Doxology- Part 2

In my previous blog, I asked the question why God is worthy of Doxa? I answered because of His holiness and power in creation. Doxa means “glory, splendour, & grandeur,” and God is the most glorious thing in the universe. Therefore, God deserves all of our glory; that is why we have doxologies. They are words that give God glory. We cannot fully phrase how glorious and full of splendour and grandeur God is, but it would be sinful not to do it at all. So, let’s take a further look into doxologies in the Bible today and ask ourselves the question once again why God is worthy of doxa?

Because of His Mercies and Grace in the Salvation of Sinners- The Gospel!

But God is also worthy of our praise because he is the only one who has expressed to us real mercy and eternal grace in the power of the Gospel to save. Paul says in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel; it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe; the Jew first and the Gentiles.” What is it that has the power to save? A pastor’s repeated words during an altar call? Good works? Good manners? Holy communion? Tithes and offerings? Busyness in the Church? No. none of these can save or bring glorious praise to God than the Gospel. Praise God for the Gospel’s power to change viper hearts, full of the venom of sin into saints.

Our theme verse is in the context of this truth- Christ did not come to give you wealth, make you rich and prosperous in things that he must destroy. It was not to provide you with a job or a wife or a beautiful life after retirement. He didn’t come to make sure you never go to the hospital or get cancer and other strange, chronic diseases; he didn’t come to make you a better you or to give you five steps of becoming a highly impactful youth! You don’t need some steps or worldly attractions to stand before the Holy God. You need a miracle called Salvation. Christ came to save sinners of whom you are chief!

Paul thanks Jesus because he has given him the strength to be a servant. He couldn’t have served this majestic being unless he were allowed. Jesus said that no one could come to the Father unless the Son draws him. You don’t choose to serve the Lord. He will enable you to do that on the foundation of the greatest miracles of all- salvation.

Paul understands that he was a wicked man but for grace. Grace overflowed for him on that Damascus road from Christ himself- his life was transformed completely. Is that true for you? Have you been to the street called mercy yet?

Paul affirms the truth- the only truth that defines the Gospel and makes all other preaching and talks as empty; that Christ came to save sinners. Not to give you a good life or clap for you because you came to church early for a whole year. He came to save sinners. If Christ could change a soul like Saul and make him Paul, then anyone today can come to the same Christ, and their lives transform completely. Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he can save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Romans 11:32-36 ESV

For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. (33) Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (34) “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?” (35) “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” (36) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Why did God have to this? Why did he have to come through for the sinners’ Salvation? Because there was no way, you and I could ever have approached God in our sin and failure and wickedness. Our designated end is wrath and fire unless the work of the Gospel is accomplished in our hearts. Do you know for sure, here today, that you are born again? What are you depending and banking on as your assurance for Salvation? Is it some walk you took down the aisle years ago or some words you repeated after a preacher man? Is that all your defence should you stand before the Holy one in a split second called death; is that all you have to plead your case into heaven? Then you’re in for a rude shock. If it is not because you know for sure that there is transformation by the work of Christ in your heart, then you are singing, ushering, giving, dancing your way into destruction. Have you indeed found Christ? Does your life show it?

1 John 1:6-7 ESV

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 Peter 1:18-21 ESV

knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (20) He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you (21) who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Have you come to know these mercies yet? Yet he is God of all ages. But is he God over you today? What’s your way out?

Romans 3:21-28 ESV But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— (22) the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness because, in his divine forbearance, he had passed over former sins. (26) It was to show his righteousness at present so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (27) Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. (28) For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” And again, it says;

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 ESV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (18) All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (20) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (21) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Do you see it? It is only by Christ alone that even this praise is received as worthy before the Lord! May the Lord open your eyes to these truths and draw you to himself by his chosen Son. Praise God for the gift and the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ- to whom be all glory forever. Amen.

Because of His Ability to keep safely those he saves.

When Salvation happens as is shown in Scripture alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone, then all glory goes to God alone who sits on the throne. This is the confidence; that since now I have been saved in that way alone, then the one who has done the saving also bears the weight of responsibility to keep me in this new place he has brought me. Should you fear if anchor your access to heaven’s joys on other things as Church involvement, offerings and tithes, participation and all? Yes, you must fear. For unless you depend on Christ alone, your works, your cash, your time and piety must altogether fail, and you in them as well. All other ground is sinking sand. That’s why we praise God for his Son’s work. He bore what we couldn’t bear, became what we could never become, did what we couldn’t have done, lived a life we could never have lived, died a death we could never have died so that he may walk the life we never can walk- the Christian life. Paul on account of such truth says;

Romans 16:25-27 ESV – A Doxology

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages (26) but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— (27) to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV- A Doxology

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, (21) equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Jude 1:24-25 ESV – A Doxology

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, (25) to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Today, if you will see the majesty of this God and come to Him alone for Salvation, he will reassure you that he will keep you safe to the end of the road; to the trumpet sound, amidst tribulation and finally to his Father’s side, pure, undefiled and glorious! Praise be to God for His Son Jesus Christ. He can keep us to the end! You need not fear backsliding or letting him down. You need only trust in him fully. He has promised by his own tongue;

John 10:27-30 ESV

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (28) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. (30) The Father and I are one.”

Because of His Sovereignty

1 Chronicles 29:10-13 ESV Therefore, David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our Father, forever and ever. (11) Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. (12) Both riches and honour come from you, and you rule overall. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand, it is to make great and to give strength to all. (13) And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

Romans 8:28-30 ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (29) For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (30) And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

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