The holiness of God is the attribute that is most prominent of all of them. It is the only attribute that is repeated three times by the angels in the throne room. So, what is it, and how will it affect us when we get a true glimpse of it? That is what we are exploring in this message.
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The Holiness Of God
2021 is the year we are devoting to knowing and communing with God. Thus, we have been studying the perfections of God. Up to this point, we have been studying the incommunicable attributes of God: His self-existence, Tri-unity, Immutability, Omnipresence, Omniscience and Omnipotence.
This morning we are going to move on to some of the communicable attributes of God. In other words, we are going to study some of God’s perfections that He can and does communicate to us in one degree or another.
The very first perfection, and I think the most prominent of all is His holiness. The Puritan, Stephen Charnock wrote in his classic book, The Existence and Attributes of God, “Power is God’s arm, omniscience His eyes, mercy His bowels, eternity His duration, but holiness is His beauty.”
In order to think deeply about God’s holiness, we will approach our subject under three headings: The Meaning, The Display, and the Effects of God’s Holiness.
1. The Meaning Of God’s Holiness
God’s Holiness Consists Of An Inherent Freedom From All Evil. 1 John 1:5 says, “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” Darkness is often used as a metaphor for evil in Scripture. Well, in God, there is no darkness at all. There is no moral blemish, no spot, no stain upon His character at all. He is morally perfect. The 19th century Presbyterian theologian, Charles Hodge, put it like this, “Holiness is a general term for the moral excellence of God… Holiness, on the one hand, implies entire freedom from moral evil and, on the other, absolute moral perfection. Freedom from impurity is the primary idea of the word. To sanctify is to cleanse; to be holy is to be clean.” God is without sin.
The word “inherent” is also important. God is not holy because He has decided to conform Himself to a law or a particular standard. God is the standard. God’s law is simply a reflection of His holy character. God doesn’t conform to the law in order to be holy. God is holy inherently, and the law is simply a manifestation of His holy character. God is not holy because He decided to be holy. God is holy because that’s who He is. God cannot be anything other than holy and still be God. God would have to cease to be God in order to be unholy. He would have to deny His own nature. All other beings in the universe derive their holiness from God. They are not holy in and of themselves. They are holy because it is a gift of divine grace. If God were to withdraw His grace and turn from them, they would fall from their holy condition into sin and corruption.
God’s Holiness Consists Of A Love Of Righteousness And A Hatred Of Evil.
Psalm 45:7, “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of joy above Your fellows.”
Psalm 5:4-6, “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with You. The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. You destroyi those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.”
Proverbs 6:16-19, “There are six things which the Lord hates. Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.” The word abomination refers to an object of hatred and detestation. As we have seen in these passages of Scripture, the Lord hates, detests, and abominates all wickedness, and He loves righteousness.
To say that God cannot be tempted by evil is not to say that God has the moral strength to resist all temptation. In God’s case, there is nothing to resist, because all evil is an abomination to Him and does not appeal to Him in any way. He is not drawn toward it, but rather, is repulsed by it.
And folks, to the extent that we hate wickedness and love righteousness, we are holy as well.
2. The Display Of God’s Holiness
Where do we see God’s holiness displayed?
In His Works. When God created the angels, they were originally holy. It was only later that some abandoned their proper abode, and did not keep their own domain (Jude 6). When God created the heaven and the earth He pronounced that it was very good (Genesis 1:31). Ecclesiastes 7:29 says, “Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.” All of God’s works show a display of His holiness.
In His Law. The Law of God is holy, because it is a reflection of God’s holy character. The apostle Paul said as much in Romans 7:12, “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”
In His Son.
John 8:29, “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”
2 Cor. 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf…”
1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.”
1 Peter 2:22, “who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth”
1 John 3:5, “You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.”
Do you want to see the holiness of God on display? Look no further than the perfect life of Jesus Christ. Never did a single word proceed from His mouth that was foul, or profane, or deceptive. He never entertained a sinful thought. He never did something from a sinful motive. Every thought, word, and deed that proceeded from Him over thirty three years was absolutely and perfectly holy, unstained with the slightest tincture of sin.
In The Cross.
How hateful sin must be to God, for Him to punish it so severely when it was imputed to Jesus. God would not spare Jesus, because of His holy hatred of sin. God is so holy, that when the sin of the world is laid on Christ, God can’t turn a blind eye or spare His own Son. He must punish sin wherever He finds it to the fullest.
