To God to be the Glory
Beloved,
We will be singing the great hymn of the faith, To God Be Glory, tomorrow. It would do our hearts good to reflect on these lyrics in preparation for our corporate gathering.
1. To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that all may go in.
This verse highlights that all glory goes to God. When you read the New Testament letters, all of the writers give God all the glory for what he does for his people. The word for glory in the New Testament occasionally refers to human honor, but predominantly is a reference to the weightiness or the worthiness of God. Ultimately, God’s glory is revealed in the salvation that he offers the world in the giving his Son. As we sing, we can join thousands of other believers, who have sung this song to God’s glory.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus also gave his life as an atonement for sin. In his mercy, he did not make us pay for our sin, but took it upon himself through his death. It is through this atoning sacrifice that he makes amends for us with God and allows the lifegate to be opened for all who believe.
Psalm 78:38, “Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory, great things he hath done!
This is why we can sing, “Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord.” He is most definitely praiseworthy for this great gospel. So we sing not only to his praise, but to those who are with us. We plead with them through song to come to the Father thru Jesus the Son. We are singing a gospel call to sinners. We should give him glory for the great things he hath done. Teach your children the great things he hath done so they can join in the gospel call.
2. O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
to every believer the promise of God;
the vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
The redemption of God is a perfect redemption. The perfect Son of God spilled his perfect blood to purchase his church (Acts 20:28). We are part of the redeemed because we were bought with a price, the price of the blood of the Savior, Jesus Christ. So every believer from every generation receives the promise of redemption through faith. “Therefore since we have been justified by his blood, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him, we have access by faith into the grace in which we stand” (Rom. 5:1-2).
We are not saved because of our good works, but through the blood of Christ. The vilest offender who TRULY BELIEVES will receive pardon from their sin through Christ. What a great promise!!! Your vilest and most evil sin is not able to separate you from God through the blood of Christ.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-9)
3. Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,
and great our rejoicing thru Jesus the Son;
but purer, and higher, and greater will be
our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.
Oh what joy does the gospel bring!!! There should be great rejoicing to God thru Jesus. But our current joy is only a glimpse of the joy we will have when we see Jesus face to face.
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 1 Cor. 2:9
So before worship tomorrow, take 15 minutes and meditate on the lyrics. Listen to the link below and rejoice in the salvation we have in Christ. Teach the song to your children. God has sovereignly revealed Himself to us which should cause our hearts to sing to His glory.