Glorifying God in a Post-Christian Culture and Society
To glorify God means to acknowledge and express His supreme worth, honor, and majesty, often through acts of worship, obedience, and praise [3, 4, 5]. This concept is deeply rooted in biblical texts, which portray glorifying God as a fundamental aspect of faith and a response to His mercy and works [1, 8].
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 15:9, states that Gentiles might "glorify God for his mercy," quoting from the Old Testament to emphasize that praise to God should extend to all nations [1]. This suggests that God's redemptive acts, particularly His mercy, are a primary reason for His glorification [1]. John Gill, commenting on this passage, highlights that a unified heart and voice among believers are essential for glorifying God, especially in acts of praise [4]. This unity allows for a collective expression of honor to the Father [4].
Glorifying God is not merely a verbal act but also involves deeds and actions that reflect His character [3]. John Chrysostom emphasizes that just as God has honored humanity through His actions, believers should honor Him through their works [3]. This practical dimension of glorification extends to how believers live their lives. For instance, Adam Clarke interprets the "glory that should follow" Christ's suffering not only as His resurrection and exaltation but also as the moral transformations in the world brought about by the Gospel and the ultimate glorification of faithful believers [2]. This suggests that the spread of the Gospel and its transformative power in human lives also contribute to God's glory [2].
The concept of glorifying God is also tied to the believer's identity and purpose. Paul, in Galatians 6:14, declares that he glories "in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," meaning he finds his ultimate boast and purpose in the atoning work of Christ [6]. This glorying in the cross signifies a rejection of worldly values and a commitment to Christ, even amidst disgrace and persecution [6]. This perspective implies that living a life centered on Christ and His sacrifice is a way to glorify God.
Conversely, failing to glorify God can stem from prioritizing human approval over divine praise. John Gill notes that some individuals loved "the praise of men more than the praise of God," choosing not to confess Christ to avoid social disgrace [9]. This illustrates that a true commitment to glorifying God requires a willingness to prioritize His honor above personal reputation or worldly gain [9].
The glorification of God is also intrinsically linked to the glorification of Christ. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on John 13:32 explains that if God is glorified in Christ's obedience and sacrifice, then God will, in turn, glorify Christ Himself [7]. This mutual glorification underscores the unity within the Trinity and the ultimate triumph of Christ's mission, encompassing His resurrection, ascension, and eternal reign as the Head of the new creation [7]. The church, redeemed and rebuilt by Christ, also brings joy, praise, and honor to God, becoming a "name of joy, a praise, and an honour" before all nations [8].
Sources
- Romans “and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore will I give praise to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” -- Romans 15:9”
- 1 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 1:11: The glory that should follow - Not only the glory of his resurrection, ascension, exaltation, and the effusion of his Spirit; but that grand manifestation of God's infinite love to the world in causing the Gospel of his Son to be everywhere preached, and the glorious moral changes which should take place in the world under that preaching, and the final glorification of all them who had here received the report, and continued faithful unto death. And we may add to this the ineffable glorification of the human nature of Jesus Christ, which, throughout eternity, will ”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: the words before, and the argument here is complete; viz., that there is One God. of whom all this is said, that is, the Ever Blessed Trinity. Some good mss . favor this reading in the text. God”? Or when it is said, “There is no other name whereby we must be saved”: and again, “There is salvation in no other”? ( Acts iv. 12 .) “To Him be honor and glory forever. Amen.” Now honor and glory are not mere words; and since He has honored us not by words only, but by what He has done for us, so let us honor Him by works and deeds. Yet”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 15:5: That ye may with one mind and one mouth;.... This is the end for which the above request is made, and shows, that a cordial and sincere affection for one another is necessary to the worshipping of God with one consent, to a joining together in acts of religious service, both in praying to God, and in praising of him, which latter seems here chiefly designed; for how should there be an agreement of heart and voice, of mind and mouth, in praising God, unless there is a singleness of heart, and oneness of affection? This is necessary in order to glorify God, even the F”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 69:30: I will praise the name of God with a song,.... The "name" of God is himself, his perfections and attributes; which are to be "praised" by all his creatures, and especially his saints; and here by the Messiah, who sung the praise of God with his disciples at the supper, a little before his death; and in the great congregation in heaven, upon his ascension thither, having finished the great work of man's redemption. For as it was no lessening of his glory, as Mediator, to pray to God when on earth, it is no diminution of it to praise him in our nature in heaven; see Ps”
- 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; ”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 13:32: If God be glorified in him, God shall also--in return and reward of this highest of all services ever rendered to Him, or capable of being rendered. glorify him in himself, and . . . straightway glorify him--referring now to the Resurrection and Exaltation of Christ after this service was over, including all the honor and glory then put upon Him, and that will for ever encircle Him as Head of the new creation.”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 33:9: And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise, and an honour,.... That is, the church and people of God, being redeemed and rebuilt by Christ, and being cleansed from their sins in his blood, and all their iniquities forgiven for his sake, would be a cause of joy to themselves and others, and bring joy, praise, and honour unto God: so the church, in the latter day, will be an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations, and a praise in the earth, Isa 60:15; and here they are said to be so, before all the nations, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 12:42: For they loved the praise of men,.... To be in the esteem of men, to have their applause, and receive honour from them: more than the praise of God; than either to receive honour from him, and be praised by him, or to praise and glorify him. By confessing Christ they knew they should run the risk of losing their places of honour and profit, and of falling under the disgrace and contempt of men; and therefore they chose rather not to confess Christ, than by so doing to glorify God, and please him, and be praised by him, as all the faithful professors of Christ will be”