When Isaiah beheld the glory of the Holy Triune God in the Temple, he confessed that he was lost because he was sinful and unclean. If even the holy angels cover their faces in the presence of “the King, the Lord of hosts,” then how could Isaiah stand before Him? (Is. 6:1–5).
The glory of the Lord, however, was manifested precisely in His forgiving of Isaiah’s sins. He touched Isaiah’s mouth with a burning coal from the altar of incense, and sanctified his lips for the proclamation of His Word (Is. 6:6–9).
Similarly, when Simon Peter witnessed the glory of God in the miraculous catch of fish, he was brought to his knees and confessed, “I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). Yet, the Lord Jesus did not depart from him, but calmed his fear and raised him up with His gracious forgiveness (Luke 5:10).
With this same forgiveness and love, Christ gathers people from every nation into His Church and pours out His Spirit upon them, first with the gift of saving faith and then all other spiritual gifts. The gifts of that same Spirit are manifested in the speaking and hearing of the Gospel for the building up of the Church (1 Cor. 14:12).