For His Glory

Eph. 1:4-6, 11-14

Theme: God’s motivation for saving us is His glory; therefore, as genuine servants we proclaim Him, praise Him, and glorify Him! 

Introduction:

What is God’s glory? When used of God in Scripture, glory refers to His opinion (what He thinks of himself) and reputation (what others think about him), all pointing to His fame or honor or praise. At times glory has a deeper meaning indicating God’s very Person—His essential Being.

  

When Moses made the request of God, “Show me thy glory” (Ex 33:18), he was not speaking of the light-cloud, which he had already seen, but he was seeking a special manifestation of God which would leave nothing to be desired (John 14:8). Moses had a craving to come to grips with God as he is in himself. In reply, God emphasized his goodness (Ex 33:19). We too must understand that God’s glory is not limited to some outward sign that only appeals to our senses, but instead glory expresses His inherent majesty—characteristic awesomeness and innate splendor, whether invisible or through visible symbols.

   

Glory then refers to the deep-down essential worth of God, His overwhelming majesty, His moral beauty, His marvelous excellences, His perfect nature—righteousness, holiness, mercy, truth, goodness, love, and grace!

So, Why did God Save Us?

Beloved, ultimately our salvation is “to the praise of His glory.” God’s marvelous plan for His people involves a magnificent finale—He will be the focal point of our continual praise. The intended goal and inevitable result of all God’s gracious actions toward us is that He should be magnified and glorified forever. In appreciation for your salvation, do you glorify God? Do you live to praise Him?

Lesson:

God Saves Us to Bring Himself Glory

Ephes. 1:12-14, That we [Christians] should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. [13] In whom ye [Believers] also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, [14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

A.     LIVING FOR GOD’S GLORY IS THE SUPREME PURPOSE OF OUR REDEMPTION (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14).

               1. All of these riches, spiritual blessings, come to us by God’s grace and for His glory. Did you notice that after each of the main sections in Ephesians 1:4–14, Paul stated the purpose behind these gracious gifts? (Wiersbe)

                    a. God the Father has chosen us, adopted us, and accepted us! But why? “To the praise of the glory of His grace” (Eph. 1:6). Paul’s thoughts on the grace of God for electing us and then in predestining us to be His sons, explodes into this refrain that is at once an exclamation, an explanation, and an exhortation. (McDonald)

                          i. It is an exclamation—a holy gasp at the transcendent glories of such grace. Such treatment is superior, matchless, unequalled, and excellent! Nobody treats me like God does!

                          ii. It is an explanation that the object and the result of all God’s gracious dealings with us is His own glory. Eternal adoration is due to Him for such matchless favor.  

                      iii. Finally, it is an exhortation. Paul is saying, “Let us praise Him for His glorious grace”. (McDonald)

                    b. God the Son has redeemed us, forgiven us, revealed God’s will to us, and made us part of God’s inheritance! But why?  “That we should be to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:12). The Lord Jesus purchased and set us free by paying the redemption price of His own blood. We are forgiven and God has released us from the condemnation of the Law strictly on account of faith in the Cross of Christ. He has included us in the sacred secret of Christ and His churches. Our inheritance includes God himself, our redemption hope—a new glorious body, eternal rewards, our heavenly home, and all genuine believers will enjoy being heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17; 1Cor. 3:21-23).

                    c. God the Spirit has sealed us and become the guarantee of our future in Heaven! But why? “Unto the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:14).  The Spirit marks us as God's own possession and guarantees our salvation.

               2. We often have the idea that God saves sinners mainly because He pities them, or wants to rescue them from eternal judgment, but God’s main purpose is that He might be glorified. His creation reveals His wisdom and power, but His church reveals His love and grace. You cannot deserve or earn these spiritual riches; you can only receive them by grace, through faith. –Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary

               3. God saved you and me for “the praise of his glory!” That is, we are trophies of the grace of God, exhibiting what He can do with such unlikely raw materials, and thus bringing glory to Him. We are to be glowing examples to others of God’s love and mercy at work in and through a human life. We are verbal and living expressions of praise to God for His gracious work in our lives! Do you praise Him often for what He is doing in you, or are you too busy stealing His praise, credit, and honor for yourself?

Beloved, the ultimate result of redemption is the same—“to the praise of His glory.” God’s marvelous plan for His people will reach a glorious consummation, and He will be the object of continual praise. Three times in this chapter Paul has reminded us that the intended goal and inevitable result of all God’s actions is that He should be magnified and glorified. Before we go any farther, let us do it! (MacDonald, W. (1995))

    Great God of wonders! All Thy ways

    Display Thine attributes divine;

    But the bright glories of Thy grace

    Above Thine other wonders shine:

    Who is a pard’ning God like Thee?

    Or who has grace so rich and free?

B.     LIVING FOR GOD’S GLORY MEANS MORE THEN MERELY GOING TO HEAVEN.

People seem to think that the only reason for salvation is so that a person might go to Heaven when she or he dies. This is likely because salvation was presented to them in these familiar terms.

