretty good. It explained what the Reformers taught about the glory of God (and about Soli Deo Gloria as it fit into the bigger picture of Reformation theology) and I really have no complaints about this section except that because it only comprises one section of the book it was brief and maybe a bit rushed. One thing the author does exceptionally well is defining all special vocabulary as it's introduced. There is a lot of distinctively Reformed theology woven throughout the book that will be unfamiliar to non-Reformed readers, but all of it is presented in a manner that makes it contextually clear, or explicitly defined.
The second section, the glory of God in Scripture, starts to develop some weaknesses. Overall, the information is good. It, too, seems to be rushing through information that probably ought to be a whole book of its own. The framework used to tie together this section of the book gets a little wobbly, in my opinion, and in a few places even a little forced. There are a couple places where I believe the author is reading too much into the Scriptural text. There is, for example, a presumption that all of the Old Testament prophets were taken "into the cloud," which seems to be mere speculation and which, in my opinion, the circumstances of some of the prophets' encounters with God make seem unlikely. There is a lot of fascinating detail provided, however, about the cloud; I would have liked to see that section expanded.
He goes on to talk about the glorification of God in Christ and here is where I think the writing starts to really fall apart. This chapter, and the following chapter, about the glorification of Christ in His people, feel disjointed and a little hard to follow. There's almost an OVER-emphasis on suffering, reminiscent of aceticism, that seems to imply that the only way to bring God glory is to be miserable. Mostly, it just feels scattered.
The third section has the potential to be the most practical, except it isn't. The overall tone is "how the modern era stinks and how not to be part of it." These chapters are just...odd. The subject selection is weird, the focus is weird, and they're pretty impractical and unhelpful.
The first of these chapters is "worship and prayer in an age of distraction." After giving lip service to the idea that technology has some benefits, the remainder of the chapter is spent telling us how awful technology is, and making some absolute statements about how it not only distracts, but also destroys our ability to think deeply, build relationships, etc. The advice offered is to make sure there's tech-free time when we're NOT worshiping or praying so we're accustomed to functioning in that context when we ARE worshiping or praying.
I found that rather silly advice to dedicate a whole chapter to. If he wanted to talk about worship and prayer, I would have preferred that he simply talk about worship and prayer. If he wanted to talk about the technological age, I would have preferred that he talk about how to use technology in a way that glorifies God. Instead, I feel he missed the point, suggesting that people AVOID technology because it might be a temptation, rather than suggesting that people develop the godly CHARACTER necessary to use technology wisely (and know when we really do just need to set it aside). Technology is a tool, not an end in itself, so the result is largely dependent on how we choose to use it.
The following chapter was little better. "The fear of the Lord in an age of narcissism" was conceptually better, but again there was a tone of, "the world is terrible, so don't be like them." True, perhaps, but not especially helpful. I found it to be over-reactive, missing the big picture and focusing on details. We are, for instance, told that "Feeling special is narcissism." Baloney. Feeling special CAN be narcissism, depending on what context is provided for it to determine its focus. In a humanistic context, it may be a perception that one is somehow better than others, or special because of one's own doing. In a biblical context, however, it may be the recognition that, as a HUMAN, one is made in the image of God, that one is called and precious in His sight. To consider that narcissism is ridiculous. The offered solution is to not be narcissistic, to be humble (and pass this on to our children). Which is great, but not actually a solution. The "how" is missing.
The final chapter talks about the fact that this age is temporary, so there's a tension between our living fully today and anticipating the age to come. I have no major quibbles with this. However, this chapter is largely built on a couple of theological frameworks, so there is potential here for theological clashes between the author and any given reader, more than in other parts of the book. (I know I've heard some debate over "two kingdom" theology, in particular, which is one of the ideas presented in the chapter.)
