What is God’s Glory?

We all talk about it. We all act like we really know what it means. So what
does God’s glory mean? How can we give God glory if we don’t know the
meaning of it?

For us to glorify God or have an understanding of His glory. We need to

have a grasp of His Holiness and His attributes, His perfection, His supreme
majesty, etc. We are to seek to know Him to His fullest of what He has revealed to
us. John Piper says regarding God’s Holiness, “Holiness of God is the infinite
value of God.” God’s Holiness is an infinite signification, importance, merit, or
worth. Holiness of God is being separated from His creation. The Holiness of God
is to be beyond, rise above, or exceed apart from all creation. As Creator, God is
above all His creation and completely distant from every being.

We cannot glorify God unless we know something about Him in order for us
to make His glorification known to ourselves and to all. The chief end of man and
the purpose of man is to glorify God in all things and to make His glory known.
Many Christians believe the purpose that God keeps you on earth is to help lost
sinners. This is true but it is secondary to the supreme purpose of a Christian’s life.
God keeps you here on earth to glorify Him and make His glory known.

God’s glory is the public view of His supremacy of all His attributes. God is
Love, God is Faithful, God is Creator and Sustainer, God is Lord over all, God is
lawgiver and Judge, God is One, God is Spirit, God is Great and Perfect, God is
Eternal, Self-Existent, and immutable, God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and
Omniscient, God is Righteous, God is Holy, God is True and Truthful and God is
God.

The angels say, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is
full of His Glory.” (Isaiah 6:3) Notice Isaiah didn’t say “Holy” but Glory. Glory is
the out pour of who He is. Glory is the display of His divinity.

Moses asked to see God’s glory. (Ex. 33:18) God answered, “I will make all
my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name The Lord…
but, he said, “You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” (Ex.
33:19-20) “The Lord passed before him and said, “The Lord, The Lord, a God

Mar. 27, 2010 DwellingWithGod.com By Jay Gheen

merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and
faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and
transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty…” (Ex. 34:6-7)

God in Exodus reveals His characteristics that are also seen in 1 Corinthians
13. They are seen in Galatians 5:22. Notice at the end God “who will by no means
clear the guilty.” God’s hatred, God’s Justice, God’s wrath is the result of His
characteristics. By no means will He clear the guilty.

God’s glory is often associated with visible light, thunderbolts, fire, smoke,
and brightness. One extraordinary passage is in Exodus (19:18-24) when God
came down to Mount Sinai. There was darkness, terrifying thunder and lightning,
flashes of lightning in pitch blackness, with a powerful wind, and fire consumed
the mountain top. It almost looked like an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, and a
terrible thunderstorm all happening all at the same time. This is the presence of
God, God is a consuming fire. And God commanded the people, “Don’t even dare
to come to this mountain or you will die.” The people of Israel became so afraid
and terrified that they begged Moses to tell God to stop speaking. This is indeed
the Holiness and Glory of God!

Mar. 27, 2010 DwellingWithGod.com By Jay Gheen