Verse 21
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
Amen.
God’s all-sufficiency and glory
I. Consider the acknowledgment, which the apostle makes, of God’s all-sufficiency. God’s ability intends not merely His power, but all those perfections which render Him a suitable object of our faith in prayer. It imports an exact knowledge of what our wants are, a ready disposition to supply them, wisdom to discern the proper time and manner of granting supplies, as well as power to effect whatever His wisdom sees best to be done.
1. God often does for men those favours which they never thought of asking for themselves.
2. God answers prayer in ways that we think not of. He will not always bestow the particular things which we ask, for we often mistake our own interest; but He will grant us things more valuable in themselves, or better adapted to our condition. Or, if He gives us the blessings in substance, He will send them in a more suitable time and manner, than we had proposed. I remember to have heard, on good authority, a remarkable story of an African, which will illustrate this thought. The poor negro, in his own country, was led, by contemplation on the works of nature, to conceive that there must be, though invisible to him, a supreme, all-powerful, wise, just, and good Being, who made and governed the world. Impressed with this sentiment, he used daily to pray to this in, visible Being, that he might, by some means or other, be brought to a more distinct knowledge of Him, and of the service due to Him. While in this contemplative and devout state of mind, he, with a number of others, was treacherously and perfidiously taken by some of his own countrymen, and soon after was sold for a slave. Now his faith began to waver. “For,” thought he with himself, “if there is such a just and good Being, as I have supposed, who governs the world, how is it possible that fraud and iniquity should be successful against innocence and integrity? Why are I and my fellow prisoners, who have acted with openness and simplicity, made to suffer, while our enemies are permitted to triumph in the success of their deceit and violence?” The poor fellow, after several changes of masters, was finally sold into a pious family in New England, where he was carefully instructed in the Christian religion, which he embraced with great appearance of sincerity and joy, and obeyed with exemplary diligence and zeal. And, in the relation of his story, he often made this pious reflection, that while he was perplexed to see the triumph of fraud over innocence, God was really answering his fervent prayers, and bringing him to the enjoyment of the means of religious knowledge and eternal salvation; that what he had thought was an objection against the justice of Providence, was really a wonderful and merciful compliance with his daily supplication.
3. The mercies which God is pleased to grant us, often produce happy consequences far beyond what we asked or thought,
4. The worth of the blessings which we ask and God bestows infinitely exceeds all our thoughts.
II. Consider the ascription of glory which the apostle makes to this all-sufficient God.
1. God is glorified by the increase of the Church.
2. God is glorified in the Church, when a devout regard is paid to the ordinances which He has instituted.
3. God is glorified by the observance of good order in the Church, and by the decent attendance of the members on their respective duties.
4. That God may be glorified, there must be peace and unity in the Church.
5. That glory may be given to God in the Church, there must be exemplary holiness in its members. (J. Lathrop, D. D.)
Glory to God though Jesus Christ
I. Glory must be given to God. The apostle, as may be inferred from the connection of the words, has chiefly in view the signal benefits of redemption in this elevated ascription of praise.
II. Through whom glory is to be given. “Through Jesus Christ.” Of Him, through Him, to Him, are all things. He is appointed Head over all. He is the only Mediator between God and man, whether for supplication or intercession or thanksgiving. In Him God bestows all grace upon us, and in Him all our words and our works are sanctified. Whatever we do in the service of God, if it be not done in the name of Christ, and in dependence upon His mediation and Lordship, it is done according to our own carnal will; it is not done according to the will of God.
III. By whom glory is to be given to God. “The Church.” By the Church is meant the congregation of faithful men, among whom the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments rightly administered. All God’s works show His praise, but His saints shall bless Him.
IV. During what period. “Throughout all ages.” Every work of man has its limit and its end: all the glory of the creature is as the flower of the field; the wind passeth over it, and it is gone. But it is not so with the glory of God; His praises are endless as His life. Eternity only is the full scene of God’s praise, “As it was in the beginning, so it is now, and shall be evermore.” (H. J. Hastings, M. A.)
The glory of God
It must be remembered that no praise can add to God’s glory, nor blasphemies detract from it. The blessing tongue cannot make Him better, nor the cursing any worse. Nec melior si laudaveris, nec deterior si vituperaveris. As the sun is neither bettered by birds singing, nor injured by dogs barking. He is so infinitely great, and constantly good, that His glory admits neither addition nor diminution. (T. Adams, D. D.)
Glory is God’s alone
Caesar once said to his opponent, “Either I will be Caesar, or nobody.” So the Lord saith, “Either I will be a great God, or no God,” That man disparages the beauty of the sun who sets it upon a level with the twinkling stars, which only borrow their light therefrom. (Archbishop Seeker.)
How God is glorified
The glory of God is from His perfection, regarding extrinsically, and may in some degree be described thus:--It is the excellency of God above all things. God makes this glory manifest by external acts in various ways (Romans 1:23; Romans 9:4; Psalms 8:1). But the modes of manifestation, which are declared to us in the Scriptures, are chiefly two; the one, by an effulgence of light and of unusual splendour, or by its opposite, a dense darkness or obscurity (Matthew 17:2-5; Luke 2:9; Exodus 16:10; 1 Kings 8:11). The other, by the producing of works which agree with His perfection and excellence (Psalms 19:1; John 2:11). (Arminius.)
God’s glory eternal
Agesilaus … might have led Tigranes, King of Armenia, captive at the wheels of his chariot. He rather chose to make him an ally; on which occasion he made use of that memorable expression, “I prefer the glory that; will last forever to that of a day.” (Plutarch.)
God glorified in Christ
A sick woman said to Mr. Cecil, “Sir, I have no notion of God. I can form no notion of Him. You talk to me about Him, but I cannot get a single idea that seems to contain anything.” “But you know how to conceive of Jesus Christ as a man,” replied Mr. Cecil; “God comes down to you in Him, full of kindness and condescension.” “Ah! sir, that gives me something to lay hold on. There I can rest. I understand God in His Son.” “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” (W. Baxendale.)
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