The Glory of God

The need for analogies eg. the Sun, in four phases

1. The riches of God’s glory (1 Tim. 1:17)

2. The radiance of God’s glory – every action is an expression of His glory and for His glory (eg. Psalm 19:1; John 12:27, 28)

3. The reception of God’s glory (eg. 2 Cor. 4:4-7)

4. The response to God’s glory (eg. Rev. 5:12,13)

– Sin means the lack of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23)
– God’s glory and man’s happiness go together.

Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

1. The doctrine introduced

2. The doctrine in Scripture (e.g. Ephesians 1:3-14)

3. The doctrine in 21st Century Christian Life

1. Introducing the mystery of the Trinity
Implicit, not explicit –
“God is three persons,
Each person is fully God,
There is one God.”

2. The Biblical evidence for the Trinity

Old Testament:
The unity of the Godhead (Deut 6:4-9 Isaiah 43:10-13)
The plurality of the Godhead (Gen 1:1-2;26 Isaiah 6:8)

New Testament:
Jesus – “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30)
Birth of Jesus
Preaching of John the Baptist (Matt 3:1-17)
Baptism of Jesus (Matt 3:13-17)
Commissioning of disciples (Matt 28:16-20)
Preaching at Pentecost (Acts 2:32-33)
Apostolic Benedictions (2 Cor 13:14 2 Thess 2:13f)

3. So What?

1) General Revelation

– through nature (Romans 1:18ff; Psalm 19:1-14; Acts 14:17)
– through conscience (Genesis 1:27; Acts 17:25-27)
– through reason

2) Special Revelation

– God revealed – progressively (Heb 1:1-3; Exodus 3:1-21)
– God revealed – fully in His son (Heb 1:3; John 14:9)
– God revealed – through the scriptures (Rom 3:2; 2 Tim 3:16)

3) So what?