As most of you are aware, we've been studying the attributes of God for the past several weeks, and we will be studying them for a few more weeks. Today, I want us to focus on the fact that God is holy. Before I forget, I would also like to recommend a book on this topic. R.C. Sproul has written a great book called, "The Holiness of God". I believe that you will find this book very helpful.
What does it mean that God is holy? It means that God is without sin. It means even more than this. God is not able to be touched by sin, and God does not allow sin into His presence. That is one of the reasons that those who have sinned are separated from God.
There are a number of verses in the Bible that speak to the idea of God's holiness. One of the passages that tells of the holiness and the majesty of God is found in the book of Isaiah chapter 6. In this chapter, Isaiah has a vision of God seated on the throne of Heaven. Above where God was seated on His throne, winged seraphim cried out continuously, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory." The word holy being repeated three times signifies that God is perfect and complete in His holiness. Isaiah was overcome and completely undone by this experience.
There is another great passage that tells us of the holiness of God. This passage is in Revelation chapter 4. In this passage, John is shown the throne room of Heaven. One of the features of the throne room of Heaven is that there are four living creatures there. They continuously cry out, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." This is another majestic image of the complete holiness of the Lord."
The Bible also tells us that since God is holy, He expects us to be holy. One place that we see this is in I Peter 1:15-16 that states, "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all of your conduct. Since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'". Jesus told us that without a life of holiness, no one can see the Lord.
We know from the Scriptures that no person is holy in their natural state. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, not even one. So, how do we become holy and reconciled to God? We can not do it through human effort. Keeping the Law does not bring holiness. Good works do not bring holiness. The only way that we can be holy positionally is by being born again and receiving the new birth. We become dead to sin and we are made alive in Christ Jesus.
Here is how it happens. When a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, a great exchange takes place. Jesus forgives us of our sin and removes our sin from us as far as from the east is from the west. He then imputes His righteousness to us. We receive the righteousness of Christ. When God sees us, He no longer sees us in sin, He sees us clothed in the righteousness of His dearly beloved Son. The Bible says it like this in II Corinthians 5:21, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
Now, that makes us positionally righteous and holy. However, we are called to be holy and sanctified while we are living this life. I Thessalonians 5:23 tells us, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Living a life of holiness that is pleasing to the Lord is an outward evidence of the inward work of the Lord Jesus within our hearts. When have a true possession of faith and not merely a profession of faith, it will be manifested in a life lived for the Lord and life lived in the avoidance of sin.
We are called to live lives of holiness to please the Lord. The only way that we can do it is to rely on the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth. It all starts when we call upon the Lord Jesus to save us and give us a new life in Him. Amen.
Prayer Requests.
I am feeling a lot better. I thank the Lord for this, and I thank you for your prayers.
Please remember to pray for those suffering as a result of the disease outbreaks around the world. Here in the US we are dealing with Covid and the flu. China is having a Covid outbreak. Parts of Africa are having a cholera outbreak, and Uganda has been dealing with ebola. Pray that all this disease will end. Pray that the sick will recover.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubles areas of the world. Let us really focus on praying for peace in Ukraine. Also, let us pray that the unrest in Peru and Haiti will come to an end.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Taiwan and Sudan. Pray that many will come to know of the love of Jesus.
Next week, we will continue in our current series. I will post that verses on Monday and a review on Wednesday. May God bless you all.
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