One final idea I saw woven throughout the last several chapters of the book was that corporate worship is the most important means by which we glorify God. While many readers probably agree with this, I found it to be an idea he very strongly asserted (in several different places), without ever making a case for it. It's a pretty strong statement to say that something is "THE most important," and I would have liked to see him demonstrate Scripturally why he makes it.
I don't know that I would recommend reading this cover-to-cover, but there was much to be gleaned from the first section, and the first chapter in the second section, in particular, so if you don't mind reading only individual sections, I think you can find some valuable content here.
(Vine Voices review for Amazon)
November 18, 2017
This is an excellent study of the Reformation slogan soli Deo gloria ("to God alone be the glory").
Part 1 looks at the theme of the glory of God in the context of the Reformation.
Part 2 looks at the glory of God in Scripture, tracing out the theme redemptive-historically (the story of God's glory, God's glory in Christ, God's glory in the glorification of his people).
Part 3 looks at application to today (worship in a distracted age, the fear of the Lord in an age of narcissism, glorifying God in a fading age).
It's great. It's just great. It is a study and not a devotional book (fyi). But it's not overbearingly complicated by any means. It's straightforward and clear.
There were a couple of minor quibbles. I'm not sold on the distinction between "honoring God in vocation" vs. "worshiping God at church." I think vocation is worship, too, and it can be shown as such in that the apostles' use OT cultus language to describe how we pursue our vocations in the world (Rom 12:1, "present your bodies as a living sacrifice... this is your spiritual worship"). But that's a pretty minor point.
Highly recommended to teachers and lay people. I'll probably read this again soon because it was so good.
Part 1 looks at the theme of the glory of God in the context of the Reformation.
Part 2 looks at the glory of God in Scripture, tracing out the theme redemptive-historically (the story of God's glory, God's glory in Christ, God's glory in the glorification of his people).
Part 3 looks at application to today (worship in a distracted age, the fear of the Lord in an age of narcissism, glorifying God in a fading age).
It's great. It's just great. It is a study and not a devotional book (fyi). But it's not overbearingly complicated by any means. It's straightforward and clear.
There were a couple of minor quibbles. I'm not sold on the distinction between "honoring God in vocation" vs. "worshiping God at church." I think vocation is worship, too, and it can be shown as such in that the apostles' use OT cultus language to describe how we pursue our vocations in the world (Rom 12:1, "present your bodies as a living sacrifice... this is your spiritual worship"). But that's a pretty minor point.
Highly recommended to teachers and lay people. I'll probably read this again soon because it was so good.
January 31, 2019
A fine introduction to the concept of God's glory. This should be the ultimate goal of all people. It is the reason why God created the universe--for his glory alone.
VanDrunen presents the concept of soli Deo gloria within its Reformational context. Then he provides a of the Bible's presentation of God's glory (in the Old Testament and in Christ in the New Testament). The last section of the book discusses the concept in modern context, and how our age of distraction and narcissism detracts from God's glory. Some great points are made in that last section.
This book is relatively short and the shortest of Zondervan's 5 Sola Series. For a greater defense of God's glory being the main theme of the Bible, see James Hamilton's God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment.
As with the other books in this series, I wish Zondervan had printed these using better paper (the paperback has paper that feels like a thicker version of newspaper; I don't think it will age well) and a hardcover or casebound binding. These books were printed for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, but they deserve to have a long shelf life.
VanDrunen presents the concept of soli Deo gloria within its Reformational context. Then he provides a of the Bible's presentation of God's glory (in the Old Testament and in Christ in the New Testament). The last section of the book discusses the concept in modern context, and how our age of distraction and narcissism detracts from God's glory. Some great points are made in that last section.
This book is relatively short and the shortest of Zondervan's 5 Sola Series. For a greater defense of God's glory being the main theme of the Bible, see James Hamilton's God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment.
As with the other books in this series, I wish Zondervan had printed these using better paper (the paperback has paper that feels like a thicker version of newspaper; I don't think it will age well) and a hardcover or casebound binding. These books were printed for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, but they deserve to have a long shelf life.
