Encountering the Transformative Holiness of God

 

Summary

The journey of understanding the holiness of God is a profound and transformative experience that has shaped my life and ministry. My initial encounter with the holiness of God began over 50 years ago during the first two weeks of my Christian experience. Raised in a liberal church with little Bible teaching, my conversion in college led me to read the Bible for the first time. This virgin reading of the Old Testament was a shock, revealing a God I had never known—a God of holiness and majesty. This revelation left an indelible mark on my soul, compelling me to pursue a deeper understanding of God.

As I continued my studies, I was profoundly influenced by the teachings of Augustine, who emphasized the power of God in creation. This understanding of God's majesty and holiness was further deepened during my seminary years, where I studied the works of theological giants like Calvin, Luther, and Edwards. Each of these figures, despite their differences, shared a common intoxication with the majesty of God, which profoundly shaped their theology and lives.

The doctrine of God, particularly His holiness, is not just an academic pursuit but the foundation of all Christian thought and life. It informs our understanding of Christ, salvation, sin, and every aspect of theology. A high view of God leads to a high view of worship, reverence, and adoration. Our understanding of God's character shapes our church life, worship, and personal devotion.

The holiness of God is a corrective to our natural tendency to diminish God's glory and elevate our own achievements. It is a transformative revelation that leads to fear, trembling, and ultimately, a deeper love and service to God. This understanding is crucial for both new believers and seasoned Christians, as it drives us to a more profound relationship with God and a more authentic Christian life.

Key Takeaways:

- The initial shock of encountering the holiness of God in Scripture can be transformative, revealing a God of majesty and holiness that demands a full commitment to the Christian life. This revelation is not just an academic pursuit but a life-changing experience that shapes our understanding of God and ourselves. [02:06]

- The study of theological giants like Augustine, Calvin, Luther, and Edwards reveals a common intoxication with the majesty of God. Despite their differences, they shared a profound understanding of God's holiness, which shaped their theology and lives. This shared vision of God's majesty is crucial for a robust Christian faith. [11:17]

- A high view of God leads to a high view of worship, reverence, and adoration. Our understanding of God's character shapes our church life, worship, and personal devotion. A low view of God results in a casual approach to worship and a diminished understanding of the Christian life. [18:39]

- The holiness of God is a corrective to our natural tendency to diminish God's glory and elevate our own achievements. It is a transformative revelation that leads to fear, trembling, and ultimately, a deeper love and service to God. This understanding is crucial for both new believers and seasoned Christians. [23:10]

- The resurgence of interest in the Puritans and the doctrines of grace is encouraging, as it reflects a renewed focus on the holiness of God. This awakening is crucial for the church today, as it addresses the devaluation of evangelicalism and the need for a deeper understanding of God's character. [38:19]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:25] - Early Christian Experience
- [01:14] - Discovering the Old Testament
- [02:06] - Encountering God's Holiness
- [03:42] - Wrestling with God
- [04:28] - Academic Pursuits
- [05:05] - Introduction to Philosophy
- [07:08] - Augustine's Influence
- [08:38] - Changing Majors
- [09:42] - Seminary Studies
- [11:17] - Theological Giants
- [12:45] - Doctrine of God
- [15:46] - Mission to Teach God's Nature
- [18:39] - Impact on Worship
- [20:58] - Luther's Struggles
- [23:10] - Calvin's Insights
- [26:12] - Edwards' Influence
- [32:15] - Isaiah 6 and Holiness
- [35:19] - The Holiness of God Series
- [38:19] - Evangelicalism Today

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Understanding the Holiness of God

Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 6:1-5 - Isaiah's Vision of the Lord
2. Exodus 3:1-6 - Moses and the Burning Bush
3. Revelation 4:8-11 - The Throne in Heaven

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Observation Questions:

