VanDrunen - Gods glory alone---the majestic heart of Christian faith and life: what the Reformers taught ... and why it still matters

Praise for Gods Glory Alone

This book mines deep biblical truths about Gods glory in a way that shows how we should think and act in God-centered rather than self-centered ways. A wonderful book that leads us into awe and adoration.

DAVID F. WELLS, Distinguished Research Professor,
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Between these covers, one of our days most thoughtful and prolific Reformed thinkers serves up a robust and edifying exposition of the cardinal cry of the Reformed tradition, soli Deo gloria. As VanDrunen deftly demonstrates, this sola is no ordinary slogan; everything turns on what these three little words declare and his God-centered and Christ-focused treatment draws out the heart of Scripture, through the Reformed tradition, and applies it directly to our ever too vanity-distracted lives. Take this book up; it will do you much good.

BRUCE P. BAUGUS, Associate Professor of Philosophy
and Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary

The solas of the Reformation too easily devolve into empty slogans. David VanDrunens book is a precious remedy against such devolution. VanDrunen traces the radiant arc of Gods glory from its internal fullness in the blessed Trinity to its external manifestation in creation and covenant, in the triune work of salvation, and in Gods eternal kingdom. Along the way, he addresses the vices that inhibit us from admiring and answering Gods glory and provides practical instruction in the virtues that promote awe and adoration in the presence of our glorious God. Reading this book will reinvigorate wonder and worship to the glory of God alone.

SCOTT R. SWAIN, Professor of Systematic Theology and
Academic Dean at Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando

This book does much more than defend a reformation slogan. VanDrunens examination of soli Deo gloria explores who God is and who God intends us to be. Clearly and occasionally wonderfully written, thorough, wise, and biblically deep, it says so much that Christians in our day should hear that I find myself picturing venuesSunday School, student discussion groups, class assignmentswhere I can use it. Read it and grow.

MARK R. TALBOT, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Wheaton College

Praise for the Five Solas Series

The Protestant Reformation was driven by a renewed appreciation of the singular fullness of the triune God and his unique sovereignty in all of human life. But that profound reality expressed itself with regard to many questions and in a number of forms, ranging from facets of the liturgy to soteriological tenets and back again. Im delighted to see this new series expositing the five most influential expressions of that God-centeredness, the pivotal solas of the Protestant Reformation. By expounding the biblical reasoning behind them, I hope these volumes will invigorate a more profoundly theological vision of our lives and callings as Christians and churches.

MICHAEL ALLEN, Associate Professor of Systematic and
Historical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary

The Reformations 500th Anniversary will be celebrated as a significant historical event. However, The Five Solas series explores the contemporary relevance of this legacy for the global church. Superb evangelical scholars have been enlisted not only to summarize the solas, but to engage each from historical, exegetical, and constructive perspectives. These volumes demonstrate that, far from being exhausted slogans, the Reformations key themes need to be rediscovered for the churchs very existence and mission in the world.

MICHAEL HORTON, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic
Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California

I welcome this new series and its substantial engagement with the great themes of Reformation theology.

TIMOTHY GEORGE, founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford
University and general editor of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture.

A timely project, and not simply because the 500th anniversary of the Reformation will soon be upon us. Much of who we are is determined by where we have come from; at a time when even so significant a part of our past as the Reformation is, for many, little more than a name, informed, accessible treatments of its basic principles are welcome indeed.

STEPHEN WESTERHOLM, Professor of Early
Christianity, McMaster University

The Five Solas Series

Edited by Matthew Barrett

Books in Series:

Gods Word AloneThe Authority of Scripture

by Matthew M. Barrett

Christ AloneThe Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior

by Stephen J. Wellum

Grace AloneSalvation as a Gift of God

by Carl R. Trueman

Faith AloneThe Doctrine of Justification

by Thomas R. Schreiner

Gods Glory AloneThe Majestic Heart of Christian Faith and Life

by David VanDrunen

ZONDERVAN

Gods Glory Alone The Majestic Heart of Chrisitan Faith and Life

Copyright 2015 by David VanDrunen

ePub Edition October 2015: ISBN 978-0-310-51582-1

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

VanDrunen, David, 1971

Gods glory alonethe majestic heart of Christian faith and life: what the reformers taught... and why it still matters / David VanDrunen.

192 pages cm.(The five Solas series)

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-310-51580-7 (softcover)

1. Glory of GodChristianity. 2. Reformed ChurchDoctrines. I. Title.

BT180.G6V36 2015

231dc23

201501936

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design: Chris Tobias/Outerwear for Books

Interior design: Kait Lamphere

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 /DCI/ 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

W hat doctrines could be more foundational to what it means to be an evangelical Protestant than the five solas (or solae) of the Reformation? In my experience, however, many in evangelical churches today have never heard of sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone), sola gratia (by grace alone), sola fide (by faith alone), solus Christus (by Christ alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone).

Now it could be that they have never heard the labels but would recognize the doctrines once told what each sola means. At least I pray so. But my suspicion is that for many churchgoers, even the content of these five solas is foreign, or worse, offensive. We live in a day when Scriptures authority is questioned, the exclusivity of Christ as mediator, as well as the necessity of saving faith, is offensive to pluralistic ears, and the glory of God in vocation is diminished by cultural accommodation. The temptation is to think that these five solas are museum pieces of a bygone era with little relevance for todays church. We disagree. We need these solas