The Glory of God and How We Fall Short of It
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3: 23.
This passage from Romans tells us that because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, humanity is justified freely by grace through the redemption in Christ’s blood. But I want to focus on the idea that sin causes us to fall short of God’s glory. To read the passage for context, click here.
Sinned Against People Sin Against People
We’ve all heard the phrase that sinned against people sin against people. And, according to this verse, to the degree we sin, to that degree we fall short of God’s glory. So, the more we’ve been sinned against, the more we’re likely to fall short of God’s glory. And the less we’ve been sinned against, the less we’re likely to.
When we sin against someone, we make it more difficult for them to glorify God because there is a good possibility we’ll make them sin. And sinners don’t glorify God. Unless, of course, they repent and are forgiven.
1 Corinthians 1: 27, 28 tells us, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are”.
In a word, He has chosen sinners to confound the wise and glorify Him. Or you could say, He has chosen those most sinned against to glorify Him. Sinners dishonor Him, rather than make Him look good, while in their in. But these are the one’s he’s chosen to repent and be forgiven.
The Connection Between the Glory of God and Sinners
It is our sin that causes us to fall short of God’s glory. But God has chosen the greatest sinners to for the job. Not in their sin, but by transforming them from foolish to wise, weak to strong and base to noble. God has chosen those who lift Him up the least the least to lift Him up the most.
Those who’ve been sinned against the most have the greatest opportunity to glorify God. But to do that, they must break the cycle of sin set in motion by those who sinned against them. They don’t do this in their own strength, but by the Spirit of God.
But how, exactly, does sin cause us to fall short of God’s glory? God’s nature is love (1 John 4: 8). And he wants to express that nature by pouring out blessing and favor on us. But if we’re walking in sin, he can’t do that. In fact, He must discipline us instead.
If we sow to the flesh and don’t repent in short order, we must reap destruction (Galatians 6: 8). And this doesn’t glorify God. In fact, it makes Him look bad. Especially if we’re a Christian. We if we walk in faith, love and obedience, He can pour out his goodness on us. And this makes Him look good. Or you could say it glorifies Him.
So, the best way to do that is to walk in faith, love and obedience. So, there are no barrier or hindrances keeping us from experiencing His goodness and favor.
The Glory of God is Revealed When We Bear Fruit
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” John 15: 8. Fruit symbolizes love (Galatians 5: 22). Walking in love glorifies God because we put ourselves in a position to be blessed and experience abundant, promise land living.
This is why the mature, those who are perfect and complete, lacking in nothing, glorify Him. If sinners fall short of it, then the mature (those who walk in love) live up to it.
Another way bearing fruit or walking in love makes God look good is that if we’re walking in love, we’ll be a blessing to those around us. And God uses people to bless people.
Not to beat a dead horse, but if sin causes us to fall short of God’s glory, then the absence of sin, or walking in love or maturity causes us to glorify Him. That’s because those who walk in love or are mature can experience God’s blessings. That is, have an abundant life and inherit their promise land.
It Makes God Look Good to Reveal His Nature
This allows God to express and reveal His nature. And since His nature is love, this lifts Him up. God will also be able to use us to the greatest degree to help others when we’re free of sin. When we bless others, God will bless us, and we’ll glorify Him.
His nature of love will be revealed both in our acts of kindness towards others and His acts of kindness towards us. When we sin, our behavior towards others doesn’t reveal God’s love, or make Him look good. Consequently, His behavior toward us doesn’t reveal His love or make Him look good.
But here’s an important caveat. God is love and EVERYTHING He does is an expression of that love. And I would even say that is especially true of discipline.
So, when I say His behavior doesn’t reveal His love when we sin, I mean in obvious ways that most people associate with love and blessings. It IS absolutely an expression of love; it just doesn’t look like it to other people.
To read another post related to The Glory of God and How We Fall Short of It, see How the Fear of the Lord Turns Temptation into Treasure.