Everything God has done, is doing, and will do is for his own glory. Out of this comes man’s chief purpose, which is to glorify God and enjoy him forever (Psalm 86; Isa 60:21; 1 Cor 6:20; Rev 4:11).
Regarding God’s glory in the work of justification and the salvation of sinners, SBTS professor Dr. Tom Schreiner writes in his commentary on Romans:
Why does God declare sinners who place their trust in Jesus to be righteous? For the glory of his name (cf. 1 Sam 12:22), for in the cross of Christ both the saving and judging righteousness of God are manifested. (69)
Schreiner points to 1 Sam 12:22 which reads, “For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.”
The Bible tells us that God will keep his people until the end for sake of his name. Yahweh’s chief concern is the manifestation of his own glory. God’s glory is manifested in both the judgment of Christ on the cross for the sins of God’s sheep (John 10:15) and the saving and declaring righteous of sinful men.
Schreiner continues:
A similar parallel is found in Ps. 31 (30 LXX). The psalmist prays, “In your righteousness (εν τη δικαιοσυνη σου) rescue me” (31:1 [30:2 LXX]). But in 31:3 (30:4 LXX) he says, “For your name’s sake (ενεκεν του ονοματος σου) you will guide me.” God’s saving righteousness is a sure foundation for prayer because this in turn is based on the name of God. (70)
We should appeal to God’s saving righteousness in our petitions just as the psalmist prayed. What blessed assurance we have in God when we know that his promises to us, his people, are rooted in the love of himself and the manifestation of his goodness and glory.
I know the Lord will not forsake me nor will he fail to give me all things, because he has chosen to glorify himself, in me, through the redemption bought by Christ.