1. In Isaiah 6:1-5, what was Isaiah's reaction to seeing the holiness of God? How does this passage describe God's holiness?
2. How does the encounter between Moses and God in Exodus 3:1-6 illustrate the concept of holiness?
3. In Revelation 4:8-11, what do the creatures around the throne proclaim about God, and how does this relate to His holiness?
4. According to the sermon, what was R.C. Sproul's initial reaction to reading the Old Testament for the first time? [01:14]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Isaiah's reaction to God's holiness in Isaiah 6:1-5 reflect the transformative power of encountering God's majesty? [25:26]
2. What does Moses' experience at the burning bush teach us about approaching God with reverence and awe? How does this relate to our understanding of holiness?
3. How does the continuous worship described in Revelation 4:8-11 inform our understanding of how we should respond to God's holiness?
4. The sermon mentions that a high view of God leads to a high view of worship. How does this understanding impact the way we approach worship in our own lives? [18:39]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt a sense of awe or reverence in God's presence. How did that experience change your understanding of God? [02:06]
2. The sermon discusses the tendency to diminish God's glory and elevate our own achievements. In what areas of your life do you find yourself doing this, and how can you correct it? [23:10]
3. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of God's holiness in your daily life? What specific practices or disciplines could help you in this pursuit?
4. Consider the role of theological giants like Augustine, Calvin, and Luther in shaping our understanding of God's holiness. How can studying their works deepen your own faith? [11:17]
5. The sermon highlights the importance of a high view of God for authentic worship. What changes can you make in your personal or corporate worship to reflect a higher view of God? [18:39]
6. How can the resurgence of interest in the Puritans and the doctrines of grace inspire you to seek a deeper understanding of God's character? [38:19]
7. Identify one area in your life where you can demonstrate a greater reverence for God's holiness. What practical steps will you take this week to make this change?

Devotional

Day 1: Encountering God's Holiness Transforms Our Lives
The initial shock of encountering the holiness of God in Scripture can be transformative, revealing a God of majesty and holiness that demands a full commitment to the Christian life. This revelation is not just an academic pursuit but a life-changing experience that shapes our understanding of God and ourselves. When we first come face to face with the holiness of God, it can be overwhelming, as it challenges our preconceived notions and calls us to a deeper level of devotion and commitment. This encounter is not meant to be a one-time experience but a continual journey of growing in our understanding of God's majesty and holiness. [02:06]

Isaiah 6:1-5 (ESV): "In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 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: Think of a moment when you felt overwhelmed by God's presence. How did it change your perspective on your relationship with Him, and how can you seek to experience His holiness more deeply today?


Day 2: Theological Giants Share a Vision of God's Majesty
The study of theological giants like Augustine, Calvin, Luther, and Edwards reveals a common intoxication with the majesty of God. Despite their differences, they shared a profound understanding of God's holiness, which shaped their theology and lives. This shared vision of God's majesty is crucial for a robust Christian faith. These theologians, through their writings and teachings, have left a legacy that continues to inspire and challenge believers to pursue a deeper understanding of God's character. Their lives and works remind us that a high view of God is essential for a vibrant and authentic Christian faith. [11:17]

Psalm 145:3-5 (ESV): "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate."

Reflection: Consider the influence of a spiritual mentor or theologian in your life. How has their understanding of God's majesty inspired you, and how can you pass on this vision to others?


Day 3: A High View of God Elevates Worship
A high view of God leads to a high view of worship, reverence, and adoration. Our understanding of God's character shapes our church life, worship, and personal devotion. A low view of God results in a casual approach to worship and a diminished understanding of the Christian life. When we truly grasp the holiness and majesty of God, it transforms the way we approach worship, leading us to a deeper sense of reverence and awe. This understanding calls us to examine our attitudes and practices in worship, ensuring that they reflect the greatness of the God we serve. [18:39]

Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV): "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."

Reflection: Reflect on your current approach to worship. What changes can you make to ensure that your worship is marked by reverence and awe for God's holiness?


Day 4: God's Holiness Corrects Our Self-Exaltation
The holiness of God is a corrective to our natural tendency to diminish God's glory and elevate our own achievements. It is a transformative revelation that leads to fear, trembling, and ultimately, a deeper love and service to God. This understanding is crucial for both new believers and seasoned Christians. Recognizing God's holiness helps us to see our own limitations and the futility of self-exaltation, leading us to a place of humility and dependence on Him. It challenges us to realign our priorities and focus on glorifying God in all aspects of our lives. [23:10]

Job 42:5-6 (ESV): "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you have been seeking your own glory. How can you shift your focus to glorifying God in that area today?


