To God Be the Glory

Paul concludes his magnificent epistle to the Romans by ascribing glory to God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism tells us that the chief end of man is “to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” This Paul is completely willing to do (see Rom. 11:36). It is his desire above all else that God be exalted.

Fanny J. Crosby’s great hymn begins, “To God be the glory, great things He has done!” Indeed, He has done great things, especially in redeeming a people for Himself. Paul summarized these things in the passage we studied yesterday, but there is a sense in which the entire book of Romans, being an exposition of the Gospel, is a summary of God’s redemptive works. Paul has showed us that God has revealed Himself in His creation, but man has rejected knowledge of Him and so has come under His just wrath, both Jews and Gentiles (Rom. 1–3). But God has provided a righteousness apart from obedience to the law, the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which we acquire by faith (Rom. 3:21–22). This process enables God to maintain His justice and still receive justified sinners (Rom. 3:26); all who have ever been saved have been saved in this way (Rom. 4). Christ died in place of His people, providing eternal life and making it possible for His people to live for God (Rom. 5–6). In a sense, He bought His people out of slavery to sin and made them slaves of God (Rom. 6). The struggle with our sinful natures continues (Rom. 7), but those who trust in Christ need never fear condemnation (Rom. 8:1). Nothing will separate them from God’s love in Christ (Rom. 8:31–39). That might seem questionable given the reaction of the Jews to the Gospel, but God is actually working out His perfect will so as to save all of His elect people (Rom. 9–11). Given these great truths, God’s people ought to live in certain ways (Rom. 12–15).

As one privileged to have received the revelation of the mystery of God’s redemptive plan, Paul stands amazed by it. Only God’s complete wisdom could accomplish all this, he declares. Therefore, He is worthy of all glory and honor. And just as God’s great works of redemption have been done through Christ, the glory that flows back to God should go “through Christ.” Those redeemed by His blood and covered by His righteousness should sing the praises of God both now and forever.