Embracing God's Holiness: A Call to Transformative Faith
Summary
In reflecting on what I would share if today were my last day on Earth, I am reminded of the profound reality of God's holiness and the urgency of our response to Him. We often approach God with a casual attitude, forgetting the magnitude of His glory and the seriousness of His presence. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a historical event but a transformative truth that should remove any fear of death for believers. It is a call to live with a high view of God, recognizing His majesty and holiness.
Isaiah's encounter with God in Isaiah 6 is a powerful reminder of how we should perceive God. When Isaiah saw the Lord, he was overwhelmed by God's grandeur and holiness, realizing his own unworthiness. This vision of God was anything but casual; it was a life-altering experience that brought Isaiah to a place of repentance and awe. The angels around God's throne declared His holiness with such intensity that the very foundations shook. This is the God we will stand before, and it should shake us from any complacency.
The reality of God's holiness should lead us to genuine belief, not just intellectual assent. True belief is evidenced by a life transformed, a life that reflects the reality of God's love and sacrifice through Jesus Christ. It's not enough to simply say we believe; our lives must demonstrate that belief through actions and a commitment to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. This is the essence of repentance and baptism, a turning away from our old ways and a public declaration of our new life in Christ.
As we consider our own lives, we must ask ourselves if our belief in God is real and transformative. Are we living in a way that shows we are ready to stand before a holy God? This is not about fear but about the peace and assurance that comes from knowing we are loved by a God who is both just and merciful. Let us live with the urgency and passion of those who truly understand the weight of God's glory and the depth of His love.
Key Takeaways:
- The Urgency of Holiness: Understanding the holiness of God should shake us from complacency. Isaiah's vision of God was anything but casual, and it should remind us of the seriousness of standing before a holy God. We must live with a high view of God, recognizing His majesty and glory. [01:58]
- True Belief Requires Action: Intellectual belief is not enough; true belief in God is demonstrated through a transformed life. Our actions should reflect our faith, showing that we are committed to following Jesus wholeheartedly. [20:05]
- The Reality of Judgment: God is a just judge who will hold us accountable for our lives. This reality should lead us to repentance and a genuine relationship with Him, not out of fear, but out of a desire to be right with God. [15:23]
- The Power of the Cross: Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God's love and justice. Believing in this sacrifice means accepting that Jesus has taken the punishment for our sins, freeing us from the fear of judgment. [17:27]
- Living with Eternal Perspective: Knowing that we will stand before God should change how we live today. We should live with the assurance of eternal life, motivated by the love of a God who is both holy and merciful. [28:10]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - The Question of Final Words
- [00:54] - The Hope in Resurrection
- [01:58] - A High View of God
- [03:11] - Isaiah's Vision of God
- [05:05] - The Majesty of God's Throne
- [06:17] - The Angels' Proclamation
- [07:31] - The Meaning of Holiness
- [08:42] - The Reality of Facing God
- [10:04] - The Call to Wake Up
- [11:04] - The Unchanging Nature of God
- [12:32] - The Assurance of God's Love
- [13:04] - Isaiah's Response to God
- [15:23] - The Reality of Judgment
- [17:27] - The Power of the Cross
- [20:05] - True Belief Requires Action
- [28:10] - Living with Eternal Perspective
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 6:1-7
2. James 2:19
3. Matthew 7:21-23
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Observation Questions:
1. What was Isaiah's reaction when he saw the Lord in Isaiah 6, and how did he describe the scene? [05:05]
2. According to the sermon, how do the angels around God's throne express His holiness, and what effect does their proclamation have? [06:58]
3. In James 2:19, what is the significance of the statement that even demons believe in God, and how does this relate to the concept of true belief? [19:32]
4. What does Jesus say in Matthew 7:21-23 about those who call Him "Lord" and their entry into the Kingdom of Heaven? [21:40]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Isaiah's vision of God challenge our modern perceptions of God's nature and holiness? [03:11]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the difference between intellectual belief and true belief in God? How is this difference demonstrated in one's life? [20:05]
3. How does the concept of God's judgment, as discussed in the sermon, align with the idea of a loving God? [15:23]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of repentance and baptism in the life of a believer? [26:05]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own view of God. Do you approach Him with the reverence and awe described in Isaiah's vision, or has your view become casual? How can you cultivate a higher view of God in your daily life? [01:58]
2. Consider the actions in your life that demonstrate your belief in God. Are there areas where your actions do not align with your professed beliefs? What steps can you take to bring your actions in line with your faith? [20:05]
3. How do you respond to the reality of God's judgment? Does it motivate you to live differently, and if so, how? [15:23]
4. In what ways can you publicly declare your faith, similar to the act of baptism, in your current context? What might be holding you back from doing so? [27:30]
5. Think about a time when you felt complacent in your faith. What changes can you make to live with the urgency and passion described in the sermon? [08:42]
6. How can you ensure that your belief in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is more than just intellectual assent but a transformative truth in your life? [17:27]
7. Identify one specific area in your life where you need to repent and turn towards God. What practical steps will you take this week to make that change? [26:17]
Devotional
Day 1: The Weight of God's Holiness
Understanding the holiness of God should shake us from complacency. Isaiah's vision of God was anything but casual, and it should remind us of the seriousness of standing before a holy God. We must live with a high view of God, recognizing His majesty and glory. The encounter Isaiah had with God in Isaiah 6 is a profound illustration of this. When Isaiah saw the Lord, he was overwhelmed by God's grandeur and holiness, realizing his own unworthiness. This vision was life-altering, bringing Isaiah to a place of repentance and awe. The angels around God's throne declared His holiness with such intensity that the very foundations shook. This is the God we will stand before, and it should shake us from any complacency. [01:58]
Isaiah 6:3-5 (ESV): "And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!' And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!'"
