Understanding God's Holiness: Overcoming Doubts in Faith
Summary
Understanding the nature of God is central to our faith journey, and it is often our misconceptions about His character that lead to spiritual struggles. The prophet Isaiah addresses this issue by confronting the doubts and complaints of the Israelites, who questioned God's goodness and justice in the face of their suffering. They wondered why, if they were God's chosen people, they were experiencing hardship and why their judgment seemed to be overlooked by God. This doubt is not unique to the Israelites; it persists today among those who struggle to reconcile the world's suffering with the claims of God's goodness and power.
The root of this problem lies in our inadequate understanding of God's character. We often try to fit God into our limited human understanding, leading to doubts and questions when He doesn't conform to our expectations. The prophet's response to these doubts is to remind us of God's holiness. God's holiness is not just a characteristic; it is the essence of who He is. It is a quality that is so different from anything we know that it challenges our understanding and compels us to humble ourselves before Him.
The Bible consistently asserts God's holiness without argument, emphasizing that it is a fundamental aspect of His nature. This holiness is what separates God from humanity, and it is a concept that our minds struggle to grasp. Our inability to fully comprehend God's holiness is a reminder of our limitations and the need for humility in our approach to Him. The Bible calls us to be holy as God is holy, highlighting the moral and spiritual gap between us and God.
Ultimately, our struggles with faith and understanding are not due to the complexity of specific issues like miracles or suffering but stem from our lack of knowledge of God. By focusing on God's holiness, we can begin to see our problems in a new light and find peace in the assurance of His perfect character.
Key Takeaways:
- Doubts about God's goodness often arise from our limited understanding of His character. We must recognize that our human perspective is inadequate to fully grasp the divine nature of God. [11:51]
- The holiness of God is a central theme in the Bible, and it is a quality that sets Him apart from humanity. This holiness challenges our understanding and calls us to humility. [19:06]
- Our spiritual struggles are often rooted in our misconceptions about God. By focusing on His holiness, we can gain a clearer perspective on our faith and the challenges we face. [21:40]
- The Bible asserts God's holiness without argument, emphasizing its importance in understanding His nature. This holiness is a call to moral and spiritual alignment with God's character. [22:10]
- Recognizing the qualitative difference between God and humanity is essential for a correct understanding of His nature. This understanding helps us navigate our doubts and strengthens our faith. [20:50]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[10:05] - The Central Difficulty
[10:19] - Israel's Complaint
[11:08] - Doubting God's Goodness
[12:06] - Persistent Problem
[13:14] - The World's Injustices
[14:14] - Questioning God's Power
[15:09] - The Promise of Christ's Return
[16:14] - The Character of God
[17:17] - The Holiness of God
[18:16] - God's Unique Nature
[19:06] - The Bible's Assertion of Holiness
[20:34] - The Difference Between God and Man
[21:40] - Our Lack of Understanding
[22:30] - The Call to Holiness
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 40:27-31
2. 1 Peter 1:15-16
3. Psalm 99:9
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Observation Questions:
1. In Isaiah 40:27, what complaint do the Israelites express about their relationship with God? How does this reflect their understanding of God's character? [10:19]
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the doubts people have about God's goodness and justice in the face of suffering? [13:14]
3. How does the prophet Isaiah respond to the Israelites' doubts about God's power and justice? What aspect of God's character does he emphasize? [18:16]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the main reason for people's spiritual struggles and doubts about God? [16:30]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of God's holiness challenge our human understanding, according to the sermon? Why is it important to recognize this difference? [19:22]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our misconceptions about God lead to spiritual struggles? How can focusing on God's holiness provide clarity? [21:40]
3. The sermon mentions that the Bible asserts God's holiness without argument. Why might this be significant for believers in understanding God's nature? [22:10]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between God's holiness and the moral and spiritual gap between God and humanity? [20:50]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you doubted God's goodness due to personal struggles or suffering. How might a deeper understanding of God's holiness have changed your perspective? [11:51]
2. The sermon emphasizes the need for humility in approaching God. What practical steps can you take to cultivate humility in your spiritual life? [19:06]
3. Consider the ways in which you might be trying to fit God into your limited human understanding. How can you begin to expand your view of God's character? [16:46]
4. How can focusing on God's holiness help you navigate current doubts or challenges in your faith journey? What specific actions can you take to remind yourself of His holiness? [21:40]
5. The sermon calls believers to align morally and spiritually with God's character. Identify one area in your life where you feel a gap between your actions and God's holiness. What steps can you take to bridge that gap? [22:10]
6. How can you use the understanding of God's holiness to support others who are struggling with doubts about God's goodness and justice? [13:14]
7. Reflect on the qualitative difference between God and humanity. How does this understanding impact your daily interactions and decisions? [20:50]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Our Limited Understanding
Our doubts about God's goodness often stem from our limited understanding of His character. We tend to view God through the lens of our human experiences and expectations, which can lead to confusion and doubt when He doesn't act in ways we anticipate. This is a common struggle, as seen in the Israelites' complaints in Isaiah's time. They questioned God's justice and goodness because they couldn't reconcile their suffering with being God's chosen people. Today, we face similar challenges when trying to understand God's actions or inactions in the world. Recognizing our limited perspective is the first step toward deepening our faith and trust in God's perfect nature. [11:51]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you struggled to understand God's plan. How can you trust in His higher ways today, even without full understanding?
