Knowing God: Holiness, Wrath, Love, and Obedience

The sermon presents a robust, biblical portrait of God as self-existent, holy, sovereign, and loving—an identity that demands both reverence and transformation. God is introduced not as a comforting companion or a problem-solver framed by human preference, but as the unchanging I AM whose existence and authority are independent of creation. From Exodus to John, Scripture ties true life to knowing God rightly; eternal life is presented as the knowledge of the only true God and of Jesus Christ. Holiness is set forward as the central attribute that orders every other divine quality: God’s love, justice, and mercy are all “holy” expressions of his character, not separable traits.

The reality of God’s holiness exposes human sinfulness and provokes confession, humility, and a worship that is far from casual. Heaven’s liturgy—“holy, holy, holy”—and Isaiah’s trembling encounter make clear that encountering God’s purity reveals human unworthiness. This holiness naturally yields righteous wrath against rebellion; God’s anger is not arbitrary but a settled, just response rooted in moral perfection. Yet the sermon balances wrath with the gospel: at the cross, divine justice and divine love converge. Christ’s substitutionary death satisfies God’s righteousness and opens the way for mercy without compromising justice.

God’s sovereignty, omnipotence, and omniscience are affirmed as reasons for courage and trust. Nothing falls outside his counsel; trials and blessings alike unfold under his deliberate design. His omnipresence and compassion provide sustaining comfort and accountability—God’s nearness guides and disciplines while his mercy restores. The interplay of justice and mercy sets the framework for sanctification: grace brings salvation and also calls believers to holiness, repentance, and obedient living. Practical application flows throughout: true faith transforms worship, prayer, relationships, and daily decisions. Believers are urged to trade casual familiarity for awe, to allow a right view of God to shape confession, obedience, and zeal for good works, offering bodies as living sacrifices. Ultimately, the portrait summons a reverent, obedient, and grateful response—lives reoriented by the majesty, mercy, and holiness of God.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Holiness is God's defining attribute Understanding God’s holiness is not an abstract doctrine but the lens through which every divine action must be read. If God’s love, justice, and mercy are “holy,” they are purposive, perfect, and aimed at redemption rather than indulgence. Recognizing this reshapes worship, corrects sentimentality, and mounts the soul toward awe-filled obedience rather than casual familiarity. [05:33]
• 2. Approach God with reverent awe Encountering God’s purity should provoke humility and confession, not entitlement or routine. Isaiah’s vision shows that seeing the King exposes sin and calls for immediate repentance and dependence. A posture of trembling reverence refocuses prayer and transforms how grace is received and lived out. [08:38]
• 3. Wrath and mercy meet at Calvary Divine wrath against sin and divine love for sinners are not contradictory but fulfilled together in Christ’s sacrifice. The cross demonstrates that God judges sin fully while extending mercy to the repentant—justice satisfied, redemption offered. This truth deepens gratitude and fuels a sober, grateful obedience. [16:13]
• 4. Sovereignty secures hope and obedience God’s declaration of the end from the beginning assures that every circumstance serves his wise counsel, not random chance. This sovereignty invites confident trust and purposeful obedience, knowing trials refine rather than derail his purposes. It grounds courage in prayerful submission and steady ministry. [22:16]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:34] - Why "Who Is God?" Matters
• [01:45] - Moses and the Name "I AM"
• [02:24] - God Beyond Creation
• [05:01] - Knowing God = Eternal Life
• [05:33] - Holiness as Central Attribute
• [08:38] - Isaiah’s Vision of Holiness
• [12:03] - God’s Righteous Wrath Explained
• [16:13] - Cross: Justice Met Mercy
• [22:16] - Sovereignty: End From the Beginning
• [24:18] - Power, Knowledge, and Presence
• [27:27] - Mercy That Restores
• [33:30] - Call to Reverent Obedience

Bible reading

- Isaiah 6:1-5

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

- Romans 3:21-26

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

- Isaiah 46:9-10

Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

Observation questions

1. In Isaiah 6:1-5, what do you notice about the setting of God’s throne room, and how does Isaiah respond when he sees it?
2. In Isaiah 6:3, why is the word “holy” repeated three times? What does that repetition emphasize about God?
3. According to Romans 3:21-26, what problem is God addressing, and how does He remain both “just and the justifier” at the same time?
4. In Isaiah 46:9-10, what does God claim about the beginning and the end? What phrases show His absolute rule over history?

Interpretation questions

1. If God’s holiness orders all His attributes, how does that challenge the view of God as mainly a “problem-solver at our disposal”? What heart shift does that call for in prayer and worship? [03:16]
2. If God is holy, why must He respond to sin with wrath? How does that make the cross necessary rather than optional? [12:03]
3. “My counsel shall stand” (Isaiah 46:10): how should this shape the way a believer interprets delays, disappointments, or detours? [22:16]
4. Isaiah says, “Woe is me… I am undone.” What might be missing when confession is absent in gathered worship and personal prayer? [11:35]

Application questions

1. Many prayers start with requests rather than adoration. This week, how will you begin your prayers by naming who God is before asking for anything? What specific words of praise will you use? Try it daily for seven days. [03:16]
2. What would it look like to prepare for Sunday with reverent awe—arriving a bit early, reading Isaiah 6:1-5, and taking a moment to kneel or sit silently before singing? What is one concrete step you’ll take next gathering? [33:30]
3. Where do you sense the Spirit calling you to confess and turn? Identify one specific sin. When will you confess it to God, and is there a trusted believer you should talk to for help and accountability? Make a simple plan. [34:19]
4. At the cross, justice and mercy meet. How will you give thanks in a tangible way this week—writing a daily thanksgiving prayer, singing a gospel hymn at home, or sharing the good news with someone God puts on your heart? Choose one and set a time. [16:13]
5. Name one current trial. In light of “My counsel shall stand,” what is one small, clear act of obedience you will take this week—an honest conversation, a generous gift, a disciplined habit, or a surrendered decision? [22:16]
6. Mercy restores but never licenses sin. Where might you be using “mercy” as permission to avoid repentance in your own life? What corrective step will you take—a boundary, a confession, or a new daily practice? [28:57]
7. “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” Pick one area—schedule, budget, or habit—to offer to God for the next 30 days. What specific, measurable change will you make, and who will you tell for encouragement? [35:17]