Sermon #1817                                                         Miscellaneous Sermons

 

Title:                           His Glory is Great

 

Text:                           Psalm 21:5-6

Subject:                     ChristÕs Great Glory In Salvation

Date:                          Friday Evening ― October 16, 2009

                                                College Grove Grace Church

                                                Franklin, TN

Introduction:

 

Recently, the Lord has directed my heart in sweet meditation on the greatness of ChristÕs glory in salvation. In the process, I believe the Lord has given me a message for you tonight.

 

It is one of the plainest and most obvious truths of Holy Scripture that the glory of God is and must be the first and ultimate end of all things. GodÕs glory is himself, his essence, his nature, his very being. Those magnificent attributes and perfections of his nature which identify him and him alone as God are much more than mere emanations from and qualities of his nature. Unlike us, GodÕs attributes are himself. His being is his glory. When we think and speak of the great, almighty, solitary God in the trinity of his sacred persons, we must always think of him in possession of all those incommunicable attributes and perfections of his being which distinguish him alone as God.

 

Yet, the glory of the triune God is revealed, manifest to, and seen by us in the person of his dear Son our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We see the glory of God only in the face of Jesus Christ, our all-glorious Savior. In Christ alone the invisible God is visible! Beholding his glory, we behold all the fullness of the glory of the triune God! So great is that glory that the Lord our God has prepared and appointed a whole eternity (if I may be allowed to use such language) to display it to his creatures. It is writtenÉ

 

Ephesians 2:7 ÒThat in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.Ó

 

Not only shall the glory of God be revealed to us throughout the endless ages of eternity; but it shall be revealed and made known to us in the person of the God-man, God in our nature, our most glorious Christ.

 

Yet, there is a peculiar preciousness about this everlasting revelation of the glory of God in Christ. Listen to this. — The Holy Spirit tells us that the glory of the triune God revealed in Christ is directly and inseparably connected with his grace toward us. The revealed glory of God is, to all eternity, connected with the salvation of his elect and our infallible, eternal union with Christ. According to Ephesians 1:6, we are now and shall forever beÉ

 

Ephesians 1:6 ÒTo the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.Ó

 

The glory of the triune God, that is to say, the glory of our all-glorious Christ, that One designated by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as the One in whom all fullness should dwell and the One who shall forever and in all things have the pre-eminence, is seen in many, many things. The glory of our God is evident everywhere.

á      In Creation

á      In Providence

á      In The Scriptures.

 

Proposition:             However, the glory of God is seen fully in the face of Jesus Christ as our Savior, and that glory is most great and most greatly revealed in his salvation.

 

That is what I want to show you in this message. Turn with me to Psalm 21. You will recall that when Moses asked God that he might see his glory, that which God showed him was his sovereign goodness in the salvation of sinners by Christ.

 

Exodus 33:18-19 ÒAnd he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory. (19) And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.Ó

 

Here, in Psalm 21:5, the psalmist declares, ÒHis glory is great in thy salvation Give me your attention for a few minutes. May God the Holy Spirit take total control of my thoughts and yours, may he be pleased to speak through these stammering lips of clay and give you ears to hear, as I try to preach to you about the greatness of ChristÕs glory in salvation.—ÓHis glory is great!Ó — What a message! — But be sure you see were the greatness of his glory is revealed.— ÒHis glory is great in thy salvation.Ó That is the thing I want you to see.

 

My text will be verses five and six; but we will begin with verse one and work our way down. I realize that David wrote the psalm and that it has a proper historical application to him. But David was only a type of Christ. His kingdom was only typical of ChristÕs kingdom. His deliverances were by the hand of God. But they were only typical of ChristÕs salvation of his people. And DavidÕs glory was only typical of ChristÕs glory. The King in Psalm 21 is Christ or King. The salvation is ChristÕs salvation. And the glory is ChristÕs glory.

