Rom 1-The Glory of God
| The Glory of God! Romans 1:18-23
January 22, 2006 8The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Pray Scripture memory:16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” – Romans 1:16-17 Intro: Celebrities… 8The wrath of God is [coming]. [because] since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…..21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.His glory has been clearly seen in what He has made. Yet men refused to give Him the glory that was and is His due.1. We can see God’s glory here and now2. Seeing God’s glory produces a response in us.3. Glory is something we give to God. 1. We can see God’s glory here and nowF God’s glory is seen in the works of his handsvv. 18-20 – 8The wrath of God is [coming]. [because] since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…..Psalm 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.Isaiah 6:3 – …the whole earth is full of his glory.”Romans 11:36 – For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.Do you have a hard time worshipping God when you are alone?Psalm 139:14 – “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” F God’s glory is seen in His goodness and mercyCommon grace – Matthew 5:45 – He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Exodus 33:18-19
18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.Psalm 115:1 – Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.We often miss this aspect of God’s glory, much the same as we miss His glory in the works of His hands… because we take them for granted.F God’s glory stands in contrast to any earthly gloryIsaiah 40:6 (1 Pet 1:24) – A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.Although creation, the works of God’s hands, reflects and shows God’s glory, it is just a foretaste, like the previews of a movie… 2. Seeing God’s glory produces a response in us.F Seeing God’s glory brings us to worship in holy fear – at least it SHOULDOT – the prophets saw the glory of the Lord, their response: fall on their faceLuke 2:9 – An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.2 Corinthians 4:4-6 (NCV)
4 The devil who rules this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. They cannot see the light of the Good News—the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is exactly like God…. 6God once said, “Let the light shine out of the darkness!” This is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts by letting us know the glory of God that is in the face of Christ.Moses and Mt. Sinai F The glory of the Lord is a fearful thing in the face of sin:Exodus 16:7 – and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?”Exodus 24:17 – To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.That is partly why so many choose to deny the glory they see – i.e. creation / evolutionLight – Darkness – The “wrath of God” and the glory of God | | F Seeing and comprehending the glory of the Lord causes us to reflect His glory by becoming more and more like Him2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NLT) – 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. 17 Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. 18 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. Q: How are we going to respond to this?Anger?Indifference?Resentment? / Offense?OR Humility?Contrition?Desire?3. Glory is something we give to God.F Glory is something we give to God by our attitudes and words1 Chronicles 16:24-29 – 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 25 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. 28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, 29 ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. (Ps. 29:2; 96:7-8)Isaiah 42:12 – Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands.Romans 4:20 – [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,Revelation 4:11 – “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”Note the verbs connected with God’s glory:Declare – Telling othersAscribe / give – to give credit for – like acknowledging the MVP – publicly and privatelyWorship – Telling God / enjoying God F Glory is something we give to God by our actionsØ We glorify Him by bearing fruit – define fruitJohn 15:8 – This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.Ø We glorify Him by completing work He gives to usJohn 17:4 – I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.Ø We glorify Him in our sin – positively and negativelyRomans 3:7 – Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?”Ø We glorify Him by living for Him.1 Corinthians 10:31 – So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.Ø We glorify Him by our faith. 2 Corinthians 1:20 – For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. F God’s glory is, or should be, reserved for Him aloneIsa. 48:11 – For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.Isaiah 42:8 – “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.The reason idolatry is so serious… F God’s glory is a goal worth striving for2 Corinthians 4:15-17 – 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.This is what Heaven is all about. This is what will be our joy in Heaven. This is glory that means something and which lasts. Summary / Review:F God’s glory is seen in the works of his handsF God’s glory is seen in His goodness and mercyF God’s glory stands in contrast to any earthly gloryF Seeing God’s glory brings us to worship in holy fear – at least it SHOULDF The glory of the Lord is a fearful thing in the face of sin:F Seeing and comprehending the glory of the Lord causes us to reflect His glory by becoming more and more like HimF Glory is something we give to God by our attitudes and wordsF Glory is something we give to God by our actionsF God’s glory is, or should be, reserved for Him aloneF God’s glory is a goal worth striving forA Truth to remember:God’s glory is all around us. It is evident in His creation and it is evident in His abundant mercy and goodness. A Challenge to consider:God has called upon us to reflect His glory to a world which is desperately trying to deny Him. In order for us to do this we must first of all see His glory more and more and secondly we must consciously strive to give His the glory which is His. |