Everyone has a theology or an understanding of God, but a Biblical one is the only one that is trustworthy and true. The goal of good theology is doxology. Doxology means "praise saying." Paul uses a praise saying or a doxology to bring his great epistle to a conclusion. The goal of sound doctrine is a heart that overflows with praise to God because that is the reality of things. Paul reminds us that the goal of the gospel is not only our happiness. Certainly, we should be forever happy that God has rescued us from judgment and showered on us every blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Yet, the ultimate goal of the gospel is God's eternal glory. The goal of the gospel is that we would glorify God through Jesus Christ as we live in obedient faith and proclaim Him to everyone we can. The Westminster Shorter Catechism states, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." To glorify God is to make God look as good as He truly is to the extent we are able. This is profoundly different thinking from the commonly held notion that the gospel is all about us. It even affects our view of suffering. If the gospel is all about us and our happiness, then how do you deal with suffering and death? But if the gospel is not ultimately about our happiness, but rather about God's glory, then you can even face martyrdom as Paul did, with the goal that "Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." As John Piper observes, our happiness and God's glory are not at odds, because "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
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David Bodanza is the pastor of Mission of Grace Church in Massachusetts. He is also a practicing lawyer. He holds an M.Div. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a J.D. from New England School of Law. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, four children and four...
