1007. For God’s Glory Alone

Welcome to The Daily Platform from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. The school was founded in 1927 by the evangelist Dr. Bob Jones Senior's intent was to make a school where Christ would be the center of everything, so he established daily chapel services today. That tradition continues with fervent preaching from the University travel platform just over 500 years ago, in October 15 17, Martin Luther wrote his 95 theses, which is considered to be the beginning of the Reformation for the next several days on The Daily Platform will be studying some of these doctrines in a series called truth tryouts.

Let's listen to today's message preached by Jason Ormiston, a professor in the school of religion.

The title of his message is for God's glory alone. Having Dr. Jason Ormiston, will be speaking on the series that we been having this semester entitled truth tryouts why the Reformation matters and so Dr. Ormiston's get a calm and he's going to speak on the theme of Solon, Gloria, that is for God's glory alone. Dr. Ormiston figure Bible and turn with me to first Corinthians chapter 10 when you look at a very familiar verse given the topic at hand. My concern is that this topic is way too familiar and we miss the power and how can you miss the power of God receiving all glory. I think it becomes very commonplace to us and we need to address that and I will want to encourage your hearts with a very familiar verse first Corinthians 10 verse 31.

In fact, you probably don't even need to look at this, but you probably know this when therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God or talking about today is the fifth of these soul eyes and this is solely BL Gloria in this word this Latin phrase directs our attention to the center of the Reformation and I proposed in the center of the Bible that should be the center of your life in my life, God receiving all glory as you consider what this means to us in so many different facets. It will challenge our perspective on what were doing right now. In fact, I am very aware that you're here with me because you have to be and why have a very short period of time that some of you look at as an opportunity to just relax and make it through it and then go on with the rest of your day and I'm challenging you were talking about God and his glory and his Majesty, and I may be just a simple pastor, a professor here was communicating this way, the truth and I am that, but for the sake of his glory for the sake due to the holiness of his name. I just want to invite you to think with me and reflect on how great is our God. I think of thought. Some of the reasons why. Maybe we miss the significance of the glory of God. The weight of who he is, his holiness is because were used to reciting it at a very popular camp. The wild fishing camp right before eight is like the thing we do right before we know we need now the intention of having that verse. There is the same intention of having the creed before chapel good intentions to direct our affections towards God who is worthy of our praise you know any songs that deal with God receiving glory than a couple. Praise God, to whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below.

Praise God about the heavenly host praise father son and Holy Ghost. The doxology maybe are more familiar with 10,000 reasons, or how great is our God.

We sing these songs and we move on and I want us to slow down and take a deep breath and take God in all of his glory and majesty. So as I do that I don't think that I am sufficient in the time that I have to really get you going and keep you there and satisfy your soul because you're made to to worship God so you differently with this phrase don't help someone I don't just give him a fish and feed him just one meal.

I teach a lot of fish and feed him for a lifetime. We did a couple resources at the very beginning as we start an application I want to encourage you to go and check out these resources. All of the sermons on the solos that have been covered in chapel you can get on Lifestream. Each of the solos are also turned into blog posts. So I'm preaching on right now is can end up in a blog post on Friday and in that blog post, I'm going to include several other links to resources to encourage you to warm your heart as you view and worship the great God that we have come to know the great God has created us great God, who is redeemed us the great God, who demands and deserves all the praise someone encourage you to look in that way as we get started.

Maybe jot these resources down that these are not the only resources Bob Jones University does not hold the corner on the market when it comes to the Reformation, even though all over and see wonderful series done and articles written and I want to encourage you if God's glory is important to you as it should be you should take some time to pause and learn more about we give you the greatest source though. Outside of sermons and blog posts. The Bible we have to look at a verse like this in Psalm 115, one not to us. Oh Lord, not to ask, but unto thy name. Give glory for thy mercy and fought for thy truth sake free.

Simply stated, it's not about me it's not about you it's about God and his glory. And here's the one that I just got done porting that you can see it.

I hope the Bible is open to that look down at your Bible and first Corinthians 10 and you see a series of things happening in the first couple verses.

Verses one all the way to 13 we see the children of Israel as they wander through the wilderness think their first blast with the Exodus and then there challenge with their own temptation.

Verse 13 tells us that God offers the way of escape, that we may be able to bear verse 14. If you're looking out your Bible you see a call to avoid idolatry and Paul continues to talk about this concern of placing something over God. The worship of God gets replaced so many times by our own ambitions, desires, or stuff, and Paul says don't do that and he gives this example of eating meat offered to idols.

