We began in April considering how the entire Bible is about Jesus. We began with creation, and last time wrote about eternity after Jesus’ Second Coming. Let’s pause this time to ask and answer the question, “WHY?”

Throughout this journey through the Bible, seeing Jesus at every turn, we have mentioned numerous times that God’s plan throughout it all is to create a people for Himself. But what is the point of the story and plan?

The point of the story and plan is to glorify God. There are two attributes of God that are most fully put on display because of this story and plan. These two attributes are: (1) God’s justice/wrath and (2) God’s love/mercy/grace. The end goal of all things is that God puts these two seemingly opposite attributes on display—for His eternal glory.

Romans 9:22-23 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory…

How is God’s justice and wrath displayed? God’s justice cannot be displayed unless there is an opportunity for someone or something to defy Him. God allows sin (defiance of Him) so that He can put His justice on display by judging sin and sinners.

How is God’s love/mercy/grace displayed? God’s grace is on display, first, merely by virtue of creation. He didn’t owe anyone life, but He gave us life anyway. That is grace. But to really showcase God’s grace, God graciously saves sinners who cannot do anything to save themselves.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

To put His grace on display, God forgives some of those who defy Him. And He does that through the death of His Son, who became a man so that He could live and die to save His people from their sins. Jesus took our sin and the penalty we deserve so that we can have His righteousness and the reward of righteousness that He alone deserves. God displays His grace not by saving good people, but by saving sinners. Some of those He graciously saves are the worst of sinners.

Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

The point of the whole story is God’s glory.

God will be glorified by His justice and wrath poured out on sinners who persist in their rebellion against Him—who finally and ultimately reject God’s only remedy for sin: Jesus Christ.
God will be glorified by His Love/Mercy/Grace poured out on sinners who are no less deserving of God’s wrath than any others, but those who God graciously chooses to save.

Every one of us will glorify God—either as an object of wrath or as an object of mercy.

What about you? Will you glorify Him as an object of His justice and wrath, or as an object of His kindness, love, and grace?