Does Sin glorify God?

[Reformationist]

"One reason God 'has endured with much patience' the Devil's work on earth is that it ultimately contibutes to the divine glory. In God's hand, Satan is a scouring pad to polish the 'vessels of mercy' and help make them beautiful. But the Devil is also a bucket of filth that fills up the 'vessels of wrath' like chamber pots ( a crude image, but it is the Apostle's own-that is the implication of the words translated 'menial use' in vs 21).

The vessels of mercy show God's grace and His holiness. The vessels of wrath show His justice and His hatred of evil. Both types show His power: on the one hand, to save; on the other, to destroy. And both show His patience: the former because He endured so much to save them; the latter, because He put up with them so long despite their hostility toward Him. In this era between the two advents of Christ, the Devil, however unwillingly, has become God's instrument."

The Rapture Trap - Paul Thigpen

I agree with everything you've said here except for the implication made by the last statement, "In this era between the two advents of Christ, the Devil, however unwillingly, has become God's instrument." This seems to imply that there was at some point in the history of man, at least prior to the first incarnation, a point during which the devil was not the instument of God. The devil has not become God's instrument. He has always been, and will continue to be, at least until his final destruction, the instrument of God.

God bless

 

[Benedicta00]

Don,

What I think is being said is that Satan wanted to be free to reek havoc on God's people with out being on a leash and before Christ came, according to him [satan] he wasn't on a leash because there was no redemption at that point.

He wanted to be God himself and even though he knew he couldn’t he none the less, was less than willing to be a instrument in God’s hands but what choice does he have? None, Christ put an end to his "glory" and he knew it/knows it because he is and always was and until the final judgement when he will be destroyed, he will always be God's instrument.

 

[Reformationist]

What I think is being said is that Satan wanted to be free to reek havoc on God's people with out being on a leash and before Christ came, according to him [satan] he wasn't on a leash because there was no redemption at that point.

Well, satan may have thought he wasn't "on a leash" but that is irrelevent to what the reality was.

He has been, and always will be, on a leash.

God bless

 

[Carrye]

It seems like we've gotten away from the original question - does sin glorify God? Sin does not glorify God. God created us perfect, without sin, and that was the way He intended for us to stay. But we, with our free-will, had other plans.

Sin takes us away from God, it does not glorify Him. It also creates very real, negative consequences for the world - these consequences do not glorify God.

The question that seems to have come up is "CAN God use sin to glorify Him?" This is a different question entirely, and is not just a question of semantics.

CAN God use sin to glorify Himself - this implies the situation we are in now, after the Fall. God does use our circumstances to draw people closer to Himself.

I hope you are able to see the difference between 'can' and 'does', as it is significant.

 

[Benedicta00]

No, sin itself for it's own sake DOES not glorify him, it offends him.

 

[tynian]

No, sin itself for it's own sake DOES not glorify him, it offends him.

But he can use sin to show us he is our God an Father.