November 20, 2017
I loved this last volume in the Sola series. VanDrunen emphasizes the fact that we do not give God glory. He glorifies Himself and sweeps us up into it. Our joy comes in discovering how God glorifies Himself.
After surveying Reformed theologians’ perspectives on the subject, VanDrunen approaches Scripture and unfolds the progressive manifestation of God’s glory. I liked how he focused on the idea of the ever present fiery cloud. It inhabited the tabernacle, then the temple, and then surrounded Jesus’ earthly ministry and ascension. VanDrunen then draws attention to how God is glorified by glorifying us.
His concluding section on how the difficulty and practice of giving glory to God in worship and holiness is noteworthy and his references are worth following up on. This is a good book to reread, slower each time.
After surveying Reformed theologians’ perspectives on the subject, VanDrunen approaches Scripture and unfolds the progressive manifestation of God’s glory. I liked how he focused on the idea of the ever present fiery cloud. It inhabited the tabernacle, then the temple, and then surrounded Jesus’ earthly ministry and ascension. VanDrunen then draws attention to how God is glorified by glorifying us.
His concluding section on how the difficulty and practice of giving glory to God in worship and holiness is noteworthy and his references are worth following up on. This is a good book to reread, slower each time.
December 20, 2019
A short but perfect coda to the ‘5 Solas series.’ Soli Deo Gloria is unique among the five solas, as it is relatively uncontroversial. As a result, there was more room in the second half of the book for practical, even pastoral concerns. After an overview of the reformed orthodox view of God’s glory and a powerful flyover of the Bible looking at the theme of glory, the author turns to a look at how our lives can bring God glory today. He focuses on distraction and narcissism as two things that may inhibit our ability to glorify God, and finishes up with a look at how looking ahead to our glorious future can help us live well in this present evil age. This was a great book and a great series!
September 18, 2017
Pretty Good
The chapter on the glory cloud was great. I also thought the chapter on vain glory (narcissism) was also excellent. The rest of the book was good but not great. I had a little higher expectations for a book on the glory of God. I guess I have been spoiled by reading John Piper's Meditations and listening to his sermons. There was nothing that really stuck out as being off or unbiblical. It's a good reformed overview of the glory of God from scripture. I also would have liked to read a little more church history and how the reformers viewed this teaching with the 500 anniversary coming up soon.
The chapter on the glory cloud was great. I also thought the chapter on vain glory (narcissism) was also excellent. The rest of the book was good but not great. I had a little higher expectations for a book on the glory of God. I guess I have been spoiled by reading John Piper's Meditations and listening to his sermons. There was nothing that really stuck out as being off or unbiblical. It's a good reformed overview of the glory of God from scripture. I also would have liked to read a little more church history and how the reformers viewed this teaching with the 500 anniversary coming up soon.
March 1, 2021
VanDrunen starts strong with a historical and confessional overview of the doctrine of the glory of God alone, but after that, his biblical overview was very plain. Just an overview and not much of a study per se. He then turns to a more practical approach, which is good, but is not really in keeping with the rest of the series, which all gave thorough theological studies of their perspective doctrines and a strong biblical defense. Overall, it is a good book, but doesn't seem like part of the series in which it appears, and there are probably more thorough books out there for the great doctrine of the glory of God alone.
March 8, 2020
I really enjoyed God’s Glory Alone. While studying 2 Corinthians 3:18, I fell upon this book and dove in. It supplemented my study of God’s glory perfectly. I loved the thorough biblical foundation made for every single point in the book. He paints the picture of God’s glory and it’s transformation, yet consistency throughout scripture, so well. I personally believe everyone who desires to know more of God and His ways should read this book.
February 13, 2021
A good review/overview of God’s glory. Part 3 is excellent. The God-centered approach of the book makes it challenging for contemporary Evangelicalism, but that’s the value of the book. It forces Christians to recognize how we often make glorifying God about ourselves (ironically) rather than about God.
