It is only when we fully understand and personally believe that salvation is from first to last the exclusive work of God that we shall truly give God the glory. As long as we think we have contributed something to our salvation, and especially if we believe that what we did is the determining factor in whether or not we shall be saved, we cannot give God all the glory; some of it must remain for us. If we are ultimately and finally saved because of our choice, because of our faith (assuming we manufactured it), because of our obedience, or because of our wisdom, we have something about which to boast. Yet Paul wrote "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Eph. 2:8-9). He asked in 1 Cor. 4:7 the penetrating question: "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"

Isaiah wrote, speaking for God, "I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols: (Isa. 42:8), and "For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another" (Isa. 48:11). God will not be robbed of his glory, and those who attempt to do so by appropriating glory and honor to themselves, or by boasting in something they have done, can expect the wrath and displeasure of God.

Though many Christians disagree with the principles we have been setting forth the last few weeks, we can say with all assurance, that the Biblical system of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone is the only system that allows God to be sovereign and gives to God all the glory. Twice in the most complete and thorough account of salvation in the entire Bible, the book of Romans, Paul affirms that God alone should receive the glory: "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen" (Rom. 11:36), and (Rom. 16:25-27) "Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him-- to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."