Day 2: The Transformative Power of God's Holiness
The holiness of God is a central theme in the Bible, setting Him apart from humanity. This holiness is not just a characteristic but the essence of who God is. It challenges our understanding and calls us to humility, as we recognize the vast difference between God's nature and our own. The Bible consistently emphasizes God's holiness, urging us to align our lives with His character. By focusing on His holiness, we can gain a clearer perspective on our faith and the challenges we face. This understanding helps us navigate our doubts and strengthens our faith. [19:06]
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.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you strive to reflect God's holiness in your daily actions and decisions today?
Day 3: Misconceptions and Spiritual Struggles
Our spiritual struggles often arise from misconceptions about God's character. When we try to fit God into our limited human understanding, we encounter doubts and questions. The Bible calls us to be holy as God is holy, highlighting the moral and spiritual gap between us and God. By focusing on God's holiness, we can begin to see our problems in a new light and find peace in the assurance of His perfect character. This shift in perspective can transform our spiritual journey, helping us to trust in God's goodness and justice even when we don't fully understand His ways. [21:40]
Job 11:7-9 (ESV): "Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea."
Reflection: Identify a misconception you have held about God. How can you seek a deeper understanding of His true nature today?
Day 4: The Call to Holiness
The Bible asserts God's holiness without argument, emphasizing its importance in understanding His nature. This holiness is a call to moral and spiritual alignment with God's character. Recognizing the qualitative difference between God and humanity is essential for a correct understanding of His nature. This understanding helps us navigate our doubts and strengthens our faith. By embracing God's holiness, we are invited to live lives that reflect His character, striving for moral and spiritual purity in our daily walk with Him. [22:10]
Leviticus 20:26 (ESV): "You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to align your life more closely with God's holiness?
Day 5: Strengthening Faith Through Understanding
Recognizing the qualitative difference between God and humanity is essential for a correct understanding of His nature. This understanding helps us navigate our doubts and strengthens our faith. By focusing on God's holiness, we can gain a clearer perspective on our faith and the challenges we face. This shift in perspective can transform our spiritual journey, helping us to trust in God's goodness and justice even when we don't fully understand His ways. Embracing this understanding allows us to find peace in the assurance of His perfect character. [20:50]
Psalm 99:9 (ESV): "Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!"
Reflection: How can you actively seek to deepen your understanding of God's holiness and character this week?