         1.  Heaven and Eternal Life are Parts of God’s Redemption Plan for us, but That Is Not the Sole Reason for Our Salvation. (Jn. 3:14-17, 35; 1Jn. 5:11-13)

         2.  We Are Saved So That We Might live as “Redeemed” Servants who Bring God Glory (Eph. 1:14). 1 Peter 1:18-19,  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

              a. “Redeemed” Implies That We Once Were in Bondage or Slavery to Evil and Sin. We were slaves to sinful attitudes and actions! We had no choice or power to become free or do any different!

              b. But, We Have Been Purchased— Set Free and Rescued from Sin So That We Might Live a Life of Righteous Service to the Glory of God. 1Cor. 6:19-20, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

  

If God’s only purpose for our salvation was so that we might go to Heaven, He would be doing each of us a great favor by saving us and then immediately slaying us. No, His plan involves Believers living free of sins enslavement and power and free to serve God unimpeded by any obligations to sin. We now live to glorify Him in how we use our bodies and the attitudes we display or project. Sinful attitudes or anger, bitterness, negativity, and worry must give way to love, joy, righteousness, and peace!

C.     LIVING FOR GOD’S GLORY MEANS WE ARE TO REFLECT THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST.  

2 Peter 1:3-4, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The divine call is our basis for developing holy character and Christ-centered living. It is Christ, the glorious and virtuous Savior, who summons us to lives of “glory and virtue”—moral excellence and deep spiritual strength! Like Paul at His conversion, we have seen the light of Jesus and are forever drawn to His likeness.

       1.  God’s Purpose for Saving Us Is for Each of Us to Reflect His Glorious Character.  Ephes. 5:8-10, For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: [9] (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) [10] Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

That we might be His people on this earth filled with His glorious character because of the divine nature! People doing the kinds of works that Jesus Himself would do if He were walking in our shoes, through our world, during our lifetime. Our lives should move people and provoke them to honestly exclaim, “Praise the Lord!”(Matt. 5:16)

      2.  God Desires to Manifest His Character Through Our Personalities and Giftedness. 1 Cor. 10:31, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

When we allow His Holy Spirit to work in us and through us to the benefit of others, we become vessels of His love in action. We reflect His compassion, love, and mercy to others (2Pet. 1:5-12). And in so doing, we are His witnesses. We bring credit, honor, praise, and glory to Him. People will see and experience our “good works and glorify” our “Father in Heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

D.    LIVING FOR GOD’S GLORY MEANS WE ARE TO SERVE THROUGH CHRIST’S CHURCHES.

Ephes. 3:21, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 

      1.  God Does Not Save Us in Order That We Might Be Part of an Elite Group of “Good People.” He saves us in order that we might reach out to all people with God’s goodness through the ministry of His churches. This glorifies God!

      2.  God Does Not Place Us in Good Churches to Soak up Decades of Good Sermons, Bible Conferences, Prayer Meetings, and Seminars. 

           a. He Puts Us in His Churches So That We Might Be of Good Use to Those Who Are in Need. 

           b. He Places Us in His Churches So That We Might Function as His Body Each of Us Using Our Gifts, Talents, and Skills as the Holy Spirit Directs. There should be an on–going helping of one another, and in the process, experience a refinement of our own spirits, souls, and minds.

           c. This Is an Important Point for Us to Consider Regarding Servanthood. God did not save us simply so that we can say to others, “I'm saved,” that you might fill out a church membership card, or that you might have the assurance that you are going to Heaven one day. These things are good, but He has a purpose for us involving ministry and serving.

     3.  He Saved You in Order That You Might Live Every Hour of Every Day of the Remainder of Your Life in Faithful Service and Obedience to Jesus Christ. Going wherever He leads, saying and doing whatever He prompts you to say and do by His Holy Spirit, and engaging in whatever forms of ministry and service that He calls you to pursue.

     4.  Don’t Just Come to Church, But Join It, and Serve God Through this Church.

This is exactly what Apollos did when he left Ephesus and relocated in Corinth.  He united with that local assembly and he began serving God in that city through that church. Apollos almost immediately took a leadership role in the Church at Corinth as he followed the plan of God (Acts 18:24-28; Acts 19:1).

ILLUSTRATION: A pastor told about a Christian lady who often visited a retirement home near her house. One day she noticed a lonely man sitting, staring at his dinner tray. In a kindly manner she asked, “Is something wrong?”

“Is something wrong!” replied the man in a heavy accent. “Yes, something is wrong! I am a Jew, and I cannot eat this food!”

“What would you like to have?” she asked.

“I would like a bowl of hot soup!”

She went home and prepared the soup and, after getting permission from the office, took it to the man. In succeeding weeks, she often visited him and brought him the kind of food he enjoyed and eventually she led him to faith in Christ. Yes, preparing soup can be a spiritual sacrifice, a good work to the glory of God.—Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary

God’s motivation for saving us is His glory; therefore, as a genuine servant praise Him in light of His excellence, proclaim His glory to others, and live daily to glorify Him!