Day 5: Renewed Focus on God's Holiness in the Church
The resurgence of interest in the Puritans and the doctrines of grace is encouraging, as it reflects a renewed focus on the holiness of God. This awakening is crucial for the church today, as it addresses the devaluation of evangelicalism and the need for a deeper understanding of God's character. By returning to the foundational truths of God's holiness, the church can experience a revival of authentic faith and practice. This renewed focus calls believers to engage with the rich theological heritage of the past and apply its insights to the challenges facing the church today. [38:19]

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV): "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Reflection: How can you contribute to a renewed focus on God's holiness in your church community? What steps can you take to encourage others to seek a deeper understanding of God's character?

Quotes

R.C. Sproul: I would say that my interest in the holiness of God, Chris, goes back over 50 years, about 54 years actually, to the first two weeks of my Christian experience. I had grown up in a church that was quite a liberal church, and there was not much Bible teaching. Our interest in the church was chiefly social. [00:00:18]

And my first interest in the holiness of God came out of that two weeks. My virgin reading of the Old Testament particularly exposed me to a God, of whom I really had never heard. At that time in my life, I had never heard, for example, of Abraham or of Isaac or of Jacob. [00:01:14]

And I vividly recall walking the halls of my freshman dormitory at 3 o’clock in the morning. The place was totally silent. The halls were made out of tile, and so my feet on the floor would echo through the halls. And I just paced up and down like a caged lion in that hall wrestling like Jacob at Peniel with this God. [00:03:12]

And being an impulsive person and so moved by that, that I left that class and went downstairs to the Registrar’s desk and changed my major to philosophy. And I still took every course in Bible that I could take, but I had to go… I mean, my whole pursuit of philosophy was driven – and I was a driven man at that point. [00:08:48]

And you know, I used to teach in the seminary. I used to teach what’s called theology proper, and I know there are lots of theologians that teach improper theology, but what theology proper means is focusing on the doctrine of God, the Father. And actually in the subdivisions of systematic theology, though I love Christology and I love soteriology, nothing was more meaningful to me than the segments on the study of theology proper. [00:11:41]

And our doctrine of God informs our doctrine of Christ. It informs our doctrine of the atonement. It informs our doctrine of salvation. It informs our doctrine of sin. It informs every aspect of our theology. And so it is… it is the control mechanism for all of our Christian thought, is who… how we understand who God is. [00:14:48]

If we have a low view of God, we’ll have a low view of the church. If we have a low view of God, we’ll have a low view of worship. If we have a high view of God, then we will have a high view of reverence and adoration. Worship will never, ever be casual when we understand who God is. [00:18:33]

Luther was not able to deceive himself and put up these rationalizations as a shield to protect himself from the penetrating conviction of the character of God. If ever a man knew that he was a sinner, it was Martin Luther. And he on one occasion was asked the question, do you love God? And he said, “Love God, sometimes I hate Him.” [00:20:18]

And my natural tendency as a sinner is the same as anybody else’s, is to try to bring God’s standard down as low as I possibly can, so it will get closer to where I am. I want to exaggerate my own achievements and diminish God’s glory, so that they can come closer together. [00:23:20]

And he said while our eyes are fixed on this world, we look at ourselves in that perspective and flatter ourselves and consider ourselves as slightly less than demigods, but once we turn our gaze to heaven and consider what kind of a being God is, all of those conceptions are destroyed. [00:24:35]

And Edwards, of course, I believe as the Encyclopedia Britannica said that he was America’s greatest intellectual and greatest philosopher theologian ever. And he was brilliant at the level of an Augustine. He was far more brilliant than Luther or Calvin. He was up there with Aquinas and Augustine, and excuse me, but Francis Turretin as well. [00:29:10]

And of course, I’ve been trying to give a heavy dose of that to broad evangelicalism all these years. I’m not at all happy where so-called evangelicalism is today. It’s so bad that I don’t like to even call myself an evangelical anymore because the currency of that word has so been devalued over the last few decades. [00:38:00]

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Transcript
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