Quotes
Israel says why am I having such a difficult time God has always told us that we are his people very well if we are his people why does he allow us to suffer why are things going against us why has my judgment passed over from my God which means this you see that they were beginning to doubt God's goodness they couldn't quite make up their minds as to what was the real explanation was it that God was not able to do anything for them or was it that God really didn't care what to them they say where is God's righteousness where is his judgment he says that he's a just God well is this a fair way of dealing with us that's the question that they ask in view of their circumstances [00:10:56]
there are large numbers of people tonight outside the church and outside Christ for just this very reason that they say that they cannot reconcile the things that they know and the things they see with the claims that are made in the Bible for God and for his character it's an old problem this and a very persistent one you'll find it dealt with in on innumerable occasions in the scriptures themselves it's almost a standing complaint in the Book of Psalms the children of Israel were always ready to Grumble and to complain in this way whenever things went wrong with them they never say this sort of thing while things are going well of course when things were going well they just forget God all together but when things go wrong they turn back and say now is this Fair where is God Is God just in doing this is God not able to deliver us what is happening [00:11:53]
they say if God is God and if God is what the Bible says he is how can these things be they say look at the innocent suffering and look at the people who are evil and ungodly and selfish flourishing and having a thoroughly good time they say the way of godliness doesn't seem to pay in a world like this look at the injustices look at the cruelty look at the people who are born perhaps blind or lame or something like that now they say I can't believe in the god of your Bible when I see things like that that's the sort of argument there queering and doubting of God's goodness of God's justice of God's right righteousness of God's benevolence and then they say look at this problem of War why does God allow War if there is a God how can he possibly allow such a thing why doesn't he stop it you say he's got Almighty power they argue well very well if he's got the power why doesn't he exercise it it must be that he's not good that's what they say [00:13:17]
I say again that it is our total and completely inadequate ideas of God and our Unworthy conceptions of God that account for all our troubles all our problems all our difficulties about believing this Christian message we don't understand it that's the problem God is so great and so different that we stumble at every point we think we can understand we think we're competent to and we bring our questions and we analyze with our minds and because God doesn't conform to what we think we say this is wrong this can't be true my dear friends it's all I say owing to this tragic inability of men truly to understand the character of God [00:16:30]
he starts by holding us face to face with the Holiness of God listen to him here in the first statement he repeats the challenge which he introduced in verse 18 notice the difference between Verse 18 and verse 25 in verse 18 I read to whom then will he liken God or what likeness will he compare unto him in verse 25 I read to whom then will he liken me or shall I be equal sayth the Holy One you notice the new term the Holy One this is God's description of himself this is the way in which the Bible always refers to him and this is the way in which the Bible always meets us at this particular point of difficulty and the way in which it always answers us it always starts by making this great assertion that God is Holy it doesn't argue about this it proclaims it [00:18:07]
we cannot conceive of the Holiness of God we can't grasp what it means and if there is one point more than another at which all our powers and faculties are to be seen for the pygmy things they are it is when we try to consider the unutterable Holiness of God our minds buggle at the the greatness and the might and the Majesty of God don't they we feel our measures are too small but it is when we come to this quality of God which is called his Holiness that all our knowledge and philosophy and ability it's all so inadequate it all just becomes quite useless in our hands why well because God Is So essentially different [00:19:36]
there is one emphasis in modern theology which I believe is excellent and that is that section of itad dinate which puts great emphasis upon the utter qualitative difference between God and men and if we don't start with that we can never be right anywhere and what is the thing that divides and separates men from God most of all well it's just just this it is Holiness it's moral character we are separated from God I say in every respect but no in no respect more than this here I say we are face to face with something that's so entirely different from us that we can't begin to understand it and there is nothing to do but to Humble ourselves before it and to drop onto our knees and to worship him and to acknowledge that we are undone [00:20:50]
the main trouble with us all is that we don't know God it isn't our particular problems that constitute the real problem your problem you knows not to understand Miracles if you understood God you'd have no difficulty with Miracles All the Troubles are due to the fact we don't understand God the categories of too high they too great they too exalted it's God himself and what the Bible asserts about God above everything else is this that God is essentially holy that is the thing that makes God God he is unutterable Holiness [00:21:40]
God has been pleased to reveal himself and his Holiness to us that is why he gave the Ten Commandments and the moral law that's the message he gave the prophets that's what he's revealed supremely in his son that's what the son taught in The Sermon on the Mount Holiness Holiness unto the Lord the holy message of the Bible in a sense is this be ye holy for I am Holy listen to what the Bible tells us about God God it says is light and in him is no Darkness at all [00:22:37]
God is so great and so different that we stumble at every point we think we can understand we think we're competent to and we bring our questions and we analyze with our minds and because God doesn't conform to what we think we say this is wrong this can't be true my dear friends it's all I say owing to this tragic inability of men truly to understand the character of God now listen to The Prophet as he again holds us face to face with God that's all he's got to say by way of answer to this problem as is answered every other problem and he tells us here three things about the character of God [00:16:30]
the Bible always meets us at this particular point of difficulty and the way in which it always answers us it always starts by making this great assertion that God is Holy it doesn't argue about this it proclaims it and of course it's just here we find ourselves in our greatest difficulty it is here that we differ most of all from God we cannot conceive of the Holiness of God we can't grasp what it means and if there is one point more than another at which all our powers and faculties are to be seen for the pygmy things they are it is when we try to consider the unutterable Holiness of God [00:18:07]
the main trouble with us all is that we don't know God it isn't our particular problems that constitute the real problem your problem you knows not to understand Miracles if you understood God you'd have no difficulty with Miracles All the Troubles are due to the fact we don't understand God the categories of too high they too great they too exalted it's God himself and what the Bible asserts about God above everything else is this that God is essentially holy that is the thing that makes God God he is unutterable Holiness [00:21:40]
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