Oct 30, 2019

Justification and God’s Glory

1 Min Read

In this brief clip from his new teaching series Reformation Truths, Michael Reeves explains how the Reformation doctrine of justification by faith alone glorifies God.

Transcript

Justification was the matter of the Reformation, and through it God was glorified as utterly merciful and good, as both supremely holy and compassionate. And therefore, people found they could find their comfort and delight in this God. Here, the Reformers saw, is a God who loves failures first, not one who simply approves those who've sorted themselves out. And so, the glory of this God became the root of true satisfaction and joy for believers. It became their guiding light, their ultimate goal. And so here is how Luther, remember the man who once said he hated God, here's how he would come to speak of God in His glory and love.

Luther wrote, "The love of God does not find, but creates that which is pleasing to it. The love of God loves sinners, evil persons, fools and weaklings, in order to make them righteous, good, wise, and strong. Therefore, sinners are attractive because they're loved; they're not loved because they're attractive." He's showing how all this still matters because you will never love God and lean into the Christian life without it. You will not love God unless you know He loves you first. You will not love Him unless you know a security in which to enjoy Him.