Who's Your One?

It has been a few weeks since I have stood here on a Wednesday evening and shared.

We have continued in our theme of sharing the Gospel.

This evening I will ask you a simple question:

“Why?”

“Why should you share your faith?” “Why should I share my faith?”

One of the many reasons is: “The Glory of God”

“Why?”

“The Glory of God!”

Let’s dive into God’s Word and let Him unpack to us how His glory is connected to the Gospel and our Witness.

Genesis 1:26–27 ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Why is this pericope (section) of scripture significant to the Gospel and God’s Glory?

1. God made all that He made and culminated His creation with Man.

On day 6, after all of the rest of His creation, He made a special creation before His Sabbath.

Genesis 1:31 (ESV)

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

You see at the end of day six with His culmination of work He made the special creation. How do I know that it was special...

מְאֹד- very, power, strength

We should really grasp the importance of the smallest of words in the original language.

God’s Word is important.

God’s Word is powerful.

God’s Word is descriptive.

Genesis 2:1–2 ESV

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

Then He rested…so why the rest of the things first and why the description?

2. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...

No other creation is made in the image of God.

Nor is any other creation made in the likeness of God.

Genesis 1:28 ESV

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

“According to the text, creation exists for man. But since God made man like Himself, man’s dominion over the world and his filling the world is a display—an imaging forth—of God.” — John Piper

God’s purpose in the action of man is the mirroring of God.

If man mirrored God, He would bring forth the Glory of God in the total of the earth.

God did not desire man to be autonomous as man sought to achieve in the fall.

Numbers 14:21 (ESV)

21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord,

Isaiah 43:7 (ESV)

7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

3. So God designed man in His image for His own glory.

But the Fall, So What Now?

1. The object of His Glory must be restored for His Glory.

2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV)

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2. In Jesus, we have the glory of God revealed.

John 17:4 (ESV)

4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

John 7:18 (ESV)

18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

John 4:34 (ESV)

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Let’s be clear…Jesus came to give glory to the Father in His life, work, death, and resurrection.

John 12:27–28 (ESV)

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.

28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

Maybe you have the Words of Jesus in red in your Bible. If so, look at the words “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” These are not the words of Jesus, but the Father.

We receive a picture of the desire of the Father for His Glory to abound.

John 12:30 ESV

30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.

3. Jesus died to glorify the Father.

4. Notice this is accomplished in His death because of the longsuffering merciful heart of the Father.

Romans 3:25 (ESV)

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

At this point, many folks get frustrated.

They say, why is the death of Christ required because of the O.T.?

We have to understand that passing over sin and allowing for the multitudes not to be taken out over sin immediately God gives the appearance that His glory, honor, holiness, and righteousness were of no value.

In the regaining/protection of the Glory, He required the death of His own Son for the sins of those allowed to not pay for them.

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

But The Work of Christ…So What Now?

Two verses first:

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Peter 4:11 (ESV)

11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1. Speak, walk, live, strive, and ABIDE to the glory of God.

Matthew 5:16 ESV

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

2. Work, but do your work with God’s Glory in mind.

3. Share, it is His Commission & Command.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

4. Share, it is necessary.

Romans 10:14 (ESV)

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Walking Away, But In...

God’s Glory should be recognized.

God’s Glory should be honored.

God’s Glory should be displayed.