Soli Deo Gloria

Soli Deo Gloria: Reviving the True Gospel and Martin Luther’s Reformation Legacy

Oct 29, 2023 – 22nd Sunday after Pentecost | Revelation 14:6-7 ESV

Martin Luther's Reformation Legacy

It’s been 506 years since Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the Castle Church door, igniting the Reformation. Despite modern education downplaying its significance, the Reformation's profound impact on history is undeniable.

While primarily a theological movement, the Reformation significantly reshaped society. It hastened the end of monarchies, promoted republican and parliamentary governments, and empowered the lower classes to demand equal rights. It also liberated philosophy, medicine, and science from dogmatic constraints, paving the way for rationalism and empiricism. The Reformation's core aim was to preserve and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, challenging the church's hierarchy and unbiblical practices.

A Call for 21st Century Reformation

Today, some argue for another Reformation due to postmodernism's negative impact on the church. Postmodernism denies absolutes and transcendent truth, promoting relativism that undermines the Gospel. This worldview has infiltrated the church, diluting the message that Jesus is the only way to salvation. The Apostle Paul warned the Galatians about replacing the true Gospel with a false one, and this danger persists today.

The true Gospel reclaimed during the 16th century Reformation is again at risk of being obscured. This endangers souls with eternal condemnation. How can we distinguish the true Gospel from false ones? The Reformation’s five Solas provide valuable guidance:

Solus Christus (through Christ alone)
Sola Gratia (by grace alone)
Sola Fide (by faith alone)
Sola Scriptura (scripture alone)
Soli Deo Gloria (glory to God alone)

True Gospel through Five Solas

The first three Solas emphasize that the inspired teachings of Jesus, recorded in the Holy Bible, proclaim the true Gospel. The remaining Solas highlight scripture as the Gospel’s anchor and glorify God alone. Soli Deo Gloria!

Romans 3 clarifies that no sinner can justify themselves by moral character or good works. Paul writes, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption in Christ Jesus, to be received by faith. We hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."

The Gospel reading from John underscores that the true Gospel message comes from Sola Scriptura. Jesus says, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

True Gospel Revealed in Christ

Our first reading from Revelation 14 helps us discern the true Gospel from false ones. All teaching, doctrine, and church practice should give glory to God alone (Soli Deo Gloria). The angel tells John, "the hour of God's judgment has come." This means the time to act is now, not later.

When the Word of God became incarnate in Mary’s womb, the end times began. Judgment entered the world, marked by the Greek word "krisis," the root of our word "crisis." In Jesus, humanity's Creator and Judge is present. All judgment is in and by Jesus Christ. He said, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God."

This is the crisis; this is judgment. There is no room for interpretation, whether one is a postmodernist, traditionalist, atheist, Christian, Muslim, Jew, or Lutheran. The truth is found only in Jesus Christ and revealed in the true gospel. Jesus said, "You are either with me or against me" and "No one comes to the Father except by me."

Glory to God Alone — Soli Deo Gloria

All sin must be atoned for by a perfect sacrifice. Jesus alone lived a sin-free life, perfectly fulfilling God’s holy will. Only His life, given in exchange for ours, can absolve our sins. As both man and God, only His sacrificial blood can atone for the sins of everyone on this planet. This is the Gospel truth, passing the glory test, meaning it gives full glory to God alone—Soli Deo Gloria. Any belief or teaching that gives glory to man, whether through will, works, love, or even personal faith, is a false gospel. It does not properly honor God as the righteous judge or give Him the grace and glory He deserves.

It’s a simple test: does the teaching give glory to God or to people? The Son of God did not leave heaven, become human, suffer injustice, and die on the cross so we could take credit for anything and seek glory for ourselves. If we believe our upright lives or good works can convince God to forgive us or save us, we are giving glory to ourselves and dishonoring God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice. As the Apostle said, "We are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

If we teach that salvation requires giving our heart to Jesus or deciding to fully submit to Him, we are denying His eternal election of us and His role in creating faith by His Word and Spirit. Scripture says, "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit," and "No one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws him." The children of God are "born of God," not of human decision. God gets the glory, not us.

If we believe that baptism is our choosing or submitting to God, we are taking glory for ourselves. The true gospel teaches that baptism is a washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, not about us. If we think God should be pleased because we give money, we are seeking our own glory and stealing God's glory for graciously providing everything we have.

A Crisis of False Gospels Today

Many in our world, including within the Christian community, face a crisis. Postmodernism is eroding society’s moral fabric, and Islamic fundamentalism threatens our way of life. Yet false gospels pose the greatest danger by robbing people of the truth of Jesus Christ and their eternal salvation. This judgment is more critical than any earthly conflict.

Traditionally, this text from Revelation has been assigned for Reformation Day because many interpret the flying angel in mid-heaven proclaiming the eternal gospel to all that dwell on earth as Martin Luther. Although it might be a stretch to limit the application of this angel to Luther, it certainly would be appropriate to see him included there.

After all, the Greek word "angelos" or "angel" literally means "messenger." This messenger proclaims the one gospel that is eternal—that is, the gospel from the beginning that alone brings true fear of God, gives glory only to God, brings forth faith, and truly worships Him who made heaven and earth, the sea, and the springs of water.

Soli Deo Gloria: True Gospel and 21st Century Reformation

God used Martin Luther to bring back this true gospel out of obscurity. But the crisis of judgment this messenger announces is not limited to Luther’s day. It began when Jesus came into the world, continues today, and will culminate at Christ’s second coming.

People are still dying every day without the knowledge of the truth due to the proclamation of false gospels that do not give glory to God. Millions are living under false hopes that they’re somehow going to make it to heaven, whatever they imagine heaven to be.

We, who have been blessed to be heirs of the Reformation of the 16th century and still possess the true gospel that alone gives glory to God and saves souls, must guard and proclaim it. We pray that God would preserve this gospel among us, that it might remain pure and true to the glory of God, and that we would be emboldened to proclaim it joyously and rightly to all who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people—to the glory of God in Jesus Christ.

Now that would be a 21st-century Reformation. Soli Deo Gloria!