Glorifying God For Salvation Through Jesus Christ
Glorifying God for salvation through Jesus Christ is a central theme in Christian thought, emphasizing that all praise and honor for deliverance from sin belong to God, accomplished uniquely through Christ's work. This glorification is commanded in scripture and is due to God for His holiness, mercy, truth, and wondrous works [4].
The concept of glorifying God is deeply intertwined with the act of salvation. Scripture indicates that God is worthy of praise [3] and that Christ is also worthy [3]. The apostle Paul states, "I have therefore cause for glorying through Jesus Christ, in those things which pertain to God" (Romans 15:17 Webster) [2]. This glorying is acceptable through Christ [3], and Christ himself serves as an example of glorifying God (John 17:4) [4].
Salvation itself is attributed to God's purpose and appointment [6]. It is "by Christ" and "by Christ alone" [6], as believers are "justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24 LITV) [1]. The loving-kindness of God, which is a source of praise, is also experienced "through Christ" [5]. Therefore, the entire process of salvation, from its divine origin to its execution, directs glory back to God through Jesus Christ.
The glorification of God through Christ is not merely an abstract theological concept but has practical implications for believers. It is accomplished by relying on God's promises and by praising Him [4]. Athanasius of Alexandria noted that "our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ glorifies those who glorify Him" [9]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, explains that the name of Christ is glorified in believers through their faith, patience, and good works [8]. He also states that the glory of salvation, from beginning to end, is to be ascribed to God's free grace, especially through Jesus Christ [7].
The emphasis on Christ's role in meriting grace and salvation is highlighted by figures like John Calvin, who argued that "the grace of God and the merit of Christ (the prince and author of our salvation) are perfectly compatible" [11]. Thomas Aquinas similarly discussed how Christ's Passion brought about salvation by way of merit, with grace flowing from Christ as the Head of the Church to its members [12]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, expressed a desire to "glory... in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; in the grand doctrine, that justification and salvation are only through Christ crucified" [10]. This perspective underscores that the means of salvation—Christ's atoning work—is the very reason for God's glorification.
Sources
- Romans “Romans 3:24 (LITV) — being justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus,”
- Romans “Romans 15:17 (Webster) — I have therefore cause for glorying through Jesus Christ, in those things which pertain to God.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glorifying God — Commanded -- 1Ch 16:28; Ps 22:23; Isa 42:12. Due to him -- 1Ch 16:29. For his Holiness. -- Ps 99:9; Re 15:4. Mercy and truth. -- Ps 115:1; Ro 15:9. Faithfulness and truth. -- Isa 25:1. Wondrous works. -- Mt 15:31; Ac 4:21. Judgments. -- Isa 25:3; Eze 28:22; Re 14:7. Deliverance. -- Ps 50:15. Grace to others. -- Ac 11:18; 2Co 9:13; Ga 1:24. Obligation of saints to -- 1Co 6:20. Is acceptable through Christ -- Php 1:11; 1Pe 4:11. Christ, an example of -- Joh 17:4. Accomplished by Relying on his promises. -- Ro 4:20. Praising him. -- Ps 50:23. Doing all ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Salvation — Is of God -- Ps 3:8; 37:39; Jer 3:23. Is of the purpose of God -- 2Ti 1:9. Is of the appointment of God -- 1Th 5:9. God is willing to give -- 1Ti 2:4. Is by Christ -- Isa 63:9; Eph 5:23. Is by Christ alone -- Isa 45:21,22; 59:16; Ac 4:12. Announced after the fall -- Ge 3:15. Of Israel, predicted -- Isa 35:4; 45:17; Zec 9:16; Ro 11:26. Of the Gentiles, predicted -- Isa 45:22; 49:6; 52:10. Revealed in the gospel -- Eph 1:13; 2Ti 1:10. Came to the Gentiles through the fall of the Jews -- Ro 11:11. Christ The Captain of. -- Heb 2:10. The Author of. -- Heb 5:9”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:20: Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus,.... This is a doxology, or an ascription of glory to God, with which the apostle concludes his prayer; glory is to be given to God on account of his perfections, which are to be celebrated; and on account of the works of creation and Providence, which are to be commended and acquiesced in; and on account of temporal mercies, for which thanks should be given; and especially for spiritual mercies, and above all for Jesus Christ: the glory of salvation, from first to last, is to be ascribed to his free grace; and his wo”
- 2 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Thessalonians 1:12: That the name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you,.... This is the end of the apostle's prayer, and which is answered by the fulfilment of the things prayed for; as the name of Christ and his Gospel are dishonoured, by the unbelief, cowardice and the unworthy walk of professors; so they are glorified in and by the saints, by their faith, patience, and good works in this world; which not only themselves adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, but cause others to glorify him likewise; and Christ will be glorified in them hereafter, by the glory whic”
- CCEL (Patristic) “Athanasius of Alexandria, Select Works and Letters, section 257: 94. Read these words, therefore, to the rest of the brethren that they may learn what the life of monks ought to be; and may believe that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ glorifies those who glorify Him: and leads those who serve Him unto the end, not only to the kingdom of heaven, but here also—even though they hide themselves and are desirous of withdrawing from the world—makes them illustrious and well known everywhere on account of their virtue and the help they render others. And if need be, read this among the heathen, tha”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 6:14: But God forbid that I should glory - Whatever others may do, or whatever they may exult or glory in, God forbid that I should exult, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; in the grand doctrine, that justification and salvation are only through Christ crucified, he having made an atonement for the sin of the world by his passion and death. And I glory, also, in the disgrace and persecution which I experience through my attachment to this crucified Christ. By whom the world is crucified unto me - Jewish rites and Gentile vanities are equally insipid to me; ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 53: 453 CHAPTER 17. CHRIST RIGHTLY AND PROPERLY SAID TO HAVE MERITED GRACE AND SALVATION FOR US. The three leading divisions of this chapter are,—I. A proof from reason and from Scripture that the grace of God and the merit of Christ (the prince and author of our salvation) are perfectly compatible, sec. 1 and 2. II. Christ, by his obedience, even to the death of the cross (which was the price of our redemption), merited divine favour for us, sec. 3–5. III. The presumptuous rashness of the Schoolmen in treating this branch of doctrine.”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Efficiency of Christ's Passion, Art. 1: Article: Whether Christ's Passion brought about our salvation by way of merit? I answer that, As stated above (Question [7], Articles [1],9; Question [8], Articles [1],5), grace was bestowed upon Christ, not only as an individual, but inasmuch as He is the Head of the Church, so that it might overflow into His members; and therefore Christ's works are referred to Himself and to His members in the same way as the works of any other man in a state of grace are referred to himself. But it is evide”