 

Psalms 21:1 ÒThe king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!Ó

 

Here is a prophecy of our SaviorÕs joy as the result of the salvation which he would accomplish. When God the Son had assumed our nature, as agreed upon in the covenant of grace, having accomplished our salvation by the strength of Jehovah, having entered in once into the holy place with his own blood and obtaining eternal redemption for us, Òhow greatly did he rejoice!Ó

 

What bliss, what joy, what rejoicing there is in ImmanuelÕs heart as he sits upon his throne. His work is finished. His Father is glorified. His people are redeemed. Their salvation is certain. This was the Òjoy set before him for which he endured the cross, despising the shameÓ (Heb. 12:2).

 

Psalms 21:2 ÒThou hast given him his heartÕs desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.Ó

 

What was our SaviorÕs heartÕs desire? — ÒLo, I come to do thy will, O God!Ó ÒFather, glorify thy name.Ó — ÒThy will be done.Ó It has been given to him. What was the request of his lips? Was it not the salvation of his people? The heart desire of Christ and the prayer of his lips, which cannot be and shall not be withheld from him, was the glory of his Father and the eternal welfare and salvation of his people. Nothing is so dear to the heart of the Son of God as ourÉ

á      Redemption By His Blood.

á      Regeneration By His Spirit.

á      Comfort In Trouble.

á      Preservation In Trial.

á      Holiness Before His Father.

á      Happiness Forever In His Presence!

 

ÒSelah!Ó These are things before which we should pause in thoughtful adoration. Stop here. Linger awhile. Meditate on these things. Eternity will be too short for us to comprehend them fully!

 

Psalms 21:3 ÒFor thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.Ó

 

The word ÒpreventÓ means to ÒprecedeÓ or Ògo before.Ó So the meaning of this verse is that the Lord God bestowed all the bountiful blessings of goodness and grace upon us in Christ even before Christ came. Indeed, he blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ before the world began (Eph. 1:3).

 

Still, thee is more. GodÕs goodness toward his elect goes out to them, even before Christ comes to them, in the secret workings of providence. This text has reference to that great, wondrous mystery of prevenient grace, grace which goes before and prepares the way for GodÕs saving grace. — Hosea 2:8 Psalm 23:6

 

Goodness and mercy precede ChristÕs coming, come with Christ, and follow Christ. Then exaltation and glory are given to him. The Lord God, the triune Jehovah has set upon his head a crown of pure gold, a pure, everlasting, precious, indescribably glorious crown.

á      As The Reward of His Obedience.

á      In The Hearts of His People.

 

Psalms 21:4 ÒHe asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.Ó

 

This refers to our LordÕs resurrection, exaltation, and dominion, which he earned, asked, for, and received from his Father (Ps. 2:8).

 

Psalms 16:8-11 ÒI have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (9) Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. (10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (11) Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.Ó

 

John 17:1-2 ÒThese words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: (2) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.Ó

 

Divisions:     Now, as I wrap my message up and bring it to a conclusion, I want to show you seven things in verses five and six about the greatness of ChristÕs glory in salvation. His glory is great asÉ

 

  1. The Son.
  2. The Surety.
  3. The Servant.
  4. The Substitute.
  5. The Sovereign.
  6. The Savior.
  7. The Satisfier.

 

1.    THE SON ChristÕs glory is great in JehovahÕs salvation personally as the Son of God.

 

Our text declares, ÒHis glory is great in thy salvation There are three things in the opening line of verse five that I want you to see. 1st, The salvation revealed and spoken of in Holy Scripture is GodÕs salvation. Everything spoken of in our text and everything spoken of in the Word of God relating to salvation is of God, by God, and belongs to God. Nothing relating to salvation is of man.

 

There is much talk in our day about manÕs free will. But manÕs free will has never done anything yet except ruin him, until his will is conquered by GodÕs will. Any man left to himself is sure to choose that which is evil and do that which is evil. As naturally a water runs downhill, so the will of man is bent toward hell and wickedness. If the heart and will of a man ever looks heavenward, ascends upward toward holiness, chooses Christ, comes to Christ, and follows Christ, it is because that man has been the object and recipient of GodÕs salvation. From the first sigh of repentance to the songs of praise in glory, salvation is GodÕs work. We are GodÕs workmanship.