Stephen Charnock put it like this, “Not all the vials of judgment that have or shall be poured out upon the wicked world, nor the flaming furnace of a sinner’s conscience, nor the irreversible sentence pronounced against the rebellious demons, nor the groans of the damned creatures, give such a demonstration of God’s hatred of sin, as the wrath of God let loose upon His Son. Never did Divine holiness appear more beautiful and lovely than at the time our Savour’s countenance was most marred in the midst of His dying groans. This He Himself acknowledges in Ps. 22. When God had turned His smiling face from Him, and thrust His sharp knife into His heart, which forced that terrible cry from Him, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” He adores this perfection – “Thou art holy.”
In Hell. Hell is the place where God shows His eternal and utter hatred for all sin. There the Lord Jesus will deal out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel – 2 Thess. 1:8.
3. The Effects Of God’s Holiness
In order to see the effects of perceiving the holiness of God, we need to go to the book of Isaiah, and look at chapter 6. In this chapter we find Isaiah coming face to face with the holiness of God.
When is the vision taking place? In the year of King Uzziah’s death. On the whole, Uzzah was a pretty good king. 2 Chron. 26:4 says, “He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Amaziah had done.” The death of the king would have catapulted the nation into turmoil and confusion. But even though the earthly king was dead, the King of kings was alive and very much well! People come and go. In 115 years, every person alive on this planet will be dead. But there is one who will live on. He has always been alive and He will always be alive, in spite of the cover story of the Time magazine in 1966, “God Is Dead!” He is the One who was, and is, and is to come, the Almighty. He was alive when Nebuchadnezzar died, and when Herod the Great died, and when Alexander the Great died, and when George Washington died, and when Hitler died. Humans come and go, but God lives on.
Where was the Lord sitting? On a throne. So, what does that tell you? What kind of a person sits on a throne? A king! One earthly king died, but the King of kings lives on and sits enthroned on high! This points to His sovereign authority. This king can do whatever He wants, whenever He wants, to whomever He wants. He is accountable to no one.
How does Isaiah describe the enthroned Lord?
“Lofty and exalted.” This speaks of His majesty. He is above all. He is above all competition. None can challenge Him.
“the train of His robe filling the temple.” In ancient days, the clothing of royal persons was the measure of their status. Often when a woman marries, she wears a wedding gown with a long flowing train. The longer the train the more exalted the person. This train of His robe reveals His royal status. It points to His majesty and greatness.
How Does Isaiah describe the seraphim? Interestingly, this is the only place “seraphim” are mentioned. “Cherubim” are mentioned 67 times, but seraphim only this once. The word “seraph”
“with two wings he covered his face.” The Bible says that no one can look upon God and live. Even the holy angels who have never sinned are not able to bear the dazzling luster of divine glory. They must be aware of the infinite distance between them and God and are ashamed to show their faces before the holy God. Even though they are sinless, they are conscious of being as nothing in the sight of God. They are filled with awe and serve Him with reverence. How much more ought we serve God with reverence and fear when we realize His infinite holiness.
“with two wings he covered his feet.” If the seraphim covered their faces because they were unworthy to behold Him, they covered their feet because they were unworthy to serve Him. They are aware of their own imperfections in the presence of God.
“with two they flew.” They fly to zealously perform the will of God. This describes their readiness and swiftness to do the divine will.
What do the Seraphim call out?
“Holy, holy, holy.” When we want to emphasize something in writing we might put it in all caps, or bold it, or put it in italics, or underline it. When Bible writers wanted to emphasize something they do it by repetition. In Galatians 1:8-9 Paul uses repetition to emphasize his point, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you have received, he is to be accursed!” Jesus used repetition in John 3:5, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” However, here in Isaiah 6 we have the only example of triple repetition. The angels never cry out, “Mighty, mighty, mighty” or “Wise, wise, wise” or “loving, loving, loving”. In the only two instances we are permitted to see into the throne room and view God in His glory, both times we hear angelic beings crying out, “Holy, holy, holy.” If it is possible to elevate one of God’s attributes above the rest, this would be the one. If all of God’s attributes were members of His body, holiness would be the spirit that animated all of them. Today I believe we have an overemphasis on the love of God. We need to rediscover the biblical emphasis on the holiness of God.
What signs accompanied the angels’ cry? The foundations of the thresholds trembled and the temple was filling with smoke. Again these signs show the greatness of the Lord, and inspire awe of Him.
How did Isaiah respond to this revelation of God?