It's interesting in verse 23 he says all things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient on all things are lawful for me, but all things edify no so we need to ask the question as work, choosing to do the right thing or the wrong thing.

Does it bring glory to God.

Visit edify those around us, and he wraps up his concept with this verse, whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever you do to alter the glory of God that this is in a series. All of these thoughts are in the series about the Reformation and so I've three simple points reconsider this more. I wanted to help you understand the demand for this concept of solely deal. Gloria, it's a response to Catholicism, I want to see that there is a distortion if were not careful will distort this and this is a reaction to the complexity of God and finally him to show you the delight the great delight of this concept of solely via Gloria reflection on the sovereignty of God's let's jump in to this thought process of all to the glory of God as it relates to the Catholic Church. Why was this one of the pillars of the Reformation, while a simple illustration to point this out would be a look at a guy named John Texan good looking fellow, as you can see these famous for arousing the fury of Martin Luther by his outrageous claims for the sale of indulgences in his effort to follow the encouragement of the man who became the Pope. Pope Leo the 10th to help build up one of the many cathedrals St. Basilica and so in his efforts to do this. Martin Luther said that is ridiculous. That does not match up to what the Scripture teaches. Would you even know what indulgences actually are there claims that Jesus Mary and the Saints did so many good works that they left behind merit that they didn't need the treasury of merit is the possession of the church and so if you want a little bit of that. You gotta pay for it and if you pay for it. You can purchase time out of purgatory and actually help your relatives get out of purgatory, though I think most of you already know that John Tuttle went around and proclaimed by using manipulation in the great fear. What happens when you die that some of you would say that's ridiculous. Why is anyone concerned about what happens when they die, I want ask you how many of you thought about planet X hitting the earth lasts like a couple months ago in September. Anyone think about that at all. Anyone think about the end of the world. I know some of you did and it was like a one week when you thought that maybe my life which seems like it's going on forever might end and and so there. This is what captivated those during the Reformation. This is a time called the dark ages and so John made the most of it and Luther responded with the 95 theses, as we've Artie heard just yesterday's marks a very significant dance not Halloween. It's the 500th year anniversary of the Reformation. Let's consider some the things that he debunks and the Bible debunks first of all what I want you to understand is that salvation is a free gift from God.

For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God not of works lest any man should boast. Now, as we understand that we need to know that the Catholic Church taught it's a cooperative venture towards its God and me working together to figure out how to I can really be safe. That's not how salvation works and so Luther taught the opposite of what the Catholic Church was promoting. He also addresses idea that all life is sacred. This is something that we miss many times we miss the concept of making all life in and acknowledging all life is sacred before God and the Catholic Church taught that there is the sacred part which would be the church and the priests and their close to God and they're able to read the word and Luther came along and said no. All life is sacred. Every man has equal access before the throne and should have access to the word, and so he promoted something that was far different than what the Catholic Church taught how do we fall prey to this we fall prey in several categories we go to church on Sunday like we check the box off with diner thing when it hits Monday we don't change who we really are we. We are conformed to the image of Christ. We just gotta go with the flow, or you are at a church and you think, as the Catholic Church taught it's all about the pastor and the pastor does the work of the ministry know it is the pastor who is called to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and so Luther helps us understand that all life is sacred, and some of you need to think about these implications as to what you consume as far as movies and music and just normal like practices. All life is sacred and important Christian worldview to Russell right then we see also as it relates her to response to Catholicism that believers have direct access to Christ to God through Christ.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest. He says in Hebrews 414 that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our profession but we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. You don't have to go priest you have to go to a Bible professor you have to go to your parents. You go directly to God through Christ and this is good news because of it.

God receives all glory and you might say I know these truths. What are you doing things are you still trying to gain favor with God by your good deed doing.