November 1, 2017
Glorious! Love this series!
November 2, 2017
"Our study of the five solas involves no rote repetition of slogans but the wonderful embrace of [what is] taught in the Bible and revitalized in the Reformation."
November 19, 2017
Really good read on Soli Deo Gloria. The history and theology were stronger than the modern applications, but even the applications were helpful...especially the description about distractions.
December 20, 2020
DNF. A bit too practical
January 4, 2021
Loved the modern application of this book. Very well done. Made the glory of God a more prevalent and weighty consideration in my everyday life.
November 22, 2022
A fine addition to the "Five Solas Series" with much rich contemplation.
March 22, 2017
This was a pretty good little read. Nothing to get to pumped up about though.
June 10, 2021
I have really enjoyed reading the books in this series! This book provided a strong reminder about the breath of our life's calling. We are image bearers of God with the one track job of bringing God glory in all the days of our life. It was a little dense at times for my taste with lots of footnotes to follow too. Could have used a little more application in some of the sections as well. I would highly recommend the 5 Sola's series to anyone looking to remember or learn our heritage as Protestants.
January 29, 2016
Soli Deo Gloria-Glory to God alone. - It is not sufficient for anyone, and it does him no good to recognize God in his glory and majesty, unless he recognizes him in the humility and shame of the cross. Martin Luther.
The 5 sola's of the reformed faith..
Glory to God Alone is not just Christianeeze, it is not pie in the sky, or a good ideal, it is seeing and knowing who God is in all his glory. Glory is also not an egoistical attribute that some might claim but it is the glory of God that is for our good. The beautiful sunrise this morning displays God's glory. The mountain view, the ocean tide, - starting with creation, we all know God's glory. God is creator and holds all together.
To better understand the 5 sola's of the reformed faith it is the magnification of Christ, grace, faith, Scripture, and God's glory-and these alone-suffused their theology and ethics, their worship and piety. Christ alone, and no other redeemer, is the mediator of our salvation. Grace alone, and not any human contribution, saves us. Faith alone, and no other human action, is the instrument by which we're saved. Scripture, and no merely human word, is our ultimate standard of authority. God's glory alone, and that of no creature is the supreme end of all things
The 5 sola's are not independent of each other but compliment and in relationship with each other expresses the joy of our salvation and the majesty of God. It reminds us that we are not God. It keeps the focus off us and our self-glorification to proper worship with the purpose of God's glory. "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10.
The book covers what the Glory of God is and what it is not. The teaching of the great reformers of the Glory of God in salvation. What self-denial is and how narcissism ultimately not only steals glory from God but us as well. God's glory displays all the attributes of God for our redemption in a fallen evil world. What is the Glory of God in worship and why it matters. We only have to look at Exodus to see why it matters in their exchange for God's glory to worthless idols. It is the Glory of God that we see the good of others and serve to strengthen the church.
Some quotes that I found encouraging and helpful.
In God's glory is our dignity. In God's glory is our delight. Our glorification lies in ascribing all glory in heaven and earth to him.
The glory of God alone implies the right purpose of all of life-a God centered purpose. All who share this radical view of Christianity make the ultimate purpose of life God's glory, not their own self-fulfillment or self-realization.
Worship is a distinct activity in which we set aside other tasks and set our minds and hearts fully upon the Lord in order to receive his word and to respond to him with prayer in song.
Soli Deo Gloria is about God and how he glorifies himself, but on magnificent way God glorifies himself is through glorifying us and enabling us to glorify him through faith, worship, and whole-hearted service to him and our neighbors. What a bounteous God we have who has authored this story of divine glory and invited us to be such a vital part of it-by faith alone, by grace alone, and by Christ alone.
