Embracing God's Holiness: A Call to Reflect
Summary
In a profound exploration of God's holiness, the speaker delves into the essence of what it means to be holy and how this attribute of God shapes the lives of believers. The sermon begins by establishing that holiness is not merely an aspect of God but the very core of His being. Holiness, as described, is being separate and distinct from all else, and God, in His holiness, is in a category of His own, incomparable to anything or anyone. The speaker emphasizes that through Jesus, believers are granted the privilege to stand before this holy God and inherit the spiritual blessings due to Christ, thus enabling them to spend eternity in heaven.
The speaker further explains that holiness is both a gift and a command. While believers are made holy in Christ, they are also called to walk in holiness, not taking sin lightly. The importance of understanding and embracing our identity as God's children is highlighted, with the speaker urging the congregation to live out this holiness daily through the Holy Spirit. The sermon underscores the necessity of spending time alone with God to grow in holiness, with worship being the appropriate response to God's holiness.
Personal stories, such as that of Sarah and the leaders at the Ammani school, illustrate the dual nature of God's holiness—it is both comforting in its promise of justice and terrifying in its judgment of sin. The speaker reminds the audience that holiness is unattainable on our own and can only be achieved through Jesus' sacrifice.
The sermon also challenges listeners to reflect on their perception of God, suggesting that the way they understand and picture God will determine the role they give Him in their lives. The speaker introduces a series on the attributes of God, focusing on holiness as the summation of all His attributes, as seen in the visions of Isaiah and John.
Key Takeaways:
- God's holiness is not an attribute that He possesses among others; it is the essence of His nature. Everything God does is rooted in His holiness, which sets Him apart from all creation. This understanding of God's holiness should lead believers to a profound reverence and a life that seeks to reflect His purity and separateness from sin. [19:44]
- The holiness of God is both a comfort and a terror. It assures us that God will righteously judge all sin and injustice, as seen in the story of Sarah and the Ammani school. Yet, it also serves as a sobering reminder that our own unholiness will be judged. This tension should drive us to cling to the holiness imparted to us through Christ's sacrifice. [23:38]
- Holiness is a gift given through Jesus Christ and a command to be obeyed. Believers are made holy by Christ's work on the cross, but they are also called to actively pursue a life of holiness, reflecting the character of their heavenly Father. This pursuit involves daily submission to the Holy Spirit and intentional time spent in God's presence. [30:45]
- Our perception of God's character and competency profoundly impacts every aspect of our lives. The image of God that we hold in our minds shapes our trust, obedience, and willingness to surrender control to Him. Therefore, cultivating an accurate understanding of God, as revealed in Scripture, is crucial for a life of faith. [05:40]
- Worship is the natural response to the revelation of God's holiness. As believers grasp the magnitude of God's purity and moral perfection, worship becomes not just an act but a lifestyle. This worship is rooted in the awe-inspiring reality that we are made holy by Christ and are called to draw near to God in reverence and adoration. [32:43]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Understanding God's Holiness
#### Bible Reading
1. Leviticus 19:1-2 (ESV)
> "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.'"
2. 1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV)
> "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
3. Isaiah 6:3 (ESV)
> "And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!'"
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Leviticus 19:1-2, what command does God give to the people of Israel regarding holiness?
2. In 1 Peter 1:15-16, how does Peter connect the holiness of God to the behavior of believers?
3. What is the significance of the repetition of the word "holy" in Isaiah 6:3? How does this emphasize God's nature? [09:48]
4. How does the speaker describe the dual nature of God's holiness as both comforting and terrifying? [23:02]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for believers to be holy as God is holy, according to 1 Peter 1:15-16? How does this impact daily living?
