GOD IS HOLY, BE HOLY
1 PETER 1:15-16
It’s one thing to desire to meet the most important, richest, most powerful, or most intelligent person, but will that person have the same desire? Yet God, who is greater than the greatest person, desires to encounter us! What matters most to God is for us to KNOW Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24). Peter prays that believers all grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). J.I. Packer wrote, “What were we made for? To know God. What is the best thing in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? To know God.” Eternal life is knowing God through Jesus Christ (John 17:3). To know God is for our own benefit; to experience eternal life and real peace, fullness of joy and pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11).
Isaiah describes his vision of God on His throne (Isaiah 6:3). He witnessed “living creatures” declare God as “HOLY HOLY HOLY” – a superlative form of holiness. The same living creatures declare “HOLY HOLY HOLY is the Lord God” in Revelation 4:8, but we seldom talk about the holiness of God!
PERFECT IN CHARACTER
“Holy” (Heb. Qadosh, Gk. Hagios) means “set apart” – morally perfect, pure, and completely unique from creation. God is utterly set apart and morally perfect. It is the very excellency of the Divine nature: the great God is ‘glorious in holiness’ (Exodus 15:11). God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Why is this important to know? When something bad happens to us, Satan’s attack is to sow doubt in the very character of God. God is separate from evil, and He is “majestic in holiness” (Habakkuk 1:13, Exodus 15:11). When tempted to doubt the character of God, we must embrace His holiness – He is absolutely pure, and absolutely perfect. When Satan first tempted humans, he contradicted the word of God and cast doubt on God’s love and holiness (Genesis 3:1-5). God is perfect in His character, and absolutely HOLY! May we not fall into the trap of the enemy!
ULTIMATE STANDARD
God’s holiness is the ultimate standard! The moment someone gets absolute power, it corrupts the holder. God is different. Everything about God is based on His main attribute of holiness. “God is not subject to a higher law: He Himself is the law. His nature is the standard of all moral excellence…” – R.C Sproul. God does not need somebody to teach Him what holiness is– He is the standard! “Right is right because God says it, and God says it because He is holy. Holy is the way God is. To be holy he does not conform to a standard. He is that standard…” – A.W. Tozer. Why is it wrong to steal, commit adultery, be in a same-sex relationship? Because God defined the standards!
In God’s preamble to the Ten Commandments, He tells the Israelites about His love for them, saving them out of slavery, and now gives them a standard for living (Exodus 20). The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God; the next six on our relationships with others. Nations around the globe base their laws on these commandments. The Law (commandments) is holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12). It’s not to constrict us or make us unhappy. Holiness is becoming all that God wants us to be and lets us be free and enjoy life. Happiness will not exist without holiness. Trust the holiness of God!
REQUIRES US TO BE HOLY
All of God’s commandments (law, testimony, precepts, etc.) is perfect, sure, right, and pure (Psalm 19:7-11). God is the standard – His Word, the Bible, contains these standards. It’s not meant to restrict us but protect us. All sin gives us only temporal pleasure; eventually, it will kill us. As God’s children, we must “be holy” ourselves in all our behavior; to be consistently holy in private, public, in business or family (1 Peter 1:14-16). We are set apart by God, for God! As Chuck Colson said, “Holiness is the everyday business of every Christian. It evidences itself in the decisions we make and the things we do, hour by hour, day by day.” Some people think holiness is boring and views it negatively, but holiness is deeper than not doing things. It is also about what you do; it brings joy and liberation.
When Isaiah saw the Lord, he was brought into deep humility of seeing his own sin (Isaiah 6:5). When Peter encountered Jesus, he admitted he was a sinful man (Luke 5:8). Paul described himself to be “the least” (1 Corinthians 15:9, Ephesians 3:8, 1 Timothy 1:15). Before we attack other Christians, we must do well to remember Jesus’ teaching: take the speck out of our own eyes first (Matthew 7:3-4). When God disciplines us, He does so out of love (Hebrews 12:6,8, 10-11, 14-15). He desires for us to be holy! Discipline can be painful, but it is for our sanctification. Remember, “If your god never disagrees with you, you might just be worshiping an idealized version of yourself” (Tim Keller). God will not allow His children to sin successfully (Charles Spurgeon)!
EXPERIENCED THROUGH JESUS’ WORK ON THE CROSS
“The holiness of God demands punishment for sin. The love of God provided the substitute” – John Stott. God’s dilemma is this: He is holy, but He is also merciful. God is a just God, but He also loves us. This is perfectly resolved by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Christ who knew no sin had to be sin on our behalf – bearing our sins on His body – so that we may become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)! God Himself cast the punishment on His own Son because His holiness demands payment for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:4-6). It all fell on Jesus! This is the holiness of God – it reminds us of the great love of God and His redeeming power through Jesus Christ alone!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- What comes into mind when you think of the word holy?
- Why is the holiness of God foundational in our knowledge of Him? How will knowing His holiness impact our relationship with God?
- What do you commit to do to pursue holiness and purity in the Lord?
PRAY CARE SHARE IN ACTION
Pray for the Lord’s holiness to be made manifest throughout all the earth through His people, His creation and His word going out into all the nations. Be holy in all you do, imitating Christ in your daily life. Share about our holy, holy, holy God to others this week!