Glory to God is not in our conduct but in our worship and prayer, we put ourselves in a great foundation of faith that we seek to live righteously. The only thing that I struggled with and by God's grace alone, was the joy versus happiness. While reading this text, I am also reading Happiness which gives a great argument that joy and happiness are the same. I hope if you are considering reading this book you will also select this one. It goes well in giving Glory to God.
You cannot go wrong in the study of the solas. They are rich and satisfy while hungering to know more.
A Special Thank You to Zondervan Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
The 5 sola's of the reformed faith..
Glory to God Alone is not just Christianeeze, it is not pie in the sky, or a good ideal, it is seeing and knowing who God is in all his glory. Glory is also not an egoistical attribute that some might claim but it is the glory of God that is for our good. The beautiful sunrise this morning displays God's glory. The mountain view, the ocean tide, - starting with creation, we all know God's glory. God is creator and holds all together.
To better understand the 5 sola's of the reformed faith it is the magnification of Christ, grace, faith, Scripture, and God's glory-and these alone-suffused their theology and ethics, their worship and piety. Christ alone, and no other redeemer, is the mediator of our salvation. Grace alone, and not any human contribution, saves us. Faith alone, and no other human action, is the instrument by which we're saved. Scripture, and no merely human word, is our ultimate standard of authority. God's glory alone, and that of no creature is the supreme end of all things
The 5 sola's are not independent of each other but compliment and in relationship with each other expresses the joy of our salvation and the majesty of God. It reminds us that we are not God. It keeps the focus off us and our self-glorification to proper worship with the purpose of God's glory. "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10.
The book covers what the Glory of God is and what it is not. The teaching of the great reformers of the Glory of God in salvation. What self-denial is and how narcissism ultimately not only steals glory from God but us as well. God's glory displays all the attributes of God for our redemption in a fallen evil world. What is the Glory of God in worship and why it matters. We only have to look at Exodus to see why it matters in their exchange for God's glory to worthless idols. It is the Glory of God that we see the good of others and serve to strengthen the church.
Some quotes that I found encouraging and helpful.
In God's glory is our dignity. In God's glory is our delight. Our glorification lies in ascribing all glory in heaven and earth to him.
The glory of God alone implies the right purpose of all of life-a God centered purpose. All who share this radical view of Christianity make the ultimate purpose of life God's glory, not their own self-fulfillment or self-realization.
Worship is a distinct activity in which we set aside other tasks and set our minds and hearts fully upon the Lord in order to receive his word and to respond to him with prayer in song.
Soli Deo Gloria is about God and how he glorifies himself, but on magnificent way God glorifies himself is through glorifying us and enabling us to glorify him through faith, worship, and whole-hearted service to him and our neighbors. What a bounteous God we have who has authored this story of divine glory and invited us to be such a vital part of it-by faith alone, by grace alone, and by Christ alone.
Glory to God is not in our conduct but in our worship and prayer, we put ourselves in a great foundation of faith that we seek to live righteously. The only thing that I struggled with and by God's grace alone, was the joy versus happiness. While reading this text, I am also reading Happiness which gives a great argument that joy and happiness are the same. I hope if you are considering reading this book you will also select this one. It goes well in giving Glory to God.
You cannot go wrong in the study of the solas. They are rich and satisfy while hungering to know more.
A Special Thank You to Zondervan Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
December 29, 2015
It was wonderful to be invited to review an ARC copy of this book from Zondervan and Netgalley. They must have recognized from my profile that I am a Lutheran and happily teach at a Lutheran School. That being the case, I found the title thrilling. This is the first in a series of academic non-fiction celebrating the 500th anniversary of the reformation by focusing in on the "solas." Prior to reading this book, I really only knew of three: sola scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia. In English, this is scripture alone, faith alone, and grace alone. I have since learned that two more were added in the 20th century: sola Christus and sola deo gloria (Christ alone, and to God alone be the glory). Whether or not to include these in reformation history is a matter for debate, but this book dealt with the last of those five.