It's not about what you do. It's about what Christ did is about you. Understanding that concept in living in light of that. Stop doubting your salvation and realize that Christ paid it all. It's not about you going to this process of saying I'm going to divide my life. Like Bob Jones has these rules on talking to the student body and another highschooler here is the very thing why you're like I don't know if I wanted a BJ of these rules will we do have rules that there there designed to help us grow in our discipline and affection for Christ and I don't think anyone here would say we love all the rules I don't like speed limits. I don't like the fact that in my home. It's like November 1. Then we can start listening to Christmas music. No gimmick with that is goofy there rules out there and you can start getting into that when it comes to the rules and all that how it works out. Sometimes we say well actually my desire to walk with God is bigger than the rule set and try to make so if listening to this or doing this practice helps me grow with my God Ben, I want to do it and you break past a boundary that God established and you divide a secular and sacred thing we had this idea on the go do this over here during these days I'll be this way at work. I'll be this way at school will be this way at home and I want to know all life is sacred.seasonal and some of you are struggling right now because yeah it's November 1 in your thinking. I just barely made it through midterms and I am tired tired tired when I remind you a couple things. It is November, which means Thanksgiving break is coming in on the heels of that Christmas break is coming, but in the process. Have you stopped to call out to your God, to ask for help through Christ. There is a reaction to the complexity of guns in dimension some things here that I hope will spark interest in you investigating further. I think that we have a potential of looking at this all to the glory of God concept is for in the pillars of the Reformation and because of the complexity of God, we come to get things wrong and here's one of we asked the question is God egocentric, what right does God have to say all glory to my name if I since it appears that all glory to Jason Ormiston know things all glory to God. And like I mean when you say things that school I don't know. It seems like it doesn't quite resonate. This is what Moses says for thou shalt worship no other God for the Lord, whose name is jealous is a jealous God.

God has a radical devotion to himself.

We say that doesn't sit well with me.

I read an article that was is Jesus Christ egocentric or is he an egomaniac by John Piper is what John says and what became clear to me remains clear to this day is that many Christians think it is good for us to be God centered, but don't feel all comfortable with God being God centered. We should be Christ exulting but Christ shouldn't be Christ exulting in what were doing as we miss the depth of Scripture which calls us to consider that God creates all things for his glory. Isaiah 43, 67, God elects Israel for his glory. Jeremiah 1311 God saves them from Egypt for his glory.

Psalm 10673 God restrains his anger for XL for his glory.

Isaiah 48, nine through 11.

God sends his son at the end of the ages for the praise of his glory and grace.

God is not an egomaniac. He is the ultimate object of all of our worship. It would be wrong for God to say, worship someone or something else.

It can lead us, though, to the second concern that man becomes narcissistic.

That means you did all into this idea is under to do this on the reform my behavior so that God can be glorified. Now I have to be careful as I thought about all this because we just got done reading perspectives 1031 whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do to alter the glory of God. But check this out. If you are in the process of thinking that you're adding something to the glory of God, you are sadly mistaken. It's not about you and your right Reformation of behavior. It's about the God who has all glory, regardless of how you responded that he wants you to submit to him absolutely deducts but it is not about man and it's so easy for us. Article from David Ben Brennan when solely dear Gloria is presented as if it's part and essence concerns how we live, how we carry out our vocations. How we formulate and execute political agendas. We might ponder whether what what was supposed to magnify God alone has taken a pleasantly albeit unintentional turn towards man.

He actually says and through centric turn and I don't want to turn to man. I don't want to turn to yourself I don't want you think that you do these things in order for God to be more glorified God is glorified because he's God. God cannot be more glorious than he already is. Joy's not thinking highly of ourselves. Joy reaches its height in moments of self forgetfulness in the presence and beauty of greatness and as we look at God. We are exulting him and who he is and am reminded as to a source for you to consider would be Jonathan Edwards.

Practically, I want to encourage you can get into and in research works of Jonathan Edwards but had are you aware that he wrote down 75 resolutions. Some encourage you to consider something if you're trying to wrestle through his God, and even egomaniac or am I to narcissistic you could go and look up the 75 resolutions by Jonathan Edwards and read one each day and ask yourself, am I following this just a couple for you to consider resolved. I will do whatever I think will be most of God's glory in my own good profit and pleasure for as long as I live I will do all these things without any consideration of the time that they take resolved to do whatever I understand to be my duty and will provide the most good and benefit to mankind in general resolved to do this. Whatever difficulties I encounter and no matter how many I experience or how severe they may be resolve number seven never to do anything which I would be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

If you're really serious about.

To God be the glory and why we start doing things like researching songs that exalt God's we start our day exulting him in song about thinking about resolutions each day that push us towards magnifying. His name in all areas of our life. Every area of your life because of all life is sacred before him, and then I went to consider the delight the delight of solely dear Gloria reflection on the sovereignty of God. God is the highest subject of your worship. If you need a quick reminder of that.

