Exploring the Attributes of God

  It seems as we study Scripture that holiness is God’s chief attribute.  Billy Graham: “As I read the Bible, I seem to find holiness to be his supreme attribute.”  Louis Berkhof wrote in his Systematic Theology, “It does not seem proper to speak of one attribute of God as being more central and fundamental than another; but if this were permissible, the scriptural emphasis on the holiness of God would seem to justify its selection.”

  Throughout the Scriptures, we are told that God is holy.  “Who is like unto thee, O L ORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Ex 15:11).  In Isaiah’s vision, the seraphim called to one another, “Holy, holy, holy, is the L ORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” (Is 6:3).  “The four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, L ORD G OD A LMIGHTY, WHICH WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME ” (Rev 4:8).  “ WHO SHALL NOT FEAR THEE, O L ORD, AND GLORIFY THY NAME ? FOR THOU ONLY ART HOLY : FOR ALL NATIONS SHALL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE THEE ” (Rev 15:4).

  The noun “holiness” in Hebrew literally means “the essential nature of that which belongs to the sphere of the sacred and which is thus distinct from the common or profane.”  Thus, holiness means that someone or something—in this case, God—is not like everything or everyone else.  Of course, God is removed from every other being.

  When we think of God’s holiness we think of God’s moral separation, his moral perfection.  God is morally perfect.  “Righteous art thou, O L ORD, and upright are thy judgments” (Ps 119:137).  “If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him” (1 Jn 2:29).

Out of his holiness, God has established standards of what is right & wrong.

Because God is holy, he has an intense hatred for sin.

  The Scriptures repeatedly speak of God’s hatred of sin.  “The thing that David had done displeased the L ORD ” (1 Sam 11:27).  “Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee”(Ps 5:4).  “Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15).

  Because of God’s hatred for sin, he required an absolutely holy sacrifice for sin.  “He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor 5:21).  “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Pet 2:21).  Because of God’s hatred for sin, man’s sins separate him from God.  Josh 7:  “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps 66:18).  “All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more” (Hos 9:15).

  Since God is a holy God, he expects his people to be holy.  “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” (1 Pet 1:15-16).  “Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the L ORD your God am holy” (Lev 19:2).  “Dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor 7:1).  “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).

However, God has called us to holiness, and we must seek holiness.

  In order to be holy, we must be separate from the world.  “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Cor 6:17).  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn 2:15).