The Holiness of God
Introduction:
How does a person preach on a topic such as the Holiness of God? I have been asking that question myself since I accepted this assignment. On several occasions as I have been reading and praying about this I have asked the question “the Holiness of God” I can’t preach on that, however in my study I have realized truthfully there is really no one able to preach on such a topic and do it justice. I know that I will fall so very short as I attempt this today.
Let me read you what other bible teachers and scholars have said about this topic.
Elmer Towns has said, “holiness may be one of the most difficult of the attributes to completely understand and define.” (Studies in Theology)
Tozer writes, “We cannot grasp the true meaning of divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible, and unattainable. The nature of man is blind to it. He may fear God’s power and admire His wisdom, but His holiness, he can never even imagine.” (Knowledge)
With these two men saying that Holiness is undefinable other have tried to define the holiness of God
Tony Evans in his book Our God is Awesome attempts to define the holiness of God. He writes “The holiness of God is His intrinsic and transcendent purity, the standard of righteousness to which the whole universe must conform.” He goes on to say “God does not conform to any standard created by others .He is the standard. Therefore, He demands that His creation conform to His standard
Thiessen in his introductory Lectures says this “The holiness of God means that he is absolutely separate from and exalted above all His creation and that He is equally separate from moral evil and sin.”
So with all that said we cannot completely understand God’s holiness however we must understand some about it. It is easy to understand His love; It is easy to understand that he is truth. However, nowhere is scripture is God called Love, Love, Love. Nowhere in scriptures is He called Eternal, Eternal, Eternal or Truth, Truth, Truth. But here are several places where His is called Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Host.
There are those who say that God is not love but I have never heard any one say God is not Holy. Roger Shinn writes in The Hand book of Christian Theology in an article titled The Holy, these words “To declare that God is love is to announce something revealed or discovered, something that has often been questioned or denied. But to deny God’s holiness is to deny the sacred nature that constitutes deity.”
With all that said lets look at some things that scriptures tells us about the Holiness of God.
I. His Holiness is incomparable.
We have not other standard because He is the standard.
Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
II. His Holiness can be seen in different areas of who He is.
A. His holiness can be seen in His Name.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Luke 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
B. His Words or Holy
Jeremiah 23:9 Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.
C. His Works are Holy
Psalms 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
III. As believers we are to imitate His Holiness.
1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Leviticus 11:44-45 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
IV. What is mortal man’s response to encountering the Holiness of God?
A. Adam: Adam after His sin Hid from God;
Genesis 3:7-10 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
B. Moses: Moses hid his face:
Exodus 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
C. Job: Even though He did not see the holiness of God, he learned something. Listen to what He said.
Job 40-3-5 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
D. Isaiah: Isaiah realizes his own sinfulness.
Isaiah 6:1-7
E. Ezekiel: Ezekiel fell on His face.
Ezekiel 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
F. The Apostles on the Mount of Transfiguration feel on their face because they were afraid.
Matthew 17:5-6 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
G. John: In the Revelation:
Revelation 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
H. The twenty-four Elders in Revelation
Revelation 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Revelation 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Revelation 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God.
What is our response the Holiness of God? Sometimes we think a lot more of ourselves then we ought to. T he more I learn about His Holiness the more unworthy I know I am. I can’t understand why He gives me a moment in time but He gave me His Son. When I try to catch or see a glimpse of His Holiness all I want to do is get down on m bury my face in the dirt because I am so unworthy. I wonder why He cares at all. Can I tell you something, the more you learn about His holiness that is what you will want to do also.
