What is the Holiness of God? What does it mean for us?

[P_Joseph]

Isaiah 6:1-5 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 "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."

1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:

" 'Among those who approach me

I will show myself holy;

in the sight of all the people

I will be honored.' " Aaron remained silent.

Do you think these men understood that God is Holy? More importantly do we understand that God is Holy?

your friend in Christ.joe

Edited October 19, 2008 by P_Joseph

[kross]

In simple terms, Holy means separate.HIS holiness is HIS separate nature from all that is fallen and unrighteous.

HIS holiness should mean to us a deep gratitude. HE condescended to us and came as one of us in the totality of our frailties, suffered and died and horible death. HE did not have to do it. But, it was necessary because of HIS nature.

The immense impact of the wor holy when attributed to GOD is one of the words that often makes me stop and shake my head. As David said,

"What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou would care for him"

[larryt]

Isaiah 6:1-5 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 "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."

1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:

" 'Among those who approach me

I will show myself holy;

in the sight of all the people

I will be honored.' " Aaron remained silent.

Do you think these men understood that God is Holy? More importantly do we understand that God is Holy?

your friend in Christ.joe

Hi joe,

Those that understood the holiness of God trembled at His presence. Most today that consider themselves Christians have no idea of the holiness of God. I believe the holiness of God is closely linked to the fear of the Lord. Paul reminds us:

2Co 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

It is the terror of the Lord that precedes our love for others that I believe Paul is saying here that is the motivation to share the gospel. Knowing that the lost are doomed to everlasting destruction goes hand in hand with my love for them that I should not want to see them perish.

LT

[jmwhalen]

(bold is my emphasis)

The number one attribute of God in the Bible( contrary to what this Christ-rejecting world thinks) is not His love(even though God is love), but His Holiness, also expressed as righteousness and justice. That this Holiness is foundational to God's character is a "running theme" throughout the Bible-perhaps Psalms 97:2 summarizes this theme:

"Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne."

God's righteousness loves and demands perfect "goodness", and His justice hates sin and demands its full punishment(propitiation=satisfaction).

Bad news for sinful man-The prospects of man meeting a just and Holy God are not pleasant-David echoes this fear/dread when he says:

" And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified."

God's Holiness means He is unapproachable by sinful man. Now I understand the meaning of Exodus 3:5:

"And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."

=do not come near me=keep away=no trespassing=keep your distance=God's Holiness separates Him from the sinner(spiritual death is thus separation from God). This thought is also expressed in Ex. 19:9-12, 20-21=the presence of God in His Holiness was not an invitation to approach, but a warning to stay away!("whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death"-sound familiar?-"thou shalt surely die." (Gen 2:17)

Good News-The Lord Jesus Christ as our substitute("died for our sins" 1 Cor 15:3 and others) satisfying God's justice.

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Is. 53:6

Notice "all" is the first and last word of this verse. Spiritual application=The verse begins by stating the universal condition of sinfulness, and ends by stating the universal provision of the Lord Jesus Christ's substitutionary death.

"What a book!", the Holy Bible, all about the Lord Jesus Christ- "what a Saviour"!

Also notice per Eph. 2:8,9 that the basis/grounds for salvation is grace, not love. God's love will not save anyone! God cannot "love anyone into heaven"-His justice, His Holiness, demands that he "do something" about the sin issue-and that he did by sending His Son to die in my/your place. Love is the motivation, not the basis! And that is why all this "my God is a God of love and would never send anyone to hell" is misguided-"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"(Hosea 4:6).

In Christ,

John M. Whalen