Theologians define the Glory of God as the manifestation of God’s Holiness. His holiness inward, display as His glory outward. God’s glory explains the uniqueness and perfection of His divine nature and character which is incomparable to no one else that has been or would ever be. “Prophet Isaiah’s vision explains God’s glory as the manifestation of His holiness. Prophet Isaiah in his vision saw the glory of God shook the post of the door and the house filled with smoke immediately after two seraphim among the angels that surrounded the Lord who seated on a throne cried to one another saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 6:3-4) God’s glory is His holiness, His majesty, His greatness, His presence and His goodness which is not limited to the heaven but extended to the earth.

The hymn “To God be the glory great things He hath done....”, written by Fanny Crosby and published in songs of devotion popularised the phrase “To God be the glory” among the Christians. The phrase expresses the presence of God, His majesty and His greatness, it also gives praise, honour and gratitude to Him. Christians use the phrase to attribute every success they are able to achieve to God’s power, grace, and mercy in acknowledgement of their limitation as human. The Bible says, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen (Rom.11:36)

Concerning creation, to God be all the glory for the formation of the solar system, the preparation of the land for habitation, and the creation of life on the earth which were accomplished in six days. He in the process of creation created all what man will need to have a fruitful and prosperous living. He also gave man dominion to rule over the earth and intentionally established uninterrupted fellowship with man.

Unfortunately, man fell as a result of disobedience orchestrated by Satan, by eaten the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil against God’s command. God again in His mercy sent man out of the garden before they could touch the Tree of Life to save them from eternal destruction. He thereafter put on the process that will bring His only begotten Son (Jesus) to come and redeem man of his sin through the shedding of His blood on the Cross. To God be the glory!

At the appropriate time His only begotten Son came in the fullest expression of God’s Glory in His divine character and nature in human form to live among mankind. He thereafter fulfilled the redemption process by which man can receive forgiveness of sin and be reconnected back to God to attain eternal life. The Bible describes God’s glory in His begotten son thus, “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John.1:14) God made His grace available for man to receive forgiveness through faith in His Son Jesus and be saved. It is called Salvation. (John.3:16) To God be the glory, salvation is by Grace not by Work.!!

Man as the image of God through Jesus Christ is made to reflect the glory of God. Man does not have his own glory. The Bible says, “To God alone wise, be the glory through Jesus Christ forever.” (Rom.16:27) It is the glory of God through Jesus that reflects in man’s life. God in His mercy is restoring man to the glory for which He intended through redemption in Christ. And as man continues to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus through obedience to the will of God, his life is being transformed to the same image of Jesus from glory to glory by the power of the Holy Spirit. (2 Cor.3:18) Brethren, the glory of God is the outward of His inward holiness. The glory reflects in man when the way he lives his life reflects the character of the Holy God. When he truly becomes the image of Jesus through his good deed and godly conduct so much that Christ is glorified.

May the glory of God continue to reflect in our lives in Jesus mighty name. Amen

Shalom

Evangelism It is only by the name of Jesus one can be saved. Preach the truth to someone today.

Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre