Have you ever yearned to truly comprehend the Holiness of God? Gear up for an enlightening journey that brings this divine attribute into focus. This exploration isn't just academic; it’s personal, designed to reveal the Holy Spirit’s work in everyday situations.
This understanding is more than just an intellectual exercise; it can spark a transformation deep within us, adding a profound sense of reverence and awe in our lives. This session is sure to leave you humbled and inspired, with a renewed commitment to reflect God's holiness in your life. Embark on this journey with us, and watch how your life takes on a fresh, divine perspective.
Resources The Attributes of God: A Journey into the Father’s Heart, vol. 1 by A. W. Tozer
The Nature of God by A.W. Pink
Systematic Theology 2nd edition by Wayne Grudem
Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson
Do you want to learn how to study the Bible? Check out the YouTube channel Faithfullyliven youtube.com/@faithfullyliven
Do you want to read about how to live faithfully? Check out the blog http://lyfe102.org
Have you ever yearned to truly comprehend the Holiness of God? Gear up for an enlightening journey that brings this divine attribute into focus. This exploration isn't just academic; it’s personal, designed to reveal the Holy Spirit’s work in everyday situations.
This understanding is more than just an intellectual exercise; it can spark a transformation deep within us, adding a profound sense of reverence and awe in our lives. This session is sure to leave you humbled and inspired, with a renewed commitment to reflect God's holiness in your life. Embark on this journey with us, and watch how your life takes on a fresh, divine perspective.
Resources The Attributes of God: A Journey into the Father’s Heart, vol. 1 by A. W. Tozer
The Nature of God by A.W. Pink
Systematic Theology 2nd edition by Wayne Grudem
Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson
Do you want to learn how to study the Bible? Check out the YouTube channel Faithfullyliven youtube.com/@faithfullyliven
Do you want to read about how to live faithfully? Check out the blog http://lyfe102.org
Have you ever wondered what it truly means for God to be holy and how that holiness can shape our lives? Well, stay tuned for today's episode. Welcome to Faithfully Living, the podcast where we learn how to live for Christ in our daily lives. I am Duane, your host, and I would like to invite you on a journey with me to explore and learn how to be a faithful follower of Christ. Have you heard the hymn Holy, holy, holy. I'll read you the lyrics, if you have it, because if I sing it, you're not going to want to listen to this podcast again. So it goes like this Holy, holy, holy, glory to God Almighty. Early in the morning, our song shall rise to deep. Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty God in three persons. Blessed Trinity. Holy, holy, holy. Though the darkness hides thee, though the eye of sinful men Thy glory may not see, only thou art holy. There is none beside thee. Perfect in power and love and purity. Holy, holy, holy, lord, god Almighty, all that works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea. Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty God in three persons. Blessed Trinity. Oh God in three persons, blessed Trinity.
Speaker 1:
These words were written by a vicar named Reginald Hebert, who wanted to celebrate a triune God, he wrote the lyrics to Holy, holy, holy for Trinity Sunday, a day that reaffirmed the doctrine of the Trinity, and it was observed eight Sundays after Easter. So the hymn was first published in 1826. And it was based on the latter part of Revelation 4.8, which says Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, god, the Almighty, the one who always was, who is and who is to come. The holiness of God is a divine attribute that speaks of God's moral and spiritual perfection, his inerrant set apartness, his purity, his transcendence over all creation. So, as usual, let's define some terms.
Speaker 1:
What is the holiness of God? Wayne Grudem, a professor of theology and biblical studies, defines the holiness of God as God's holiness means that he is separate from sin and devoted to seeking his own honor. He says this definition contains both a relational quality, meaning separation from, and a moral quality. The separation is from sin or evil and the devotion is to the good of God's own honor or glory. So the idea of holiness is included, including both separation from evil and devotion to God's glory can be found in a number of Old Testament passages. So the examples that we have in the Bible would be like the tabernacle, if you're familiar with the tabernacle, it was divided into different parts. You have the holy place and then the most holy place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, and this part was like section off, because if you went into the holy of holies, you know, and you weren't a priest, you would, you know, instantly die. So it was partition off by avail. And then another example would be the Sabbath day. You know, god blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. So it symbolizes as a day set aside from ordinary activities of the world and then dedicated to God's service. So it was a day of rest. So we can view the.