I challenge you to meditate and Isaiah 6. When Isaiah 6. It shows is Isaiah coming before God himself, and he sees the pillars starting the shake and he is absolutely and all of the power and the might and the majesty of God so that he falls down as if he were dead and he would not be able to speak apart from one of the seraphim placing a call on his lips. Atonement is necessary.

Atonement is provided. Jesus Christ. He is the highest object of your worship. She is the highest object. I hope of her praise and he is the greatest source of your strength. Are you looking to him for strength.

Are you giving him glory or you cutting the corners and complaining all the time about how overwhelming life is life usually gets more difficult before gets better you go through trials to just train your character in conformity to the image of Christ. Psalm 7325 to 26 whom have I in heaven, but the emir is not upon earth that I desire beside the flesh in my heart fail with.

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for effort. To say that to God alone be the glory. Too many times it's putting your name to Sam alone be the glory to Justin alone be the glory to Cayla alone be the glory for Jennifer alone be the glory on I would say that it's to God alone.

Let's eat some some ways it just I wish we could just just pause and praying and praise and thank God for who he is but you know I'm sitting here looking at a clock and I know you're looking at your own clock. Okay, so you're almost done and then when going to pick up my books to God and talk about God here. You give me. I can't make you get me. I get that Martin Luther got it and he wasn't perfect. Some research on that. I won't get into all of his flaws, but you getting all my flaws to write.

I get all and all your flaws but 500 years ago.

One man had the courage to risk everything and stand for truth. One man took on the most powerful institution of his day one man holding the conviction of Scripture alone teaching justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone said to God be glory alone.

So we must do that. So here's my application for I want to encourage you to submit to the priority of God's work and I want to encourage a thing about this what is not about you want to repeat this activity is not about me and I'm thinking you're saying about yourself ready.

It is not about me but too many times it's all about my agenda, my goals, my ambitions, and then God throws a curveball and I get sick to his God and doing all these things for you and you're not quite hooking me up.

It's never been about you.

It's always been about God's glory and that is a good thing.

Everyone is a good thing for us to delight in God and say, God, whatever you want whenever you want.

Where everyone I'm here for you.

I am going to submit to your glory above all things.

I found a real practical example of this. Lisa took her to workers.

She is the founder of the president of Proverbs 31 ministries so she's a lady speaker, very popular on social media guys you probably would know of her any more than I would normally write but I married my wife keeps me informed this lady who is written, a prolific writer and speaker on women and how they should submit to their husbands and and love on their families announced in June of this year that she has to seek divorce because her husband has been unfaithful to.

That's a bummer and I and I don't mean that with a joke intended me think about how devastating it is to go through divorce.

To be on the national scene, and that the very thing you're talking about is the very thing that it's falling apart in your own home and she responded with God being the object of her worship and glory is his understanding of this is what's going on on internal processes. Just yesterday she posted on social media that she found out that she has breast cancer and in 10 days.

November 10 she's can have a doubt a double mastectomy and your responses to God alone be the glory you following. Because what I'm saying to is that were like man I wanted this relationship to work out. I want to get better grade on that Old Testament messages test I wanted to do all sorts of different things and it hasn't happened this thing is were supposed to love God delight in him. Give him glory, and all things leave the results in his hands encourage you to reject the dichotomy between the secular secular in the singular. Second, in such a sacred and secular guy got rejected dichotomy. It's so easy for us to say I'm in church him to be this way.

I'm out and working to be this way. I'm telling you it's all God's we belong to him and if you don't belong to him. I want to encourage you to submit and come to Jesus. There is great joy in knowing Christ to save his last one. Enjoy the privilege of direct access, you might be overwhelmed. Who is it right caught the dog, he's able to take on all burdens and he's able to lead you and direct duty gives you the gift of the Holy Spirit.

It is to the praise of his glorious grace (God, thank you for who you are. Thank you for what you have done. Help us to live in light of your glory in the day in front of us in the month and promise in the year and lifetime that you give us so we can join together as a choir of worshipers giving you all praise and glory and Jesus thing I'm you been listening to a sermon preached by Dr. Jason Ormiston of the Bob Jones University religion faculty part of the series about the Reformation called truth triumphs. I'm Steve Pettit, president of Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. I'd like to invite you to attend one of our summer camps for both middle and high schoolers. BJ you has over 50 camps to choose from.

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