Have you ever wondered why God is so good to us?
What are God’s reasons for His grace, mercy, and love to underserving sinners like me and you?
Does Scripture even answer this question?
Yes. Repeatedly.
Let’s start with God’s goodness in salvation. Why does God forgive our sins and save us from His wrath? Both the Old Testament and New Testament provide the same answer to this question.
“I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.”
1 John 2:12
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
Isaiah 43:25
“For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.”
Isaiah 48:9
“Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.”
Psalm 106:8
The psalmists understood this, and based their prayers for forgiveness on this truth:
“For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.”
Psalm 25:1
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!
Psalm 79:9
This begs the question, what is the meaning of the phrase “for your name’s sake” (or “for his name’s sake” or “for my name’s sake”)?
It simply means “for the sake of God’s glory.” In Psalm 79:9 above, note how “for the glory of your name” parallels “for your name’s sake.”
The glory of God is the reason God does everything. He saves us and forgives us because He is glorified through these breathtaking demonstrations of love, grace, and mercy. We get the benefits of forgiveness so that He gets the praise and honor. This places the ultimate purpose of salvation on God, not us. From start to finish, salvation is the work of God. We are merely the unworthy recipients of this incredible gift.
Paul points this out in Ephesians 1. Why did God adopt us into His family? For “the praise of his glorious grace” (v. 6). Why did God grant us an eternal inheritance? Again, “for the praise of his glory” (v. 12, 14).
“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8).
When does the clay ever get the credit for the work of the potter?
God does everything so that He gets the glory. May we align our lives with that great truth.
He created us for His glory (see Isaiah 43:7), and He saved us for His glory.
“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory” (Psalm 115:1). May this be our prayer today and forever.
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