Holiness

“Holiness”

Text: Hebrew 12:5-15

Intro:

Notice verse 14.

The word of God says very clearly that without holiness a man cannot see God.

Based on the word of God, I believe the reason that many Christians have not seen God is because they lack holiness,

When I say have not seen God, I am not talking about what Oral Roberts claim to have seen a 50 foot Jesus.

I am taking about have not seen God working in their lives, have not felt the hand of God on them for a long time.

I have not experienced that close relationship and walk with God.

This morning I want to speak about Holiness and being holy according to the word of God.

I. Defintions

Holy – Adjective

Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense.

Hence, pure in heart, temper or disposition; free from sin and sinful affections.

Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions.

Also means – Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service of worship of God.

The word “holy” appears 544 times in the word of God.

Holy is important to God.

Holiness – Noun

The state of being holy; purity or integrity of moral character; freedom from sin; sanctity.

Applied to the Supreme Being, holiness denotes perfect purity or integrity of moral character, one of his essential attributes.

Applied to human beings, holiness is purity of heart or dispositions; sanctified affections; piety; moral goodness, but not perfect.

The word “holiness: appears 43 times in the word of God.

Holiness is important to God.

II. In Relation to God

Everything connected with the Lord God is “holy”

Leviticus 20:3 says the LORD’ name is holy.

1 Samuel 2:2 – “There is none holy as the LORD”

Psalm 145:17 – “The LORD…holy in all his works.”

Psalm 98:1 says the LORD’ arm is holy.

Deuteronomy 26:15 say the place where God lives is called the holy habitation.

Psalm 105:42 calls the promise that God made to Abraham “his holy promise”

Psalm 87:1 says that God’s foundation “is in the holy mountain”

The scriptures tell us that when both Moses and Joshua came in the presence of God they both told to take off their shoes because the ground they were standing on was “holy ground”

The city of Jerusalem were God’s temple was built by Solomon was called “the holy city”

The land were God’s people the Jews reside in is called in Zechariah 2:12, “the holy land”.

According to Romans 7:12 says that both God’s law and commandment are “holy.”

In Eph. 3:5, God’s apostles are called “holy apostles”

Everything in relationship to worship to God under the Old Testament was considered “holy”

The Levitical Priesthood was called a “holy priesthood”

The two main compartments of the Tabernacle were called “the holy place” and “the holy of holies”

The priest garments were called “holy”

The offerings were called “holy”

The vessels were called “holy”

The oil used was called “holy”

The Feast days were called “holy”

God’s Word is called “the holy scriptures in Romans 1:2 & 2 Timothy 3:15.

Also we referred to it as the “Holy Bible”

Who did God have write the scriptures?

Just anybody?

2 Pe. 1:21, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

God used holy men to write down His words.

God used holy men to translate his inspired, inerrant, preserved words into the English AV 1611 King James Bible.

The Trinity –

We have seen where God, the Father is “holy”

God’s Spirit is many times called “the Holy Spirit” in the Bible.

The devil in Luke 4:34 calls Jesus, “the Holy One of God.”

In Acts 4:27, the Apostle Peter and John referred to Jesus as “holy child Jesus”

Holiness

Psalm 47:8, “…God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness”

Psalm 108:7 says God speaks in his “holiness”

Psalm 97:12 instructs God’s people to give thanks at the remembrance of God’s “holiness”

Isaiah reminds us in Isa. 35:8 that during the Millennium the Lord is going to have a highway called “The way of holiness”.

Amos 4:2 tells us that the Lord God “hath sworn by his holiness”

III. Old Testament versus New Testament

O.T. – The Prophet Isaiah’s vision – “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isa. 6:1-3