Dear Church Family,
We see God’s glory in creation. That was the first point I made in our five-part study of the glory of God that wrapped up this past Lord’s Day. Psalm 19 and many other psalms clearly state that the universe that God created by the power of His word in six days demonstrates His glory. Theologians call this general revelation. The Bible gives us God’s special revelation. It is full of the glory of God. With some help from John Piper [anything in quotes comes from him except Scripture], let me share some reasons how the Bible does this.
Many “religious” books claim to be holy, yet only one can truly say it “gives and sustains life.” When tempted in the wilderness, Jesus responds to Satan, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4). Later in John 6:63, Jesus states, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit, and they are life.” Eternal life comes only from God. He will be glorified in that.
No false god or idol extends grace to those who worship it. The Bible “imparts grace and peace” to those who received God’s gift of righteousness by faith in Christ. Per 2 Peter 1:2 these wonderful gifts belong to God’s people “in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” In a world that rewards performance, the Bible provides knowledge of the Holy God who freely gives His grace to unworthy sinners and showers the peace that passes all understanding on them as well.
Simply looking at creation and being stirred by its grandeur will not make one a Christian. General revelation needs the addition of special revelation to bring anyone to saving faith. True conversion comes as the Holy Spirit and Scripture work together to bring one to an understanding of the sin against God and the redemptive work of Jesus. Only then can one act on the gift of faith given to them. Romans 10:17 backs this up, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Therefore, “Scripture saves and frees us from Satan.”
The Bible also “sanctifies.” In John 17 Jesus prayed that He would glorify His Father and then He prays that His disciples/all believers would glorify God. This would happen as they shown themselves to be holy – set apart from the evil of the world. In verse 17 Jesus prayed this for you and all who would come to faith, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth.” Faithful study of the Bible will sanctify you – make you holy.
With joy Jesus tells His true disciples in John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” We will look at God’s truth and its glory tomorrow.
Living by grace to His glory,
Pastor Gillikin