“Woe is me.” The word “woe” is used to express grief, distress or regret. In its noun form it means “a condition of deep suffering from misfortune, affliction, or grief.” This revelation of God brought deep distress upon the prophet. When he said, “woe is me!” he was pronouncing judgment on himself. It is another way of saying, “cursed is me.”
I am ruined! The KJV translates this as undone. The ESV translates it as lost. The NLT translates it as doomed. You are starting to get the picture I trust. Isaiah was coming apart at the seams. He was undone. He was being unraveled. This is the picture of the guy who takes a roll of toilet paper and rolls it down the street. He was experiencing what modern psychologists call personal disintegration. To integrate is to put pieces together to form one whole. When schools integrate, children come from two different races to form one student body. When a person lives out what he says he believes, we say that he is a person of integrity. Now, if ever there was a man of integrity, it was the prophet Isaiah. He would have been considered one of the most righteous men of his generation by his contemporaries. But in a brief second he was shattered, exposed, and made naked before the gaze of absolute holiness. As long as Isaiah compared himself to others he could have a lofty opinion of his own character. But the instant he compared himself to God, he was morally destroyed and spiritually annihilated. God showed him his corruption all at once. No wonder he was ruined. We are fortunate in that the Lord usually reveals our corruption a little bit at a time.
Matthew Henry once wrote, “No attribute of God is more dreadful to sinners than His holiness.”
I am a man of unclean lips. When Isaiah saw the Lord, the first thing he thought of was his speech. Of course, “out of the heart the mouth speaks.” Therefore, not only was Isaiah’s speech unclean, but his heart was unclean. What a contrast to the seraphim who praised the Lord with such pure lips! The impurity of Isaiah’s speech because his grief. And not only was Isaiah’s speech corrupt, but everyone around him engaged in corrupt speech. He counts himself a leper in the midst of a leprous world. He’s a polluted man in the midst of a polluted world.
How did the Lord respond to Isaiah’s distress? He bid a seraph fly to the altar, grab a burning coal with tongs, fly to Isaiah and press that burning coal to Isaiah’s lips! By this action, Isaiah’s iniquity was taken away and his sin was forgiven. All of this pictures God’s way of forgiveness. The burning coal was taken from the altar, which is where the sacrifices were offered. This points to the truth that there is no forgiveness of sin without the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Conclusion
So, as we come to understand the holiness of God in our own lives, what will be the result? I’m going to list 6 things.
Believers
- Conviction of Sin and Repentance toward God: Think for a moment of the experience of having a burning coal pressed against your lips! What excruciating pain that would be. That illustrates the truth that repentance is painful. Conviction of sin hurts. Yes, we may be forgiven of sin through the blood of Christ, but we will have to experience the distress and pain of conviction of sin and heart-felt repentanceOHoHHH kl;klj““““;lkj;lkjkj.
- Hatred of Sin: Romans 12:9 says, “abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” Deuteronomy 7:25-26, “The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. You shall not bring an abomination into your house, and like it come under the ban; you shall utterly detest it and you shall utterly abhor it, for it is something banned.” We don’t often consider this, but God commands us to abhor evil. This is not a suggestion; it is a command.
- Worship of God: Listen to Revelation 4:8-10, “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” And when the living creatures give glory ad honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne.” The 4 living creatures cry, “Holy, holy, holy” and the result is the worship of heaven.
- Pursuit of Holiness: 1 Peter 1:15-16, “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” When we see God in His blazing holiness, not only will it produce conviction, repentance, and worship, but it will also cause the believer to be like His God. Hebrews 12:14 says, “Pursue holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
- Resignation to God’s Will: Job serves as a good example for us. When his wealth was wiped out and his children killed he responded rightly to God. Job 1:20-22, “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. Friends, if we realize that all God does is holy, we won’t murmur or complain or blame God because of His providential dealings with us. Rather, we will bow to the ground and worship.
Non-Believers
Look away from yourself to Christ. God’s holiness ought to fill you with dread and fear, because you are not holy. Do you realize you will be judged by God’s standard of perfection? A.W. Pink has written, “A fallen creature could sooner create a world than produce that which would meet the approval of infinite Purity.” The best that sinful man can bring forth is defiled. He must look away from himself to Christ. The sinner who puts all his trust in Jesus Christ and Him crucified will be accepted by God and lavished with His love.
May God give us all a vision of His holiness, and produce the blessed results we have seen in the Scriptures today. Let’s pray.
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