The Essence of God's Holiness Revealed
Summary
In exploring the holiness of God, it is essential to understand that holiness is not merely one of God's attributes but the essence of His being. Holiness represents God's consummate perfection and total glory, as articulated by theologians like A.A. Hodge and Thomas Watson. God's holiness is His infinite moral perfection, crowning His intelligence and power. This holiness is distinct and separate from all creation, including humanity, which is made in His image but cannot compare to His essential nature. The Hebrew word "qadash" and the Greek "hosios" both convey this idea of being distinct and separate.
Scripture provides numerous revelations of God's holiness, from creation to His law, judgments, and even in heaven. Each manifestation of God reveals His moral perfection. For instance, the creation was declared "very good," reflecting God's nature. The law of God is described as perfect, holy, and good, further illustrating His holiness. God's judgments are also holy, as He is the righteous Judge. In heaven, the continuous proclamation of "Holy, Holy, Holy" emphasizes God's absolute moral perfection.
The most profound revelation of God's holiness is seen in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the exact representation of God's nature, lived a sinless life in a sinful world, demonstrating God's holiness in human form. His birth, life, and death all reflect His holiness. Unlike us, Jesus was not susceptible to sin; He was not able to sin. His holiness was not compromised by the sinful world around Him, and He could engage with sinners without being tainted by their sin.
The holiness of Jesus is further illustrated in His interactions with sinners, such as the tax collector Levi and the immoral woman who anointed His feet. Jesus' holiness was so profound that it transformed those around Him, offering forgiveness and redemption. This holiness is a testament to His divine nature and the ultimate expression of God's moral perfection.
Key Takeaways:
- God's holiness is not just an attribute but the essence of His being, representing His consummate perfection and total glory. This holiness is distinct and separate from all creation, emphasizing God's incomparable nature. [01:54]
- Every revelation of God, from creation to His law and judgments, manifests His moral perfection. God's holiness is evident in the perfection of creation, the law, and His righteous judgments. [06:36]
- The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the clearest manifestation of God's holiness. Jesus, the exact representation of God's nature, lived a sinless life in a sinful world, demonstrating God's holiness in human form. [14:12]
- Jesus' interactions with sinners, such as Levi and the immoral woman, illustrate His holiness. His presence transformed those around Him, offering forgiveness and redemption without being tainted by their sin. [35:36]
- The vision of God's holiness in Isaiah 6 reveals the profound impact of encountering God's glory. Isaiah's response of repentance and purification highlights the transformative power of God's holiness. [47:48]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:58] - Introduction to God's Holiness
[01:34] - Defining Holiness
[03:03] - God's Distinct Nature
[05:01] - God's Separation from Sin
[06:36] - Revelations of Holiness
[07:06] - Holiness in Creation
[08:14] - Holiness in the Law
[09:24] - Holiness in Judgment
[10:46] - Heavenly Vision of Holiness
[12:11] - Manifestations of Holiness
[14:12] - Incarnation as Holiness
[16:04] - Jesus as the Representation of God
[18:55] - Holiness in Jesus' Life
[22:40] - Jesus' Sinless Nature
[25:22] - Jesus' Distinct Being
[30:23] - The Fragility of Human Holiness
[35:36] - Jesus Among Sinners
[45:32] - Isaiah's Vision of Holiness
[50:20] - Christ's Glory in Isaiah's Vision
[52:51] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Holiness of God
Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 6:1-8
2. Revelation 4:8
3. Hebrews 1:1-3
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how is God's holiness described by theologians like A.A. Hodge and Thomas Watson? [01:54]
2. What are some of the ways God's holiness is revealed through creation, the law, and His judgments as mentioned in the sermon? [06:36]
3. How does the sermon describe Jesus' ability to interact with sinners without being tainted by their sin? [37:10]
4. What was Isaiah's response to his vision of God's holiness, and what does this reveal about the impact of encountering God's glory? [47:48]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. The sermon states that God's holiness is not just an attribute but the essence of His being. How does this understanding of holiness affect one's view of God's nature and character? [01:54]
2. In what ways does the incarnation of Jesus Christ serve as the clearest manifestation of God's holiness, according to the sermon? [14:12]
3. How does Jesus' interaction with sinners, such as Levi and the immoral woman, illustrate His holiness and the transformative power of His presence? [35:36]
4. Reflecting on Isaiah's vision, what does the sermon suggest about the transformative power of God's holiness in the life of a believer? [47:48]
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Application Questions:
1. The sermon emphasizes that God's holiness is distinct and separate from all creation. How can this understanding influence the way you approach worship and prayer this week? [01:54]
2. Jesus' life is described as a perfect example of holiness in a sinful world. What specific steps can you take to model your life after Jesus' example of holiness in your daily interactions? [14:12]
3. Consider the way Jesus engaged with sinners without being tainted by their sin. How can you apply this approach in your relationships with those who may not share your faith? [37:10]
4. Isaiah's response to God's holiness was one of repentance and purification. Is there an area in your life where you feel called to seek repentance and purification? How will you act on this conviction? [47:48]
5. The sermon highlights the importance of recognizing God's holiness in creation, the law, and His judgments. How can you cultivate a greater awareness of God's holiness in your everyday life? [06:36]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by God's holiness. How did that experience impact your faith journey, and how can you seek similar encounters with God's presence? [47:48]
7. The sermon mentions the transformative power of God's holiness. What is one area of your life where you desire transformation, and how can you invite God's holiness into that area? [47:48]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Holiness as His Essence
God's holiness is not just an attribute but the very essence of His being. It represents His consummate perfection and total glory, setting Him apart from all creation. This holiness is distinct and separate, emphasizing God's incomparable nature. The Hebrew word "qadash" and the Greek "hosios" both convey this idea of being distinct and separate. God's holiness is His infinite moral perfection, crowning His intelligence and power. As humans made in His image, we cannot compare to His essential nature, but we are called to reflect His holiness in our lives. [01:54]
Isaiah 57:15 (ESV): "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you strive to reflect God's holiness in your daily actions and decisions today?
