2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen
Contending for the faith is actually contending for the glory of God. This powerful letter from Jude, which is exhorting the church to contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints (verse 3), ends with the amazing doxology, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 23-24)
This praise and glory that is given unto God here at the end of Jude’s letter is actually the theme of the entire bible. As glorious and wonderful as the redemption of man is, the major theme of the bible is The glory of The Redeemer of man. David, the man after God’s own heart declared, “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)
The closing words of The Lord’s prayer are, “…For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:13).
In Ephesians 3, the apostle Paul concludes his beautiful prayer for the church there with the words, “unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21)
When the apostle Peter exhorts the saints to use their God-given gifting, he writes, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11)
His last recorded words of sacred Scripture are, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.” (2 Peter 3:18)
When the apostle John writes about the heavenly scene that he saw, we read: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11), and “…Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” (Revelation 5:13)
The very reason why creation exists is the give glory to God. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1) The very purpose of our redemption is the glory of God. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)
May the glory of God be the very reason why we exist as a local church and may the glory of God be the motive for all that we do. Selah