The most interesting part of the book is right at the beginning, proposing that God's glory is central to reformed orthodoxy and that our modern interpretation can cause us to focus on ourselves and what we do to bring God glory rather than the reverse. VanDrunen brings us back into reformation history by quoting directly from the writings of Luther, Calvin, and others. Of course, these sources are not inspired, so they must be read critically, but they certainly were interesting.
A large portion of the middle third of the book references a catechism and I didn't find that section nearly as compelling or interesting. Of course, as wonderful as our catechisms are for teaching, they are only dependable in as far as they are bound to the Word of God itself. I questioned some of his applications as they clearly illustrated a more Calvinist theology rather than Lutheran, but this was not surprising. Lutheran readers should take note that there are a handful of eschatological references and more than a few questionable applications of the doctrine of election.
The back half of the book walks through all of scripture with both Old Testament and New Testament references of God's Glory. VanDrunen makes some interesting ties between the pillar of cloud and fire in the Exodus and our reactions to God's glory. It certainly provided much food for thought.
My final reaction is one of interest. I'm more curious to read other books in the series, especially those that deal with the solas more directly tied to the issues of the reformation itself: Scripture over tradition, faith over works, and grace over merit.
The most interesting part of the book is right at the beginning, proposing that God's glory is central to reformed orthodoxy and that our modern interpretation can cause us to focus on ourselves and what we do to bring God glory rather than the reverse. VanDrunen brings us back into reformation history by quoting directly from the writings of Luther, Calvin, and others. Of course, these sources are not inspired, so they must be read critically, but they certainly were interesting.
A large portion of the middle third of the book references a catechism and I didn't find that section nearly as compelling or interesting. Of course, as wonderful as our catechisms are for teaching, they are only dependable in as far as they are bound to the Word of God itself. I questioned some of his applications as they clearly illustrated a more Calvinist theology rather than Lutheran, but this was not surprising. Lutheran readers should take note that there are a handful of eschatological references and more than a few questionable applications of the doctrine of election.
The back half of the book walks through all of scripture with both Old Testament and New Testament references of God's Glory. VanDrunen makes some interesting ties between the pillar of cloud and fire in the Exodus and our reactions to God's glory. It certainly provided much food for thought.
My final reaction is one of interest. I'm more curious to read other books in the series, especially those that deal with the solas more directly tied to the issues of the reformation itself: Scripture over tradition, faith over works, and grace over merit.
December 1, 2015
Glory to God alone – Soli Deo Gloria - reminds us that God is the supreme end of all things.
VanDrunen begins the book by showing how this sola is the result of the others. There is nothing we can do to supplement the work of God and Christ. He then samples contemporary writers on the subject and Reformed writers between the Reformation and the twenty-first century.
Then he does something that surprised me. The glory of God is first about Himself, VanDrunen says. Humans and their actions should not be the principal focus of the book, so he writes about God and His glorification of Himself. He explores the larger story of Scripture. “God glorifies himself in his created order generally and in his special acts of judgment and salvation in the world.” He reviews God's special deeds in history, such as the cloud, the tabernacle, the temple, and the Incarnation. He hopes this emphasis on God's glorification will be the focus of future teaching on the subject.
In the second half of the book, VanDrunen looks at how Christians are to glorify God in all they do, by faith, by worship, and by works of service. He explores what it means to glorify God in this era, paying particular attention to modern technology, narcissism, and the nature of this passing age. He argues for focused attention, a deeper understanding, self denial, and other virtues.
VanDrunen emphasized an aspect of God's glory that I hadn't really considered before. God glorifies Himself and one way He does that is by glorifying us. That allows us to then glorify Him through faith, worship, and service. It amazes me that God chose to glorify Himself through humans, first His Son and then through His chosen people.
