When we say that salvation is to the glory of God, what we are really saying is that God is in every part of it, in all of it. If we're going to give glory to God in a complete way, we have to say what Romans 11 says:
"Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him, that it would be paid back to him? For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:33-36, NASB)
This is a statement summarizing everything Paul had said in chapters one through eleven regarding salvation. That salvation is from him, through him, and to him. To him be all glory.
The glory of God is the best thing for us. Knowing that the glory of God is the best thing for us, God designed a plan for us to be saved. This plan is so that we might see that and that we might honor him for it (Romans 1), that we might lift him up for it, that we might see that salvation is entirely his work, that he might get the credit, the glory, and the honor. So we might do what the angels are doing. Revelation tells us that angels worship him because they see him as the one who has created, who holds all things together, and who has this plan of salvation that has been accomplished throughout the ages.
Mike Rosario (BS in Biblical Studies, Arizona Bible College; ordained at Faith Bible Church, Spokane, WA, through TMS faculty, Chris Mueller/John Smith), is a pastor at Grace Bible Church in Fallon, NV. He is husband to Jill Rosario and father of four with two grandchildren.
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