Reflection: In what areas of your life have you become complacent in your view of God? How can you cultivate a deeper sense of His holiness today?
Day 2: Faith in Action
Intellectual belief is not enough; true belief in God is demonstrated through a transformed life. Our actions should reflect our faith, showing that we are committed to following Jesus wholeheartedly. True belief requires action, and this is evident in the way we live our lives. It's not enough to simply say we believe; our lives must demonstrate that belief through actions and a commitment to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. This is the essence of repentance and baptism, a turning away from our old ways and a public declaration of our new life in Christ. [20:05]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to demonstrate your faith in Jesus? How can this action reflect a transformed life?
Day 3: The Reality of Divine Judgment
God is a just judge who will hold us accountable for our lives. This reality should lead us to repentance and a genuine relationship with Him, not out of fear, but out of a desire to be right with God. Understanding the reality of judgment is crucial for believers. It is not about living in fear but about living in the peace and assurance that comes from knowing we are loved by a God who is both just and merciful. This understanding should lead us to repentance and a genuine relationship with Him. [15:23]
2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV): "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
Reflection: How does the reality of God's judgment influence your daily decisions? What steps can you take to align your life more closely with His will?
Day 4: Embracing the Power of the Cross
Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God's love and justice. Believing in this sacrifice means accepting that Jesus has taken the punishment for our sins, freeing us from the fear of judgment. The cross is a powerful symbol of God's love and justice. It is through Jesus' sacrifice that we are freed from the fear of judgment. This understanding should transform our lives, leading us to live in the freedom and assurance of God's love. [17:27]
Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV): "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."
Reflection: How does the reality of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross impact your view of God's love and justice? In what ways can you live out this truth today?
Day 5: Living with an Eternal Perspective
Knowing that we will stand before God should change how we live today. We should live with the assurance of eternal life, motivated by the love of a God who is both holy and merciful. Living with an eternal perspective means recognizing the temporary nature of this world and focusing on what truly matters. It is about living with the assurance of eternal life, motivated by the love of a God who is both holy and merciful. This perspective should influence our daily choices and priorities. [28:10]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to shift your focus from the temporary to the eternal? How can you begin to make this shift today?
Quotes
The whole point of the Resurrection is that he would take away this sting of death or this any any type of fear of death for someone to come and say look I I'm going to die I'm going to rise from the dead and and Conquer death and you can follow me and you don't need to fear anymore. [00:01:08]
Don't take God so casually and make sure you have a high view of God man I just feel like people just when they think about God it's just we talk about him like it's no big deal man and I see faces I see the way people worship him even people that go to church man it's just this casual no big deal. [00:02:01]
There've only been like a handful of people who while they were on Earth got to see God in his glory and I tell you when those people talked about it it was anything but casual man you you you know I always think back to to to when Isaiah saw God I mean it was just so intense to him it was huge. [00:02:43]
When these angels spoke it was so loud that everything was shaking I mean imagine if I spoke so loud right now that the Earth began to shake I mean that's just intense and what they were screaming is they're screaming each other and they're saying holy holy holy do you understand what holy means holy means man he's separate it means distinct it means set apart. [00:07:12]
The first thing you recognize is what a sinner you are and how much you've screwed up in life man I I know my my life I know the commands I've broken and we all sit here and we know you know many of us have these pasts that are hidden and and things about our lives that God knows and you know that you're going to have to face him one day. [00:14:51]
The whole idea is this Fair God looks at you and says I've got to punish you because you've done some things in your life that's fair I've got to punish you but the thing about God is that he says that he loves you so much that rather than punishing you he says I'm going to show the world not only that I'm a fair God I'm a powerful God but I'm a loving God. [00:17:27]
Millions of people all across America believe right now they would say oh yes I believe in this God God I want to read a verse to you because there's as many verses like this in the Bible James 2: 19 it says this you believe that there is one God good even the demons believe that and they shudder. [00:19:20]
True belief the true belief has actions behind it if you really believe something you would actually do something there would be a change in your life and you guys I don't want to I I hope I don't sound judgmental right now but but here's what I'm saying this is because this is really what got me in Ministry to begin with. [00:20:11]
Repent means you're going One Direction in life and it means to do a 180 and head the exact opposite direction that means that one time you're thinking about yourself it's all about you and about how good you are what a good person you are how you're going to make it to Heaven he says and you turn from that and go oh man I'm sick. [00:26:57]
Getting baptized meant you went in went in the water and they dipped you in the water and you came back out but it wasn't just about going in the water and coming out is what it symbolized it was you were publicly saying before these people look just like like Jesus died and rose again I'm dying to my old way of life I'm coming up and I'm living a new way of life. [00:27:59]
I'm not going to ask you this morning do you believe in Jesus because that that's pretty easy thing to answer I'm saying do you truly believe believe to the point where your life shows it and people can see by the way that you live that this isn't just some hobby to you this isn't just something you show up to every once in a while but man he's everything to you. [00:28:59]
If this were my last day on Earth I'd be standing before the holy God and I'm ready for that day I can't wait for that day and I hope that that's you man there's nothing there's nothing like knowing him and having the peace that I'm spending eternity with that God. [00:29:59]
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