I recommend this book to those who are unsure of the concept that glory belongs to God alone. You will learn how God has displayed His glory and how we are to give God glory. It is an informative book and one that encourages a God-glorifying life. A selected bibliography is included, as are Scripture and subject indexes.
Food for thought:
“We can glorify God in many ways, but Scripture indicates that nothing we do delights God more than calling upon his name with sincere hearts and declaring that all glory belongs to him.”
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
VanDrunen begins the book by showing how this sola is the result of the others. There is nothing we can do to supplement the work of God and Christ. He then samples contemporary writers on the subject and Reformed writers between the Reformation and the twenty-first century.
Then he does something that surprised me. The glory of God is first about Himself, VanDrunen says. Humans and their actions should not be the principal focus of the book, so he writes about God and His glorification of Himself. He explores the larger story of Scripture. “God glorifies himself in his created order generally and in his special acts of judgment and salvation in the world.” He reviews God's special deeds in history, such as the cloud, the tabernacle, the temple, and the Incarnation. He hopes this emphasis on God's glorification will be the focus of future teaching on the subject.
In the second half of the book, VanDrunen looks at how Christians are to glorify God in all they do, by faith, by worship, and by works of service. He explores what it means to glorify God in this era, paying particular attention to modern technology, narcissism, and the nature of this passing age. He argues for focused attention, a deeper understanding, self denial, and other virtues.
VanDrunen emphasized an aspect of God's glory that I hadn't really considered before. God glorifies Himself and one way He does that is by glorifying us. That allows us to then glorify Him through faith, worship, and service. It amazes me that God chose to glorify Himself through humans, first His Son and then through His chosen people.
I recommend this book to those who are unsure of the concept that glory belongs to God alone. You will learn how God has displayed His glory and how we are to give God glory. It is an informative book and one that encourages a God-glorifying life. A selected bibliography is included, as are Scripture and subject indexes.
Food for thought:
“We can glorify God in many ways, but Scripture indicates that nothing we do delights God more than calling upon his name with sincere hearts and declaring that all glory belongs to him.”
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
December 8, 2016
"God's Glory Alone" is a study on "soli Deo gloria." The author looked briefly at what the reformers and those in the Reformed tradition said on the topic and then looked at the mentions of glory in Scripture. He then discussed why this declaration still matters to our lives today. I appreciate that he didn't make simple things difficult to understand or make difficult things too simple and so lose important tensions found in Scripture. Also, he did a careful study of all of Scripture rather than just picking the verses that support his ideas.
You'll probably find it easier to follow his reasoning if you've read the entire Bible through at least once. He tended to move through Scripture quickly, assuming you're familiar with what he's talking about. I agree with his overall points and could follow his reasoning, but I still paused every few pages to think over what he said because he packed so much in.
I believe the theology presented in this book would be accepted by most conservative Protestant denominations. His main focus was on God's glory and on God's attributes and actions that bring Him glory. He did look at Scripture that teaches that God will glorify believers. He pointed out that even our glorification is God's doing, not ours, so this ultimately glorifies God. To quote him (page 106), "Soli Deo gloria is about God and how he glorifies himself, but one magnificent way God glorifies himself is through glorifying us and enabling us to glorify him through faith, worship, and whole-hearted service to him and our neighbors."
I'd highly recommend this book to those interested in a deeper look at this theological theme.
I received this review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
You'll probably find it easier to follow his reasoning if you've read the entire Bible through at least once. He tended to move through Scripture quickly, assuming you're familiar with what he's talking about. I agree with his overall points and could follow his reasoning, but I still paused every few pages to think over what he said because he packed so much in.
I believe the theology presented in this book would be accepted by most conservative Protestant denominations. His main focus was on God's glory and on God's attributes and actions that bring Him glory. He did look at Scripture that teaches that God will glorify believers. He pointed out that even our glorification is God's doing, not ours, so this ultimately glorifies God. To quote him (page 106), "Soli Deo gloria is about God and how he glorifies himself, but one magnificent way God glorifies himself is through glorifying us and enabling us to glorify him through faith, worship, and whole-hearted service to him and our neighbors."
