Background: We discuss today God’s glory, who saves sinners for His own glory alone. It speaks of His majesty, splendour and magnificence – His perfection, righteousness and the display of His characteristics. The word ‘glory’ comes from Kabod, meaning weightiness. We who are in Christ are being transformed from one glory to another (2 Cor. 3:18).
“God has all life, glory, goodness, blessedness in and of Himself; He is unique in being, all-sufficient in and to Himself, not standing in need of any creature which He has made, nor deriving any glory from them, but rather demonstrating His own glory in them, through them, to them, and upon them. He alone is the source of all being, from whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; He has absolute sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do through them, for them, or to them whatever He pleases. In His sight all things are open and plain, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent of created beings, so for Him nothing is contingent or uncertain. He is perfectly holy in all His plans, in all His works, and in all His commands. Angels and human beings owe Him, as creatures to the Creator, worship, service, and obedience, and whatever else He is pleased to require of them.” – Baptist Confession of Faith chapter 2 part 2
God’s glory shows us His sovereignty and holiness. It is complex but can be seen in His attributes, power, beauty and radiance.
- God’s Intrinsic Glory
Who He is – the great “I AM”, owing no one an explanation (Ex 3:13-14). His Word is a two-edged sword that cuts me up when I read it, but also presents the cure for my sins.
His attributes:
a. Of greatness: His Independence (Acts 17:24), Unchangeableness (Mal. 3:6), Eternity (Ps. 19:2), Omnipresence (Jer. 23:23), Immutability (James 1:17), Omniscience (Ps. 139:1-4), Omnipotence (Jer. 32:17), Sovereignty (1 Chron. 29:11), Perfectness (Deut. 32:4) and Transcendence (Is. 55:9).
b. Of goodness: Love (1 John 4:8; Rom. 5:8), Mercy (withholding the bad which we deserve; Eph. 2:4,5), Grace (Eph. 1:7), Faithfulness (Lam. 3:22), Holiness (1 Pet. 1:15-16), Righteousness (Ps. 11:7), Justice (Ps. 33:5), Truthfulness (John 14:6), wisdom (Ps. 104:24), Patience (2 Pet. 3:9), Goodness (Ps. 34 Nah. 1:7), Kindness (Tit. 3:4,5), Forgiving (Ps. 86:5), Longsuffering (2 Pet. 3:15) and Compassion (Ps. 103:13; Is. 49:13) – especially in the cross of Christ. - God’s Creative Glory
The heavens declare His glory (Ps. 19). - God’s Redemptive Glory
His acts of deliverance, salvation and reconciliation that include Christ’s incarnation, crucifixion, death, resurrection and ascension – all of which display God’s Love, Justice and Power. - God’s Glory in His People
Believers are called to reflect His glory (2 Cor. 3:18; Mat 5:16). - God’s Manifested Glory
His Shekinah glory in the Old Testament and Temple and Tabernacle and on the Mount of Transfiguration. - God’s Eternal Glory
His glory extends into eternity, where it will be fully realised and experienced by believers. The Book of Revelation speaks of a future state when all of creation will fully worship and glorify God forever.