Day 2: Manifestations of God's Holiness
Every revelation of God, from creation to His law and judgments, manifests His moral perfection. The creation was declared "very good," reflecting God's nature. The law of God is described as perfect, holy, and good, further illustrating His holiness. God's judgments are also holy, as He is the righteous Judge. In heaven, the continuous proclamation of "Holy, Holy, Holy" emphasizes God's absolute moral perfection. These manifestations remind us of the divine standard of holiness that we are called to pursue. [06:36]
Psalm 19:7-9 (ESV): "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether."
Reflection: How can you incorporate the principles of God's law into your life to better reflect His holiness?
Day 3: The Incarnation as the Clearest Manifestation of Holiness
The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the clearest manifestation of God's holiness. Jesus, the exact representation of God's nature, lived a sinless life in a sinful world, demonstrating God's holiness in human form. His birth, life, and death all reflect His holiness. Unlike us, Jesus was not susceptible to sin; He was not able to sin. His holiness was not compromised by the sinful world around Him, and He could engage with sinners without being tainted by their sin. This profound revelation of holiness calls us to look to Jesus as the ultimate example of living a holy life. [14:12]
Hebrews 4:15 (ESV): "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take to follow Jesus' example of holiness in your interactions with others today?
Day 4: Jesus' Transformative Holiness Among Sinners
Jesus' interactions with sinners, such as the tax collector Levi and the immoral woman who anointed His feet, illustrate His holiness. His presence transformed those around Him, offering forgiveness and redemption without being tainted by their sin. This holiness is a testament to His divine nature and the ultimate expression of God's moral perfection. As followers of Christ, we are called to engage with the world in a way that reflects His transformative holiness, offering love and redemption to those around us. [35:36]
Luke 5:31-32 (ESV): "And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'"
Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience the transformative love and holiness of Jesus through you today?
Day 5: The Transformative Power of Encountering God's Holiness
The vision of God's holiness in Isaiah 6 reveals the profound impact of encountering God's glory. Isaiah's response of repentance and purification highlights the transformative power of God's holiness. When we truly encounter God's holiness, it leads us to a place of humility and a desire for purification. This encounter challenges us to live lives that are set apart, reflecting the holiness of God in all that we do. [47:48]
Isaiah 6:5-7 (ESV): "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!' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.'"
Reflection: How can you create space in your life to encounter God's holiness and allow it to transform you today?
Quotes
"The holiness of God is not to be conceived of as one attribute among others. It is rather a general term representing the conception of God's consummate perfection and total glory. It is His infinite moral perfection, crowning His infinite intelligence and power." [00:01:47]
"Holiness is God's total glory crowned. It was Thomas Watson who said, 'Holiness is the most sparkling jewel of God's crown. It is the name by which He is known.' R.L. Dabney wrote, 'Holiness is to be regarded not as a distinct attribute but as the result of all God's moral perfection together.'" [00:02:18]
"Every revelation of God, every disclosure of God, every manifestation of God is a revelation of His moral perfection, every one. You can study any of God's revelations of Himself, and you will find there His moral perfection." [00:06:36]
"You could also look at the law of God, and you would find revealed in the law of God His absolute perfection. Psalm 19:7, 'The law of the Lord is perfect.' Romans 7:12, 'The law is holy. The commandment is holy, righteous, and good.'" [00:08:14]
"God, then, manifests His holiness in everything that He does, whether it's in creation, the giving of the law, in His judgments, and you can take it from there. God can only manifest that which is absolutely holy." [00:12:11]
"I believe that the most clear, the most discernible, the most understandable manifestation of the holiness of God seen in the boldest way against the blackest backdrop, therefore making it the clearest, is the revelation of God's holiness in the incarnation…in the incarnation." [00:14:12]
"John tells us that when Jesus came, He declared God. Verse 18 of John 1, 'No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.' Whatever you want to know about God, Jesus explains." [00:15:39]
"Jesus could go to hell and be holy. He did…He did, 1 Peter 3:19. He could go into the teeth of a demoniac with a legion of demons and purify that man and leave him clothed and in his right mind." [00:45:32]
"And the response to this vision of the holy majestic glory of the One on the throne produces a sense of guilt and devastation, and he says, 'Woe is me!' He used that word six times in chapter 5. He knows exactly what it means. It's a damnation curse." [00:47:48]
"He sees himself as cursed because seeing this holy vision, he then sees his own sin. He is overwhelmed. He says, 'I am,' in the Hebrew, 'disintegrating because I have a dirty mouth.' Why does he say that? He has the best mouth in the land. He's a prophet." [00:48:06]
"He feels this way because he has seen the King, the Lord of hosts. And in that contrast feels the horror of his own sin. And you remember the account. 'One of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.'" [00:48:31]
"These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.' Whose glory? Christ's. Who is 'Him'? Christ. Back to verse 37. 'They were not believing in Him.' And when Isaiah saw His glory and spoke of Him, he was speaking of Christ." [00:52:51]
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