Question 6: How can we glorify God?
Answer: We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law.
As good Protestants, we know that we are not saved by our works. All the obedience we can render to God would never be enough to deliver us from his coming wrath because, at the end of it all, we remain in Adam, and therefore guilty before him, no matter how much we may try to obey. Our salvation is a gift of his grace, whereby the righteousness of Christ covers our sins and is given to us by faith alone.
Nevertheless, though we are not saved by our good works, we are saved unto good works. Obedience is the natural fruit of faith. If you trust your doctor, you will do what he says is good for your health. In the same way, it is impossible to trust God without demonstrating that trust by obedience to what he says. This is why Paul makes it clear that we have been redeemed by Christ from all lawlessness so that we might be a people who are zealous for good works (Tit. 2:11-14).
When we obey God, we glorify him by showing that our faith is not a sham. Our trust in his promises is not mere lip service. Faith-driven obedience demonstrates the reality that we truly believe God’s way is best for us, and thus a life of obedience brings glory to God.
Suggested passage for family or personal reading: Ephesians 2:1-10. What does this passage teach about our condition outside of Christ? What does it teach about how we are saved? What does it teach about God’s intention for our lives in Christ?