 

The universal testimony of Scripture is — ÒSalvation is of the LordWe must never presume to mingle anything of the creature with the glory of the Creator. Salvation is GodÕs! From beginning to end, salvation is entirely GodÕs work. Those who say otherwise, at any point, to any degree imply that it is dependent upon or determined by man do not know God and have not experienced his salvation. Every believer, speaking of salvation, ascribes it to the triune God. We call our salvation, ÒTHY SALVATION!Ó It is GodÕsÉ

  • In Its Conception.
  • In Its Execution.
  • In Its Application.
  • In Its Preservation.
  • In Its Completion.

 

ÒWhen it is all finished, —— when every one, who ever shall be called, has been called, —— when every one of the LordÕs elect has been regenerated, justified, sanctified, and glorified, —— when the whole of the blood-washed family of God shall surround the throne above, all the glory shall be given to the Lord alone. There will be no jarring note in heaven, no whisper of human merit, (OR FREE WILL!), no claim of a reward for good intentions; but every crown shall be cast at JesusÕ feet, and every voice shall join in the ascription, ÔNot unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name be all the glory of the salvation which thou hast wrought out for us from first to last.ÕÓ                                       C. H. Spurgeon

 

2nd, Salvation comes from God and belongs to God; and our salvation is for the glory of God. Remember this. Never lose sight of it. It is his glory, not ours, which is great in salvation. We who are made partakers of the unsearchable riches of his grace are receivers only, not contributors. And we are all alike receivers, and equal receivers. The great have nothing to bring. The little have nothing to offer. We all receive everything as empty handed beggars at the door of mercy.

 

ÒGodÕs glory is the first object proposed by salvation. God is more concerned for the promotion of his glory than any of his people can be for their happiness.Ó                    Robert Hawker

 

If salvation is for the glory of God and GodÕs work alone, if we cannot and must not contribute anything to it, then GodÕs salvation is a salvation exactly suited to the most helpless, most desperate, most needy sinner there is. What stronger argument can there be to persuade you to flee to Christ for salvation? Come, come, O helpless, guilty, desperate sinners, come to Christ!

 

3rd, Now, get this:—ChristÕs glory as God the Son is great in JehovahÕs salvation. We are Trinitarians. We worship, love, and serve the one true and living God in the trinity of his sacred persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We delight in the FatherÕs election, the SonÕs redemption, and the SpiritÕs regeneration. However, the triune God has purposed that Christ, the Son of God, God the Son, shall have all pre-eminence in the whole affair of salvation, putting all fullness in the Son, for the glory of the Son.

  • All the fulness of the Godhead is in Christ the Son (Col. 2:9-10).
  • All the fulness of salvation and grace is in the Son (1 Cor. 1:30-31).
  • All the fulness of glory is in the Son (John 1:14).

 

How I love to meditate upon, read about, hear about, sing about, and preach about the glory of Christ! I am like a dying saint I read about years ago. Someone in the old ladyÕs room began to speak about the greatness, grace, and glory of Christ. Others urged him to be quiet and let the woman rest. As they did, she said, ÒOh, speak some more! Let me hear more. Do not stop telling his praise. I long to see him soon; but I want to hear about him now!Ó

 

ÒSurely I cannot say too much of Jesus Christ. On this blessed subject no man can hyperbolize. Had I the tongues of men and angels, I could never fully set forth ChristÉOh, the loveliness, beauty, and glory of his countenance! Can I speak, or you hear too much f such a Christ?Ó

Isaac Ambrose

 

The tongues of men and angels combined, the tongues of all men and all angels combined, could never tell out the glory of our all-glorious Christ. Let me therefore never look for another theme. May God give me grace to give my life to its dying breath to preach the great glory of Christ in the salvation of sinners.

