Bible Study with the Cincotti's - Soli Deo Gloria - 09/26/2021

Today's Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 09/26/2021

Listen to our Bible Study Discussion at: Soli Deo Gloria Bible Study Discussion Podcast

Soli Deo Gloria

 

In John, ch. 9 Jesus and His disciples encounter a man who was blind from birth. The disciples question Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind” Jesus answered in His usual fashion, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

 

Jesus healed him!

 

When the Pharisees got involved, they became indignant because the man was healed on the Sabbath. They interrogated him and his parents, and when the man told them about Jesus, and how he came to be healed they became more indignant, and demanded, vr. 24, “...Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner” 

 

The introductory conversation, in this passage of Scripture, is very interesting. The disciples may have had this notion because of Exo. 34:7, and Num. 14:18, “...He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.” Jesus immediately side steps that by saying, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

Or, also, Neh. 9:2 “Then those of Israelite lineage...stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.”

 

Jn. 14:13 Jesus says, “And  whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

 

The Pharisees got it right when they said, “Give God the glory”, but they failed to consider that he was, in truth, giving God the glory.

 

In Jn. 17, Jesus Priestly prayer, He says, vr. 4, “I have glorified You o the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” 22 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one”

 

We’ll get back to verse 22

The Westminster Cataclysm, first confession, says, “The chief end of man is           to Glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

 

What does it mean “to glorify”?

          The Greek word is “doxazp” 1392: to render (or esteem) glorious;, honor, magnify. Also: praise, extol, exalt, laud, worship, revere, reverence, venerate, honor, adore, thank, and bless. (as in “bless the LORD, Oh my soul”)

I would add; to divert attention to.

 

Consider the conquering general who leads the victory procession. He will          divert glory to the emperor, unless he happens to be the emperor too.

 

Even in worldliness it is not considered righteous to glorify ones self.

 

John Piper said, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” The is certainly consistent with Jn. 15: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

 

Paul says, in I Tim. 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Rev. 5:13, John records that he heard “every creature which is in heaven and on earth...saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne. And o the Lamb, forever and ever!”’

 

The fifth “Sola” of the Reformation declares that we are saved, “For the       glory of God alone” In fact, we and the entire universe was created for the glory of God alone.

 

I think we get confused about that sometimes

 

He is worthy because He is worthy, not because we ascribe worth to Him,        but we have this language for our sake. If we say His full glory, we        would be undone. Ex. 33:18-23

 

And yet, we will somehow participate in His glory. Rom. 8:17 & 30

And also II Th.1:11,12

 

This is a great mystery