2. How does the speaker's reference to personal stories, such as Sarah and the leaders at the Ammani school, illustrate the comforting and terrifying aspects of God's holiness? [23:02]
3. Why is it important to have an accurate understanding of God's character and competency, as discussed in the sermon? [05:40]
4. How does the concept of holiness as both a gift and a command shape a believer's approach to sin and righteousness? [30:13]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current perception of God. How does your understanding of His holiness influence your daily decisions and actions? [05:40]
2. The speaker mentioned that worship is the natural response to God's holiness. How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine to reflect this understanding? [32:43]
3. In what ways can you actively pursue a life of holiness in your personal and professional life? Identify specific actions you can take this week. [30:45]
4. How do you handle the tension between the comforting and terrifying aspects of God's holiness in your own life? Share a personal experience where you felt this tension. [23:02]
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of spending time alone with God to grow in holiness. What practical steps can you take to ensure you have regular, intentional time with God? [31:25]
6. How does understanding that holiness is unattainable on our own and can only be achieved through Jesus' sacrifice change your approach to spiritual growth and reliance on God? [26:59]
7. Think about a specific area in your life where you struggle with sin. How can you apply the principle of radical and constant dealing with sin, as mentioned by Sinclair B. Ferguson, to overcome this struggle? [30:45]
This guide aims to help your small group delve deeper into the sermon on God's holiness, encouraging both reflection and practical application in their daily lives.
Devotional
Day 1: Holiness: The Essence of God's Nature
Holiness defines God's very essence, setting Him apart from all creation. It is not just an attribute but the foundation of all that He is and does. This divine holiness calls for a deep reverence from believers, inspiring a life that mirrors His purity and separation from sin. [19:44]
Leviticus 11:44-45 - "For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."
Reflection: How does the holiness of God influence your daily actions and decisions?
Day 2: The Dual Nature of God's Holiness
God's holiness is a source of comfort, promising justice for all, while also being a sobering reminder of the judgment we deserve for our sins. This tension should lead us to embrace the holiness given to us through Christ's sacrifice, allowing us to stand before God. [23:38]
Habakkuk 1:13 - "You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?"
Reflection: In what ways does the holiness of God comfort you, and how does it challenge you?
Day 3: Holiness: A Gift and a Command
Holiness is both a divine gift through Jesus and a command to live out. As believers, we are sanctified by Christ's work on the cross, yet called to pursue holiness in our daily lives, reflecting God's character through the power of the Holy Spirit. [30:45]
1 Peter 1:15-16 - "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Reflection: What are practical ways you can pursue holiness in your everyday life?
Day 4: Perceiving God Shapes Our Lives
Our perception of God's character deeply impacts our trust and obedience towards Him. The image we hold of God in our minds influences how we live our faith, making it essential to seek a true understanding of Him as revealed in Scripture. [05:40]
Isaiah 40:28 - "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable."
Reflection: How does your current view of God affect the way you trust and obey Him in your daily life?
Day 5: Worship as a Response to Holiness
Understanding God's holiness naturally leads to worship, not just as an act, but as a lifestyle. Worship is rooted in the awe of God's purity and moral perfection, and the privilege of being made holy through Christ. [32:43]
Revelation 4:8 - "And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'"
Reflection: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine as a reflection of God's holiness?
Quotes
"In its Essence we are saying God is holy, God is in a whole other category than anything or anyone else." [13:10] (Download)
"There is none holy like the Lord; there's no other person that you can stack up beside him and say he's like him because he's not like anyone." [14:57] (Download)
"Holiness is God's command to his children... Peter is speaking about a Holiness that is not achieved it's received. We receive Holiness from Christ but then that received Holiness needs to be what we begin to live into." [30:13] (Download)
"The Holiness of God teaches us that there is only one way to deal with sin radically, seriously, painfully, and constantly. If you do not so live, you do not live in the presence of the Holy One of Israel." [30:45] (Download)
"God would not just allow us to stand but that he would make us as children that every spiritual inheritance and blessing that was due to Jesus is given to us when we place our faith in him." [29:32] (Download)
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." [05:40] (Download)
"We worship because our God is worthy of worship; we worship because our God Alone is worthy of worship." [32:43] (Download)
"The only way for us to be holy is for Jesus to make us so... the only way we can be made holy is that Jesus came and paid the penalty of death that was due our unholiness." [26:59] (Download)
"God alone is the measuring stick of what it means to be a good person, not how you compare it to your neighbors because he alone is truly good." [19:44] (Download)
"Knowledge without application is deadening; if you know things and don't do anything, it doesn't matter. You need to allow the knowledge that you gain to then direct the way that you live." [21:09] (Download)
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