1259. The Glory of God
The Glory of God
"And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things" (Rom_1:23).
1. "The glory of the uncorruptible God" carries with it everything that God is in His very being.
Let us consider a few of these Divine characteristics.
God is holy.
The angels cry, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory" (Isa_6:3).
Christ is described in the hour of His passion as crying: "Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel" (Psa_22:3).
God is light.
"O Lord my God, Thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment" (Psa_104:1-2).
"God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" (1Jn_1:5).
God is love.
"God is love."
"God so loved."
"God commendeth His love."
"Behold, what manner of love."
"The love that God hath to us."
"The God of love shall be with you."
God is true.
"God is true" (2Co_1:18).
"He that sent Me is true" (Joh_8:26).
"That we may know Him that is true" (1Jn_5:20).
"The only true God" (Joh_17:3).
"This is the true God and eternal life" (1Jn_5:20).
God is a consuming fire.
"Our God is a consuming fire" (Heb_12:29).
"The Lord descended upon it (Mount Sinai) in fire" (Exo_19:18).
"The Lord shall descend * * in flaming fire" (2Th_1:8).
"The Lord will come with fire * * to render His anger" (Isa_66:15).
"The Ancient of Days did sit * * His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire (Dan_7:9).
2. "The glory of the uncorruptible God" carries with it everything that God is in His surroundings. Let us notice something of this:
He dwells in light unapproachable.
1Ti_6:16 : "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to Whom be honour and power everlasting. "Amen."
Who can dwell in the light of His countenance? No man in the flesh can see God and live.
He is surrounded by holy worshipers.
Angel and archangel adore Him: cherubim and seraphim worship Him; the four living ones and the four and twenty elders fall down before Him; all saints crown Him Lord of all.
He is omnipotent and omniscient in His doings.
His power and His knowledge are almighty. He is limitless in wisdom. His works speak forth the glory of His name.
3. "The glory of the uncorruptible God" is that wherein all men have fallen short and are declared sinners. Rom_3:23 : "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Men may have whereof to boast, when measured by the standards of men; but not before God.
Think of a poor lost sinner, coming before such a God as we have described above! Impossible! No wonder men cry for the rocks and hills to fall upon them and to hide them from His face, when His glory is manifested.
"Short of the glory of God"–this is the condemnation: and therein is the whole world found short and declared guilty.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR