1 Corinthians 6:20 For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. The heavens declare the glory of God. Hosts of angelic and glorified spirits give "glory, honour, and thanksgiving unto him." "All nations whom he hath made shall come and glorify his Name." "And shall man alone be dumb Till this glorious kingdom come? No! the Church delights to raise Psalms and hymns and songs of praise." I. ON WHAT GROUNDS SHOULD CHRISTIANS GLORIFY GOD? This is a reasonable service, a reasonable requirement. 1. God has a natural right over us, i.e. by his creative power and providential care. "Man's chief end," says a famous Catechism, "is to glorify God." 2. Redemption is the great reason adduced why Christians should glorify God. This is the doctrine of the context. The claim of purchase is added to the claim of creation. II. FROM WHAT MOTIVES SHOULD CHRISTIANS GLORIFY GOD? 1. From a remembrance of the danger and ruin consequent upon any other end in life. Exemplified in Scripture history, as in the instance of Belshazzar, to whom it was said, "The God, etc., hast thou not glorified," and in the instance of Herod, who "gave not God the glory." 2. From a grateful acknowledgment of the love and grace to which they are indebted for their redemption. The ransom and redemption do indeed avail for all men; but multitudes are insensible to the loving kindness of the Lord. They who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good are prompted by their experience to yield themselves to the service of their Saviour. 3. From a desire to secure their own highest happiness. They have learned how every other principle of life fails to yield a deep and lasting satisfaction; and now they are learning, by happy experience, how truly blessed is the life which is unto the Lord of love and glory. This is exemplified in the history of this very Apostle Paul. 4. From a delight in the Divine commands. It is an invitation, but it is also a behest: "Glorify God." And nothing is so congenial to the Christian as what is enjoined upon him by his Lord's authority. III. IS WHAT MANNER MAY CHRISTIANS GLORIFY GOD? 1. By praise, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." "Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Public, cordial, unceasing praises should ascend from every company of the redeemed. 2. By obedience and service; and that not only of spirit, as is presumed, but of body, as is here expressed. The occasion of this chapter, the prevalence of sensual sin, seems to give an especially appositeness and force to this admonition, "Glorify God in your body." That which had been the instrument of unrighteousness and uncleanness, becomes, through the redemption of Christ, the instrument of obedience and holiness. - T. Parallel Verses KJV: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. |
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