The Holiness of God

God is a Holy God!

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool; Holy is He. (Psalm 99:5)

What does it mean?

The holiness of God conveys His separateness, His uniqueness, His distinction as the Wholly Other, the One who can not be confused with the gods devised by men, the one who stands apart from and above the creation (ISBE).

“Who is like Thee among the gods, O Lord? Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11)

Holiness conveys also His moral perfection, the ethical spotlessness of His character

‘For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. (Leviticus 11:44)

Implications of God’s holiness for all mankind

God’s holiness should cause us to approach Him with reverence and unworthiness!

Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)

And one called out to another and said,“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:3)

The whole structure of Israelite society was framed by God with emphasis upon His holiness and the imperfection of man to approach Him.

What God has provided is a way for sinful men to approach Him in His holiness.

“Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Yet even so, the principle of God’s holiness and man’s unworthiness remains in the NT affirmation that we are saved by grace (unmerited favor) and in the recognition that when we do all that we have been asked by God we should say “we are unworthy servants; we have only done what is our duty to do” (Lk. 17:10).

God’s moral perfection should cause us to live in distinctive purity.

Instruction in holiness by way of the truth “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.

(John 17:17)

Cleansing of moral imperfection by Jesus’ sacrifice

And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7)

We must seriously apply these principles in our lives!

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

“Be not conformed to the world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what is that good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God” (Rom. 12:2).