The Glory of God Alone
Isaiah 42:8 - I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images.
2 ways we can focus on living for the glory of God alone
I. Marvel at How God has Glorified Himself
1 Chronicles 16:8-12 - Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,
A. He has glorified Himself in creation
Psalm 19:1 - The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Genesis 1:2 - The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
Genesis 1:26-28 - Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
B. He has glorified Himself in rescuing and guiding His people
Exodus 13:21-22 - The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
Exodus 16:10 - It came about as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
Exodus 19:9-11 - The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.”
Exodus 40:34-38 - Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.
C. He has glorified Himself in sending His son Jesus Christ, but through temporary suffering and humiliation
John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Hebrews 1:3 - And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
John 17:4-5 - I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
John 17:24 - Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
1 Chronicles 16:23-24 - Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
D. He has glorified Himself through the salvation of His people, but through temporary suffering and humiliation
1 Peter 1:6-9 - In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
Romans 8:18 - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 - Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
E. He will glorify Himself forever (exaltation/experiencing God’s glory forever)
Revelation 5:12-13 - saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
“God’s glory is the outward radiance of the intrinsic beauty and greatness of His manifold perfections.” John Piper
II. Embrace Your Purpose to Glorify God Alone
A. Glorify God through faith
Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Romans 8:28-30 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
B. Glorify God through worship
2 Chronicles 16:29-35 - Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the Lord in holy array. Tremble before Him, all the earth; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” Let the sea roar, and all it contains; Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord; For He is coming to judge the earth. O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to Your holy name, And glory in Your praise.”
Romans 12:1 - Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Psalm 115:1 - Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.
C. Glorify God through serving
1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
1 Peter 4:10-11 - As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
As we have been going through our annual theme of In Christ Alone, we have been working through the 5 Pillars of the Christian Faith. Also Known as the 5 Solas. These were key points in the reformation that started 500 years ago. They are…
Salvation is by Grace alone (Sola Gratia), through Faith alone (Sola Fide), in Christ alone (Solus Christus) to the Glory of God Alone (Soli Deo Gloria) understood based on the Scriptures alone (Sola Scriptura).
Today we focus on the core truth of Soli Deo Gloria: The Glory of God Alone.
First, let's define what we mean by Glory.
- In the OT, the word glory is translated from the word Kavod, which means, abundance, honor, dignity, riches, dignity, burden…there is a weightiness to it even as you say it. Often when something is heavy it is really valuable. Remember that in the OT, most things to see how valuable they were weighed.
- In the NT, it comes from the word Doxa…this is where we get the word Doxology.
- It is the position of being bright, shining, radiant
- Displaying greatness, majesty, splendor.
- Psalm 19:1 - 1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
- Genesis 1:2 - 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
- Genesis 1:26–28 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Now as we think of all the other Solas in light of the The Glory of God alone, we begin to realize they all fit together when you focus on God’s glory….you see the Glory of God is something that starts with God himself. It is who He is, it is His divine essence that is nothing else than glorious, majestic and great.
Isaiah 42:8 8“I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.
Think about how the Solas as about God…who he is and what He has done…He has provided salvation by Grace…namely, from His good and generous mercy, He has made it available by faith, where His work is the object of our faith, and through Christ…God Himself taking on human suffering and death for us to save us for Himself, and all this has been reveled through His word that He was able and willing to reveal to us so that we might know Him and worship Him.
Everything that He has done in salvation and in the redemptive plan in human history is for His glory…it all flows from Him and leads back to Him. In other words as amazing as the Reformation was and as amazing as all these truths are for us, they are not first and foremost about us.
So we say God’s glory alone, meaning that He is the one Alone who deserves Glory. But what we find Is it glorifies Him all the more as He displays that Glory and shares that Glory with us.
With that in mind please turn in your bibles to 1 Chron 16:7-36 (page 308 in front section in the bible under the seat in front of you)
With our Time remaining Let’s consider 2 ways we can focus on living for the Glory of God alone
I. Marvel at how God has glorified Himself
1 Chron 16:8-12 - 8 Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. 9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. 10 Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. 11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. 12 Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,
The song calls for his people to make His deeds known…first of which is the wonder of creation
A. He has glorified Himself in Creation
God’s glory first is internal…he was full of glory before anything existed…but He choose to create the world and us to reveal his glory.