 

ChristÕs glory is great in salvation as the Son. Secondly, and I must do no more than make a passing mention of this because time will permit no more, ChristÕs glory in salvation is great asÉ

 

2.    THE SURETY.

 

It is impossible to talk about salvation in biblical terms without talking about an everlasting covenant of grace made on behalf of GodÕs elect and of ChristÕs everlasting engagements as the Surety of that covenant.

 

Hebrews 7:22 ÒBy so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.Ó

 

Hebrews 13:20-21 ÒNow the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (21) Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.Ó

 

Let me describe the glory of Christ in salvation as our Surety. He isÉ

  • An Everlasting Surety.
  • A Voluntary Surety.
  • An Accepted Surety.
  • A Trusted Surety.

 

God the Father trusted his Son as our Surety (Eph. 1:12). — I trust this great Surety. — Will you trust this Surety?

 

  • A Faithful Surety.
  • A Successful Surety!

 

The Son of God, our all glorious Redeemer is great in salvation as the Son, as the Surety, and thirdly asÉ

 

3.    THE SERVANT.

 

In order to save us, as our great covenant Surety, the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ became JehovahÕs Servant; and as JehovahÕs righteous Servant his glory is great in salvation.

           

Isaiah 42:1-4 ÒBehold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment (RIGHTEOUSNESS) to the Gentiles. (2) He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. (3) A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. (4) He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.Ó

 

ChristÕs glory is great in salvation as the Son of God, as the Surety of the covenant, as the Servant of Jehovah, and fourthly asÉ

 

4.    THE SUBSTITUTE.

 

The greatness of ChristÕs glory as our Substitute is seen in the objects of his love, the purpose of his death, and the efficacy of his atonement. Will you allow me to refer you once more to that glorious text of Scripture (2 Cor. 5:17-21) describing the great glory of Christ in salvation as our Substitute?

 

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 ÒTherefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in ChristÕs stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him

 

ChristÕs glory is great in salvation as our Substitute, and fifthly asÉ

 

5.    THE SOVEREIGN.

 

The psalmist declares, ÒHonor and majesty hast thou laid upon him.Ó

 

Psalms 45:2 ÒThou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.Ó

 

Hebrews 1:1-3 ÒGod, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;Ó

 

Hebrews 1:8 ÒBut unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.Ó

 

Having accomplished our atonement by his blood, having obtained eternal redemption for us, the Lord Jesus Christ has been exalted to the place of highest dominion as our Mediator and King. The God-man has been made the sovereign Ruler of all the universe for the salvation of his people.

 

John 17:2 ÒAs thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.Ó

 

That Man who died at Calvary now sits upon the throne of God in heaven as Joseph sat on the throne in Egypt with Pharaoh. The throne of Christ isÉ

á      A Sovereign Throne.

á      A Universal Throne. — Christ is Lord and King over all angels. — Christ is Lord and King in Zion, the Head of his Church. — Christ is Lord and King everywhere, the Head over all things for his Church.

á      A Throne Of Grace!

 

The glory of Christ is great in salvation as the Son, as the Surety, as the Servant, as the Substitute, as the Sovereign, and sixthly asÉ

 

6.    THE SAVIOR.

 

How can these weak, sinful, stammering lips begin describe the great glory of Christ in salvation as our Savior? His name is JESUS because he is our Savior.

 

Matthew 1:21 ÒAnd she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.Ó

 

He shall indeed save all his people from all their sinsÉ

á      By Redemption.

á      By Regeneration.

á      By Resurrection.

 

The greatness of his glory as our Savior only eternity will declare. Let me just scatter a few diamonds you can easily gather up, take to the bank of faith, and draw upon forever.

 

The glory of Christ as the Savior of sinners is to be seen in the people he saves.

 

Our SaviorÕs greatness and glory is displayed in the obstacles he has overcome by his grace and power to save us.

á      GodÕs Justice

á      SatanÕs Power

á      Our Wills

 

Our Master shows his greatness and glory in the means by which he saves his people.

á      The Preaching of The Cross

á      The Allurement of Love

 

The greatness of ChristÕs glory in salvation is to be seen in the number of those whom he saves as well.