Speaker 1:
We can view God's holiness a couple of different ways, and Miller Erickson, a Christian Theologian, professor of theology, tells us there are two basic aspects of God's holiness. So the two are the uniqueness of it and then the absolute purity or goodness of God's holiness. So first he says Uniqueness God is totally separate from His creation. The uniqueness of God is affirmed in Exodus 15-11. It says who among the gods is like you, o Lord, who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? And then he also goes into say A similar expressions of the lawfulness and exaltation of God.
Speaker 1:
The splendor of God can be found in 1 Samuel 22, in Hannah's prayer, which says there is none holy like the Lord, for there is none beside you, there is no rock like our Lord. We also have this in Isaiah. So in Isaiah 57-15, it says For thus says the one who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him, who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. So when Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on the throne, high and exalted, the foundation of the threshold shook and the house was filled with smoke and the seraphim cried Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty. And that's in Isaiah 61-4.
Speaker 1:
And then Miller goes on to talk about the other aspect of God's holiness, which is his absolute purity and goodness. So this means that God is untouched and unstained from the evil of the world, in a sense that he does not participate in it. So Habakkah 113 addresses God. It says your eyes are too pure to look on evil. You can't tolerate wrong. James 113 says God cannot be tempted with evil. And then Job says in 3412, he says Truly, god will not do wrong, the Almighty will not twist justice. So we just looked at two basic aspects of God's holiness AW Pink and English Bible Teacher.
Speaker 1:
He talks about how God's holiness is expressed. So he says is expressed in his works, his law and the cross. So first, aw Pink says God's holiness is expressed in his works. Nothing but what is excellent can proceed from him. Holiness is the rule of all his actions. And then Psalms 145-17 says the Lord is righteous in all his ways, holy in all his works. And then the law God's holiness expressed in his law. The law forbids sin in all of its modifications, in its most defined as well as its most uncivilized forms, the intent of our minds as well as the pollution of our bodies, and then our secret desires as well as our avert acts. So Romans 712 says the law is holy and the commandments holy and just and good. And then the last expression is in the cross. So the Atonement displays God's infinite holiness and hatred for sin. You know how much God hates sin, that he for him to punish it and that sacrifice and punishment would be placed on Christ.
Speaker 1:
So why is the holiness of God significant for our lives? So it's significant because we have strife for moral perfection, divine separation, worship, reference and then transformation. Now noting that we will not fully reach perfection we won't reach perfection as we're living on the earth but God's holiness is closely tied to God's moral perfection, his ultimate standard for righteousness. God's holiness serves as a guide for us, like ethically and morally. So it highlights kind of like the contrast between God's perfect nature and then our fallen nature as humanity. Then also, god's holiness emphasizes his separation from sin and impurity God can't tolerate our coexistence in. So this underscores our need for redemption and reconciliation with God. So Jesus Christ's sacrifice is seen as the means by which we as sinners can approach the holy God. And then, by understanding the holiness of God, it leads to a sense of awe and reverence when we think about God, Recognizing that his purity, his madigury encourages us as believers to approach God humbly and with a deep sense of respect. And then we have transformation. So as believers, we're called to reflect God's holiness in our lives by striving for more purity. And then, you know, as we're striving, this is the process of sanctification, as we draw closer to God and try to live in alignment with his purpose for our lives and his will.
Speaker 1:
Have you struggled with studying and understanding the Bible? Do you wish you could get some help? Well, go check out the Faithfully Living YouTube channel. There is a library of videos to help you learn how to study and understand the Bible better. There are videos on various topics, such as Bible study tools and how to use them, understanding context and more. You can find a link to the channel in the show notes. Happy studying, alright, so let's talk a little bit more about transformation.