Illustration: Hidden talents. Anyone who can draw…
B. He has glorified Himself in rescuing and guiding His people
He rescued and guided His people Israel is a very visible way…in a Cloud
i. Exodus 13:21–22 - 21 The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
ii. Exodus 16:10 - 10 It came about as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
iii. Exodus 19:9–11 - 9 The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. 10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
iv. Exodus 40:34–38 - 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; 37 but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up.38 For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.
Notice how all this was in the sight of the people, so they would know the Lord is with them…The cloud is both a wonderful protection, but also a terrifying reality. Because a holy God was in the midst of a sinful rebellious people.
In order to bring people into close, safe fellowship, He Glorified Himself visibly in another way.
C. He has glorified Himself in sending His son Jesus Christ, but through temporary suffering and humiliation.
i. John 1:14 - 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
ii. Hebrews 1:3 - 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
iii. John 17:4–5 - 4 “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
iv. John 17:24 - 24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
v. 1 Chron 16:23-24 - 23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 24 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
The way God glorified Himself, was revealing Himself in His son. The way God glorified Himself was in the suffering of His son. He also glorifies Himself in the suffering of His servants.
The pathway to glory always involved the corridor of suffering. Because it reveals what is truly valuable, it refines and reveals what is truly of worth.
D. He has glorified Himself through the salvation of His people, but through temporary suffering and humiliation.
i. 1 Peter 1:6–9 - 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
ii. Romans 8:18 - 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
iii. 2 Corinthians 4:16–17 - 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
Gods ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts, but He knows and reveals to us that the best way to glorify Himself…to reveal his supreme worth is by displaying those who love and trust Him even and especially through trials, persecution and suffering.
Which then sets the stage for God to display His glory in beauty and joy among His people in Heaven. The radiant Joy against the backdrop of suffering.
E. He will glorify Himself forever (Exaltation/Experiencing God’s Glory Forever)
Revelation 5:12–13 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
Notice how all of this was visible and will one day be visible…God making Himself Known…God glorifying Himself…
John Piper says it like this
“God’s glory is the outward radiance of the intrinsic beauty and greatness of His manifold perfections.” John Piper
God is visibly glorifying Himself…will you be a part of that…will you live for the purpose of God’s glory alone.
Illustration: Big sign where everyone has a colored square…
What is our proper response…to be a part of what God is doing..to realize that everyone in all creation, including us is here for His glory…his majesty being displayed and revealed.
So will you…
II. Embrace your purpose to Glorify God alone
We do that in a variety of ways…
A. Glorify God through Faith
i. Hebrews 11:6 - 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
ii. Romans 8:28–30 - 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
The first step for you may to place your faith in what God has done. To see that he has glorified Himself and that you have fallen short of glorifying Him, and you need a savior.
Then you must trust him, that growing to become more like His son, is the reward, and one day you will be glorified, have a new body, not cursed by sin, able to fully glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
God is glorified when We trust that what He says is good, and the timing that He chooses to bring things about is perfect…
B. Glorify God through Worship
It really comes down to saying, God’s glory is weightier than my glory…so I am going to live so that he is well known, not so I am well known.
We can’t minimize how important corporate worship is to bring glory to God…it is a group of people, joining with the angels in Heaven declaring the Glory of our Lord.
When we come together and stimulate one another to love and good deeds, we get the focus off ourselves and to the one who is worthy….and we then glory in His praise.
C. Glorify God through Serving
Just as the Lord led his people in the dessert in a cloud, and filled the temple to display His glory, He has placed his spirit upon us, so we are His temple….and so we are to view everything we do with our body and everything we have received from the Lord as a part of His plan to glorify Himself.
So we see everything started with God, and is for God, and we have the honor to be a part of that for His glory…Soli Deo Gloria.
Let's pray
