The Holiness of God

Holiness of God “It means he is totally good, infinitely good…He is totally minus any and all evil….He is infinite or perfect in His holy hatred of sin, iniquity and wickedness.” Robert R. Taylor, Jr.

“Because Jehovah is high and holy, He hates sin….This is why sin separates men from the holy God of Heaven” Turner and Myers

Is. 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Holiness of God “That essential element in His nature which causes Him to hate, with a perfect hatred, everything that Is morally evil, and to love everything that is pure and holy.” Roy Lanier, Sr.

I. God’s hatred of all that is morally evil 1. Beginning with the sin and fall of Adam, the world grew more and more wicked

Gen. 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually

Gen. 6:12-13 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

2 Pet. 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly

Though God was merciful and longsuffering, his holiness demanded the destruction of the wicked They had opportunity to repent!

2. Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 18:20-21 “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.”

The figure of speech “here represents God as hearing a very damaging report of the wickedness of the doomed cities, and as making a personal trip down to them in order to have the facts first hand.” J. B. Coffman

3. Ananias and Sapphira – Acts 5 They sold the land with the intention of lying about the price They wanted the praise others were getting from giving all, but they were not willing to give all as did others

4. Judgment – the last day The wicked will be punished and the righteous rewarded Heb. 6:18 “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie…”

II. God loves purity and holiness 1. Notice God’s love for Israel

Is. 63:9-10 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

2. God demands that His children be holy

2 Cor. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Mt. 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 Pet. 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.

This holy life we are to live requires separation from sin and all worldly defilement

III. God’s children must be separate from the world 2 Cor. 6:16-7:1 “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1 Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

2 Th. 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom. 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

IV. God chastens us for our profit Heb. 12:10 “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.”

“The chastening of the Lord is in the realm of his providence, of which we know very little.” Roy Lanier, Sr.

Rom. 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

V. Points to consider 1. Two philosophies by which church members live A. How much of the world and the ways of the world can we participate in and still get to heaven?

B. How nearly like Jesus can I become in thought, word, and deed? These are the ones living a holy, sanctified life

2. In view of the end of the world and the coming judgment, “what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness” (2 Pet. 3:11)

The great promises of God move us to develop holy lives The warnings of terrible punishment are calculated to keep us from doing evil

3. Since God is absolute in holiness and we are not, we need a Mediator!

1 Tim. 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

Jn. 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Heb. 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

In order to have the services of the High Priest Christ Jesus, one must be in the group over which he is High Priest!

Conclusion Man sinned – God’s holiness offended God’s Justice – demanding the penalty for sin God’s mercy – God’s great plan to save man

God’s Love – He sent His Son to die for sinful man God’s truth - Revealed in His Word

References The Timeless Trinity for the Ceaseless Centuries, Roy H. Lanier, Sr, 1974 God: His Holiness and Mercy, Robert R. Taylor, Jr, The Bible Doctrine of Jehovah God, Quality Publications, 2002