A Truth to Believe

What is the purpose for all of God's works?

God works all things according to the purposes of his will for the glory of his name. What all specifically does the Bible tells us God does for his glory?

God created (Isa. 43:6-7), called Israel (Jer. 13:11), raised up Pharaoh (Rom. 9:17), rescued Israel (Ps. 106:6-8), spared Israel (Ezek. 20:14, 21-22), did not forsake Israel (1 Sam. 12:22), commanded Israel (Exod. 20:3-5), brought Israel into the promised land (2 Sam. 7:23), answers prayer (2 Chron. 6:32-33), raises up worship (Ps. 115:1), built his temple (2 Chron. 6:34), saved Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:34), forgives sins (Isa. 43:25), shows mercy (Isa. 48:9-11), redeems the nations, (Isa. 42:1–4, 10–12), punished Israel (Jer. 34:15–20), restored Israel (Ezek. 36:22-23), sends the messiah (Isa. 61:1-3), calls believers (Acts 9:16), elects and predestines (Eph. 1:4-6), and works all things (Eph. 1:11-12) for his glory.

Furthermore, Jesus was incarnate as a man (Rom. 15:8-9), suffered (John 12:27-28), acted (John 7:18), commands his followers to live (Mat. 5:16), fulfills the promises of God (2 Cor 1:20), and will return (2 Thess. 1:9-10) for he and his Father's glory.

Believers are to receive others into fellowship (Rom. 15:7), pray (Matt. 6:9-10), spread the gospel (2 Cor. 4:15), increase the obedience of faith (Rom 1:5), contribute and distribute money (2 Cor. 8:19), serve the church (1 Pet. 4:11), become more like Christ (Phil 1:11), exist (Eph 1:11–12), suffer (1:29) and do everything for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

God is concerned that his name be glorified among the nations (Mal. 1:11–14), will fill the earth with his glory (Hab. 2:14), ordains the unsaved to make known his glory (Rom. 9:22-24), takes life because of his glory (Acts 12:23), and one day will punish unbelievers with an eternity away from his glory (2 Thess. 1:9-10).

The Holy Spirit seals Christians for God’s glory (Eph. 1:13-14), and Jesus prays that believers see his glory (John 17:24). God is not only worthy to receive all glory and honor (Rev. 4:11), but the ultimate aim of our worship is give glory to God (Phil. 4:20). One day, every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord for God’s glory (Phil.  2:11), and the glory of God will be the eternal center of the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 21:23).

The end of all that God does and purposes is for the praise of his glorious name. We exist because of and for God's glory. Therefore, growing in godliness means living, breathing, speaking, acting, and existing more and more for the glory of God.

For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another (Isaiah 48:9-11).

Something about Living

If someone took a glance at things such at your calendar, spending, screen time, as well as your hopes and dreams would they see that God's glory is actually your highest treasure? To some degree we all fall short of glorifying God as we ought. But are we ever growing, ever fighting, ever pleading that we would be glorifying God more? Or, has God's glory become background noise that we give lip service but not actual heart intention?

A Quote

"As there is an infinite fullness of all possible good in God––a fullness of every perfection, of all excellency and beauty, and of infinite happiness––and as this fullness is capable of communication, or emanation ad extra, so it seems a thing amiable and valuable in itself that this infinite fountain of good should send forth abundant streams ... Thus it appears reasonable to suppose that it was God's last end that there might be a glorious and abundant emanation of his infinite fulness of good ad extra; and that the disposition to communicate himself, or diffuse his own fulness, was what moved him to create the world."

Jonathan Edwards

A Resource

As a believer, God has purposed you, gifted you, and called you individually into his grand story of how all things exist for his glory. One of the most amazing realities is that our joy is not in competition with God's glory but actually the way God gets more glory. You can read more about it here.