GLORY TO GOD
LUKE 2:8-14
Introduction:
The announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ was the greatest event this world has ever known. The angels of Heaven sang and praised God for the Glory of the Father had arrived on the earth.
The New Testament begins with the Glory of God declaring the birth of His only begotten Son, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
I. CHRIST THE LORD, THE GLORY OF GOD.
John 17:4-5, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”
A. Blessed be the King, Luke 19:38 “Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”
1. With the coming of the King comes peace to His servant, Romans 8:6, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
2. With the coming of the King comes a sword to the lost world, Matthew 10:33, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
B. Blessed be the King of Israel, Isaiah 44:23, “Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.”
1. At the coming of the Saviour all the earth will sing to the glory of God, Isaiah 42:10, “Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.”
2. The Heavens will sing for His glory, Isaiah 49:13, “Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.”
II. JESUS CHRIST IS THE GLORY OF THE CHURCH.
Ephesians 3:21, “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
A. He is the Redeemer of man, Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Philippians 2:11, “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
B. He is the Founder of the Church, Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
C. The Church is to the praise of His grace, Ephesians 1:6, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
1. Christ loved His Church, Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
2. Jesus bought with His own blood, Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
III. JESUS WILL BE GLORIFIED BY EVERY CREATURE ON THE EARTH AND IN HEAVEN.
Revelation 5:13, “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”
A. The ANGELS will praise Him, Luke 2:13-14, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
B. Every man will praise Him, Philippians 2:10-11, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
CONCLUSION
All men will glorify Jesus Christ. Some will do so as born-again believers while others will do so because they are forced to do so. Some will praise in this life as those who have received Him as Saviour. Others will have to admit that He is Lord as they stand before the God of Heaven in judgment. Then it will be too late because they rejected Him will living on this earth.