SALVATION DESIGNED FOR DIVINE PRAISE

           

“That we should be to the praise of his glory”        Ephesians 1:13

 

            That salvation which is revealed in Holy Scripture always honors the Lord God. It is a salvation becoming the character of God. If your salvation does not honor God alone, your salvation is a delusion.

 

            The great, ultimate purpose of God in all things is the glory of his own great name. That is why he has saved us (Ps. 106:8). This is the end of predestination, election, adoption, redemption, and calling -- “That we should be to the praise of his glory.” Be sure you understand this. God’s primary objective and purpose in the salvation of chosen sinners is his own glory.

           

God has chosen to save those whom he has chosen to save, that no flesh should glory in his presence, that all who obtain the glory of his grace and salvation should forever glory in him, not in themselves (Jer. 9:23-24; 1 Cor. 1:26-31). This is the universal test of all doctrine, of all religion, and of all preaching -- If your doctrine, your religion, the preaching you hear, and the gospel you believe gives you any reason to glory in yourself, it is not of God, but a Satanic delusion. The gospel of God causes sinners to glory in the Lord, only in the Lord.

 

God’s method of grace as well as his object of grace is the revelation of his glory in his people. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6). Salvation comes to chosen, redeemed sinners, not by their choice and decision, but by God’s choice and revelation. No one has ever been saved, or can ever be saved, until God reveals the glory of his grace to them, and in them, in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, our all-sufficient, effectual, sin-atoning Substitute.

 

God’s purpose in saving us is that he might, in the ages to come, show forth the wonder and glory of his grace in us (Eph. 2:7). Imagine that! The triune God shall forever show wondering worlds what his grace has done as he eternally spreads his elect before all angels, men, and devils in heaven earth and hell in the splendor of his saving majesty!

 

Let us, therefore, ever ascribe to our great God alone all praise, honor and glory. "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake"  (Ps. 115:1). We give thanks to God alone for all the blessings and benefits of his grace. Let us, in all things, so order our lives that we glorify our great God in all things. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

 

AMEN.

 

Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For Today Radio Message #836

2734 Old Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 859-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net