THEY GLORIFIED HIM NOT
Romans 1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Very little is known of this gospel of which the great apostle speaks in these verses. For he speaks of the powerful agent of revelation made effectual by the Holy Spirit, and not just bare Bible preaching. For just preaching of the letter of the scriptures, without the attendance of the Holy Spirit, has even a killing affect upon the souls of mankind. 2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But this spiritually applied gospel enlivens the dead souls of those to whom it is issued, bringing with it both repentance and faith! For it alone can recover that which is at the root of all sin; the loss of the awareness of God’s glory. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
For the loss of the awareness of God’s glory renders man inexcusable in not seeing it all around him in the created order. And as separating the glory from God redefines Him, that in turn, redefines mankind himself. For man was made in God’s image. As we read in verse twenty-three of our above listed text that they “changed the glory” we next read that God gave them up. This resulted in confusion in the identity of male and female, which leads to homosexuality, and all manner of other sinfulness. Therefore we can readily see that glorifying God is of the utmost importance for our spiritual and moral purity!
But just what is it to glorify God? Let the scriptures inform us. Psalm 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. We cannot make God one degree more glorious that he is! But we can ascribe to him the glory that is his!
The Lord said that the cleansed leper who returned to give him thanks glorified him! Luke 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
The Prophet Habakkuk said that the fishermen in his day gave glory to their fish hooks and fishing nets, for by them they made a living! Habakkuk 1:14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? 15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
And as we have previously seen, the most obvious example of one being changed after taking the glory unto himself and failing to give all glory to God is seen in Nebuchadnezzar. For as soon as he said, “Is not this great Babylon which I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?”; God changed his likeness into that of animal-like creatures!
Daniel 4:31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
And he was not recovered from this horrible condition until he glorified the Lord God! Then he got his own glory back in rightful order of God’s highest glory! Daniel 4:34 ¶ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Glorifying God is an essential part of a true hearing of the gospel and for the obtaining of eternal life! Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
In that seventh verse of Romans chapter two we are clearly informed that it is only to those who seek for glory that God grants eternal life. For those who are just practicing religion, with only a head knowledge of a “God,” but do not possess a heart filled with love and admiration of the Lord cannot expect the provision of an eternal life in the glories of His presence. These are said to only have a “form of godliness.” 2 Timothy 3:1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
This is the message of the heavenly, spiritual messenger to every nation as the white horse rider goes forth conquering souls by his effectual gospel! Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Revelation 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. And the hour of God’s judgment is at the sending forth of the gospel of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. For by this effectual gospel shall all the world be judged. John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. For it is clear that the judgment of both mankind and of Satan was to take place when the Lord was lifted up upon his cross! For it was then that he cried, “It is finished.”
And when once the work of redemption was finished, the issue became that of God’s glory! John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. Be careful, dear Reader. gb