Speaker 1:
How are we to move toward being holy like God is holy? So AW Pink reminds us. Because God is holy, he hates all sin. We should desire to conform to him and his commands, because God said in 1 Peter 1-6, be holy, for I am holy. So this is going to be a prime way for us to honor God. So God's holiness provides us with an example of how to live. Going back to Miller-Lorde Erickson, he says God's perfection is the standard for our moral character and motivation for religious practice. The whole moral code follows from his holiness, meaning God's holiness.
Speaker 1:
The people of Israel were told I am the Lord, your God. Consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creatures that move about the ground. I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God. Therefore, be holy because I am holy. So this is in Leviticus. And the same thought is expressed a little bit later in Leviticus, which is 192, and I'll back up to verse 1 to read in context, which says the Lord also said to Moses give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel you must be holy because I am, because I, your Lord, your God, am holy. So you can see how the apostle Peter reiterated to the Christians, saying that you know God wants us to be holy as he is holy, the same way that God told the Israelites that he wanted them to be holy also. And also Matthew in Matthew 548 says but you are to be perfect, even as your father in heaven is perfect.
Speaker 1:
So, because God is flawless and the same quality is expected of Christians to be set apart, if you remember reading in the Old Testament how the priests had to be to come to, to go into the holy of holies so they had to be without physical blemish and then remember, or if you know that when the children of Israel had to bring sacrifices to the Lord to a tone for their sins. They couldn't bring a animal that had blemishes or had a lamp or something they had to bring pure. They have to bring animals that had, like, no problems or no blemishes on them. So Erickson continues to kind of help us understand a little bit better. He says the biblical writers repeatedly emphasize that believers are to be like God. Thus, because God is holy, his followers are also to be holy.
Speaker 1:
God not only is personally free from any more wickedness or evil, he's unable to tolerate his presence. He is, as it were, allergic to sin and evil. So the apostle Paul stresses that those who God calls as his people, we're supposed to be separated from things that are unclean and to be perfectly holy. The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 6, 14, through chapter 1, verse 1, he says don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can unrighteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what unity can there be between God's temple and idols, who are the temple of the living? God said as God said, I will live with them and walk among them. I will be their God and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers and separate yourselves from them so as the Lord don't touch their filthy things, and I will bless you, I will be your father and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Speaker 1:
So in 2 Corinthians 6, 14, chapter 7 through 1, paul was talking about how God was telling believers to not partner with light and dark. Believers and unbelievers are not supposed to partner together. And in that part where it says, as God says, he's taking from the Old Testament what he's told the Israelites, and Paul is trying to reiterate that for believers, that we are to be holy just as God is to be holy because we are his people. So the end of what Millert says was because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can be defiled or in our body or spirit, and let us work toward complete holiness, because we forgot. So.
Speaker 1:
You know, while we can kind of grasp the significance of God's holiness and its impact on our faith, it's also important to take into account that the holiness of God is still a profound mystery that still baffles our mind, because we have not seen God's full glory. We have not seen his full holiness. So God's holiness, you know it's so profound that our finite minds can only catch a glimpse of it. So if you remember the prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 559 he says for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways. So are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. He reminds us and that was God speaking that the vastness and reminds us of the vastness and wonder of God's holiness.
Speaker 1:
So I hope looking at the holiness of God has kind of enlightened you, that this conversation, or what I talked about, was thought-provoking and helping us understand how the holiness of God impacts us as believers, how that we should be humble and respectful of you, know who God is and his holiness. So I hope this was helpful for you. Thanks for coming on this journey with me to learn more about the holiness of God. Remember God is always good and is always faithful. Thank you for listening to the podcast. Do me a favor by following the podcast and leaving a review to help spread the word. I look forward to hearing from you.