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Transcendence of God's Glory and Human Sin Relationship

The glory of God, often described in scripture as excellent and transcendent, stands in stark contrast to the nature of human sin [2]. This divine glory is inherent in God's being, reflected in Christ as the image of God, the Creator, and the Lord of lords [2]. Human sin, conversely, is defined as the transgression of God's law, originating from the devil, and encompassing all unrighteousness [3, 7, 14]. The relationship between these two concepts highlights the profound chasm created by human rebellion against a holy God.

The Bible consistently presents God's glory as an attribute of His divine nature. Christ, for instance, is identified with this glory as God, the Son of God, and one with the Father [2]. His excellency is seen in His roles as the First-born, the First-begotten, and the image of God, through whom all things were created [2]. This inherent glory signifies God's absolute perfection, holiness, and majesty.

In contrast, sin is fundamentally a rebellion against this glorious God [3, 9]. It is described as "the abominable thing that God hates" [3]. The nature of sin is not merely a mistake or an error, but a deliberate transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4) [3, 14]. It is portrayed as coming from the heart, the fruit of lust, and the sting of death [3]. Matthew Henry notes that sin, in its essence, is a contempt of God, despising His precepts and promises [13]. This perspective underscores that sin is not just an act, but an attitude of dishonor towards the infinitely great and high God [13].

The universality of sin is a key biblical teaching, emphasizing that all humanity is affected. The Fall of Man, through the disobedience of Adam, introduced sin into the world, leading to universal condemnation (Romans 5:12, 16, 18) [1, 4]. As a result, humanity is born in sin, described as children of wrath, with hearts that are evil, blind, corrupt, and depraved (Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 8:5-7) [4, 5]. Tyndale House's commentary on Romans 1:18-3:20 highlights Paul's argument that both Gentiles and Jews are "equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own" [10]. This universal sinfulness means that "all human beings are born sinners" [5].

The impact of sin is profound, leading to condemnation and separation from God's glory [1]. God's anger is not an arbitrary emotional outburst but a necessary response to sin, reflecting His holiness [10]. This divine wrath is depicted throughout the Old Testament and is predicted to have a decisive outpouring on human sin [10]. The consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and it increases with impenitence, unbelief, pride, oppression, and hypocrisy [1]. Even after conversion, the presence of sin remains, and denying this makes one a liar, according to 1 John 1:10 [11].

The relationship between God's glory and human sin is further illuminated by the concept of "great sin" or "presumptuous sins." Psalm 19:13 refers to "deliberate sins" as those committed with an insolent or arrogant attitude, which is essentially rebellion [9]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown interpret "vanity" in Proverbs 30:8 as encompassing "all sorts of sinful acts" [6]. The first sin of Adam and Eve, while seemingly simple, was "heinous and aggravated" because it involved "a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters—a preference of the creature to the Creator" [8]. This demonstrates how even seemingly minor transgressions are magnified by the infinite glory of the God against whom they are committed.

The contrast between God's glory and human sin also highlights the need for redemption. The condemnation brought by sin is a sentence of God against it [1]. However, saints are delivered from this condemnation "by Christ" (John 3:18; Romans 8:1, 33-34) [1]. The excellency and glory of Christ are not only in His divine nature but also in His role as Mediator, Prophet, Priest, King, and Judge [2]. Through Christ, humanity can be claimed by God (1 Corinthians 3:23; Romans 14:7-9) [12]. This redemption underscores that while sin is a profound offense against God's glory, God, in His glorious mercy, provides a way for reconciliation.

The concept of sin is not merely a theological abstraction but has practical implications for human life. It is described as "works of darkness" and "dead works" (Ephesians 5:11; Hebrews 6:1) [3]. The thought of foolishness is sin, and all the imaginations of the unrenewed heart are sinful (Proverbs 24:9; Genesis 6:5) [3]. This pervasive nature of sin means that it affects every aspect of human existence, making the transcendence of God's glory all the more striking as the ultimate standard against which human imperfection is measured.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Condemnation — The sentence of God against sin -- Mt 25:41. Universal, caused by the offence of Adam -- Ro 5:12,16,18. Inseparable consequence of sin -- Pr 12:2; Ro 6:23. Increased by Impenitence. -- Mt 11:20-24. Unbelief. -- Joh 3:18,19. Pride. -- 1Ti 3:6. Oppression. -- Jas 5:1-5. Hypocrisy. -- Mt 23:14. Conscience testifies to the justice of -- Job 9:20; Ro 2:1; Tit 3:11. The law testifies to the justice of -- Ro 3:19. According to men's deserts -- Mt 12:37; 2Co 11:15. Saints are delivered from, by Christ -- Joh 3:18; 5:24; Ro 8:1,33,34. Of the wicked, an example ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sin — Is the transgression of the law -- 1Jo 3:4. Is of the devil -- 1Jo 3:8; Joh 8:44. All unrighteousness is -- 1Jo 5:17. Omission of what we know to be good is -- Jas 4:17. Whatever is not of faith is -- Ro 14:23. The thought of foolishness is -- Pr 24:9. All the imaginations of the unrenewed heart are -- Ge 6:5; 8:21. Described as Coming from the heart. -- Mt 15:19. The fruit of lust. -- Jas 1:15. The sting of death. -- 1Co 15:56. Rebellion against God. -- De 9:7; Jos 1:18. Works of darkness. -- Eph 5:11. Dead works. -- Heb 6:1; 9:14. The abominable thing that Go”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fall of Man, The — By the disobedience of Adam -- Ge 3:6,11,12; Ro 5:12,15,19. Through temptation of the devil -- Ge 3:1-5; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14. Man in consequence of Made in the image of Adam. -- Ge 5:3; 1Co 15:48,49. Born in sin. -- Job 15:14; 25:4; Ps 51:5; Isa 48:8; Joh 3:6. A child of wrath. -- Eph 2:3. Evil in heart. -- Ge 6:5; 8:21; Jer 16:12; Mt 15:19. Blinded in heart. -- Eph 4:18. Corrupt and perverse in his ways. -- Ge 6:12; Ps 10:5; Ro 3:12-16. Depraved in mind. -- Ro 8:5-7; Eph 4:17; Col 1:21; Tit 1:15. Without understanding. -- Ps 14:2,3; Ro 3:11; 1:31. ”
  5. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
  6. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
  7. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
  8. Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
  9. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
  10. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
  11. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
  12. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:23: 3:23 Just as they may now claim everything as their own, so Christ has claimed them for himself (see Rom 14:7-9), and in Christ they are ultimately claimed by God (see 1 Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).”
  13. Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 14:2: Here are, 1. Grace and sin in their true colours. Grace reigning is a reverence of God, and gives honour to him who is infinitely great and high, and to whom all honour is due, than which what is more becoming or should be more pleasing to the rational creature? Sin reigning is no less than a contempt of God. In this, more than in any thing, sin appears exceedingly sinful, that it despises God, whom angels adore. Those that despise God's precepts, and will not be ruled by them, his promises, and will not accept of them, despise God himself and all his attributes”
  14. 1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 3:4: The apostle, having alleged the believer's obligation to purity from his hope of heaven, and of communion with Christ in glory at the day of his appearance, now proceeds to fill his own mouth and the believer's mind with multiplied arguments against sin, and all communion with the impure unfruitful works of darkness. And so he reasons and argues, I. From the nature of sin and the intrinsic evil of it. It is a contrariety to the divine law: Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also (or even) the law (or, whosoever committeth sin even committeth enormity, or aberra”
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