QUESTION 3: What is it to glorify God?
ANSWER: 1. Negatively, to glorify God, is not to give any additional glory to God: it is not to make God more glorious than He is; for God is incapable of receiving the least addition to His essential glory, He being eternally and infinitely perfect and glorious. “Your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). “Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not unto thee” (Ps. 16:2).
2. Affirmatively, to glorify God, is to manifest God’s glory: not only passively, as all creatures do, which have neither religion nor reason, but also actively, men glorify God, when the design of their life and actions is the glory and honor of God. “That ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you,” (1 Pet. 2:9).
(1.) When inwardly they have the highest estimation of Him, the greatest confidence in Him, and the strongest affections to Him, this is glorifying of God in spirit. “Glorify God in your spirit, which is God’s” (1 Cor. 6:20).
(2.) When outwardly they acknowledge God according to the revelations He has made of Himself, when with their lips they show forth God’s praise. “He that offereth praise, glorifieth me” (Ps. 50:23). When they sincerely endeavor, in their actions, the exalting of God’s name, the promotion of the interest of His kingdom in the world, and to yield that worship and obedience to Him which He has prescribed in His Word. “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Ps. 34:3). “Fear God, and give glory to Him; and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Rev. 14:7).
Thomas Vincent
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