 

The great glory of Christ as our Savior is distinctly seen in the fact that those who are saved by him are attached to him forever. – He enshrines himself in the hearts of saved sinners forever, with ever increasing devotion.

 

I have tried, in my very limited, feeble, sinful way to speak to you about that which no human tongue is worthy to mention, least of all mine; but it is my highest honor to do so. I hope the message has been blessed of God to your souls, and that every one of you now see and rejoice in the greatness and glory of Christ in salvation as

á      The Son,

á      The Surety,

á      The Servant,

á      The Substitute,

á      The Sovereign,

á      And The Savior.

And I pray that you who have known him long and know him well, and that you who have never before known my Lord will all leave here worshipping, rejoicing in, trusting, and praising the Lord Jesus Christ for the greatness of his glory in salvation asÉ

 

7.    THE SATISFIER.

 

Turn back to Psalm 21 again. Look at verse six. Here the sweet singer of Israel speaks by the Spirit of prophecy about the great and glorious reward of ChristÕs work as our Redeemer and Substitute, our Surety and Savior, as JehovahÕs righteous Servant.

 

Psalms 21:6 ÒFor thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.Ó

 

The first line of this verse could properly be translatedÉ

á      ÒThou hast made him most blessed forever,Ó or

á      ÒThou hast made him a blessing forever,Ó or

á      ÒThou hast made him blessedness forever

Either way, it is describing the glorious blessedness of Christ as our Savior. He is the most blessed forever! He is a blessing forever! And he is blessedness forever! Our all-glorious Lord Jesus Christ is all the blessedness of all his people forever! He is our satisfaction now; and he shall be our satisfaction forever.

 

In his fullness is the sum and substance of all blessedness. Listen to the SpiritÕs testimony. — ÒIn him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; and ye are complete in him I have chosen my words deliberately. Hear what I am telling you. The Lord Jesus Christ has undertaken to do, sworn himself to do, and most assuredly shall do all that grace can do for all his people forever! — Christ himself will be our blessedness and glory forever. I love the way Robert Hawker put itÉ

 

ÒIt is not enough in our contemplation of his blessedness to say, that all gifts and graces; our happiness, our holiness, will be given to us by him, to constitute our felicity in heaven; but it is HE HIMSELF, which is, and will be, our heaven, our home, our everlasting portion. The most capacious faculties ripened in glory will be filled from him, in the ocean of his fulness; yea, he saith himself, ÔHe that overcometh shall inherit all thingsÕ (Rev. 21:7); and in him, as our inheritance, we truly possess all things!Ó

 

Now, look at the last line of verse six. ÒThou hast made him exceedingly glad with thy countenance Our all-glorious Christ is forever, exceedingly glad!

á      In The Presence Of The Triune God.

á      Because Of The Pleasure Of The Triune God In Him.

á      With The People Of The Triune God Whom He Has Saved By His Almighty Power And Grace Through The Merits Of His Blood And Righteousness.

 

Application: I have not even begun to scratch the surface of this magnificent theme. The greatness of ChristÕs glory in salvation is a subject to big for time and mortality. — ÒHis glory is great in thy salvation!Ó I send you home to meditate upon, worship, adore, and serve this great God, our great and glorious Savior.

á      He is glorious in himself. Honor and majesty are laid upon him!

á      His blessedness to his people is immense beyond thought. He is most blessed forever!

á      See that this all glorious Christ is your salvation, your glory, your portion, and your blessedness.

 

Look for these things nowhere else. They are nowhere else to be found. Let me find nothing satisfying until I find Christ in it. This I know – Nothing can be dissatisfying, no matter how unpleasant and painful it is in itself, if I can see Christ in it. — A conscious awareness of his presence sweetens every natural, earthly bitterness. — The love-tokens of his favor heightens every joy. — The sweet savor of his blessed name is as ointment poured forth, a spikenard very precious, to perfume the lives of all who trust him. — May God be pleased to make Christ all blessedness to you and to me forever.—ÓHis glory is great in thy salvation!Ó

 

AMEN.

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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