I'd highly recommend this book to those interested in a deeper look at this theological theme.
I received this review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
November 23, 2016
I expected this book to be solid theologically but dry in its style. Boy was I wrong! Glory is one those intangible things that is hard to describe, like love. But this book really delivers what "Soli Deo Gloria" means.
This is one of the 5 Solas Series to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the reformation in 2017. So no wonder that this book first visits God's glory from the Reformed tradition. This book really brings me back why the Reformed tradition has such a big impact for me: it's all about God!
This book has 3 distinct sections: (1) The glory of God in Reformed tradition. This is basically a historical theology on what the reformers mean by Soli Deo Gloria. (2) The glory of God in Scripture. This reads like a biblical theology where it covers the progression of glory from Sinai to the cross and the New Heaven and New Earth. (3) The glory of God today. This is the practical side of the book where it talks about prayer and worship.
This is one of the best books I've read this year. So out of 90 books I've read, this must be on the top 5! A must have book, not only for the Reformed.
5 out of 5
This is one of the 5 Solas Series to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the reformation in 2017. So no wonder that this book first visits God's glory from the Reformed tradition. This book really brings me back why the Reformed tradition has such a big impact for me: it's all about God!
This book has 3 distinct sections: (1) The glory of God in Reformed tradition. This is basically a historical theology on what the reformers mean by Soli Deo Gloria. (2) The glory of God in Scripture. This reads like a biblical theology where it covers the progression of glory from Sinai to the cross and the New Heaven and New Earth. (3) The glory of God today. This is the practical side of the book where it talks about prayer and worship.
This is one of the best books I've read this year. So out of 90 books I've read, this must be on the top 5! A must have book, not only for the Reformed.
5 out of 5
July 19, 2023
This is the final volume in the series on the five Solas and is the shortest.
Unlike the previous four books this doesn't spend much time on Rome and the differences between them and the Reformers.
His focus is on what the Glory of God means and breaks the topic into three broad categories.
1. The Glory of God in Reformed Theology. In this section he shows how Soli Deo Gloria ties the other four Solas together. Normally when people talk on this subject it is a focus on doing everything for the glory of God. But Vandrunen points out the first thing to understand is that God's Glory is something we need to understand about Him and that He glorifies Himself Through us.
2. The Glory of God in Scripture. He points out how Israel experienced God's Glory in the Pillar of Fire/Cloud in the Exodus. God's full glory is displaying in the incarnation - Jesus is the brightness of God's Glory and the Glory of Christ is the glorification of His people.
3. The final section is on Living for God's Glory Today. This section has excellent application for Christians living in an age of distraction and narcissism.
Excellent work - highest possible recommendation.
Unlike the previous four books this doesn't spend much time on Rome and the differences between them and the Reformers.
His focus is on what the Glory of God means and breaks the topic into three broad categories.
1. The Glory of God in Reformed Theology. In this section he shows how Soli Deo Gloria ties the other four Solas together. Normally when people talk on this subject it is a focus on doing everything for the glory of God. But Vandrunen points out the first thing to understand is that God's Glory is something we need to understand about Him and that He glorifies Himself Through us.
2. The Glory of God in Scripture. He points out how Israel experienced God's Glory in the Pillar of Fire/Cloud in the Exodus. God's full glory is displaying in the incarnation - Jesus is the brightness of God's Glory and the Glory of Christ is the glorification of His people.
3. The final section is on Living for God's Glory Today. This section has excellent application for Christians living in an age of distraction and narcissism.
Excellent work - highest possible recommendation.
February 28, 2016
Fantastic book, both in its expected theological depth and its unexpected application to current issues. It's both educational and inspirational. Worth reading for anyone serious about developing their Christian faith, but particularly for those interested in the relevance of Reformation theology to today.
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