God is Holy
Isa. 6:1-3 - "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. 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. And they were calling to one another: 'Holy, holy , holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory'” (NIV).
1 Peter 1:15-16 - "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" (NIV).
1 John 1:5-9 - "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives" (NIV).
Rev. 4:8 - "…of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come'" (NIV).
To be holy is to be set apart, distinct, different from. God is called "Holy, holy, holy." We could also say He is "Other, other, other…. Not like you, not like me, completely set apart." And in His holiness, God reaches out to be close to His creation.
In Exodus 19 God instructed the Israelites to prepare themselves to meet God at Mt. Sinai. They are instructed to wash their clothes and abstain from sexual relations. Isn't it amazing that God actually gives the Israelites a role in their own preparation to meet God? For what difference would the physical acts of preparation make before the presence of the Holy, Creator of the universe? Yet, God still says that their acts of preparation were important. Furthermore, God tells them not to cross the boundary and touch the mountain. Here we see the great mercy of God wrapped up in His holiness. If the Israelites were to touch the mountain, they would die. This is not because God is mean and likes to kill people. No, it is the natural implication of humans with sin touching the holiness of God. We immediately die when encountering the presence of the Holy God in an unworthy state. That is why applying the death of Jesus (the Holy One) to ourselves - our necessary act of preparation - is so important. You cannot separate God's holiness from His great love.
God is set apart. He sets me apart. He calls me to live in a set apart way in every aspect of my life. I am not called to live by the standards of this world. The norms of this world are not in line with the holiness of God. For God is different, other, completely separate from the ways of this world. And out of His amazing love, God calls us to approach His holy presence. He takes time to prepare us by washing us and giving us new clothes (the gift of Jesus' death and resurrection). Then, He calls us to draw near with confidence (Heb. 4:16). And finally, He calls us to walk like He walks, to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter:15-16).
Is it really possible to be holy as He is holy? Often, we quickly move past this Scripture thinking that God didn't really mean those words. After all, "No one is perfect," we say. He can't really mean that we should be perfect. Isn't that a bar too high? No, God is always clear and speaks the truth. He doesn't say one thing and mean another.
So, it must be possible to live a holy life. How? Ask the Holy Spirit if there is any area in your life right now that you are not walking in holiness. When He speaks to you, agree with Him. Confess and repent of your sin. And then continue to live a holy life. Walking in holiness is not about scouring our souls to find every last bit of sin… in effect trying to make ourselves holy. We are simply called to respond to the Holy Spirit's conviction in the moment (Gal. 5:16-26)… "to keep in step with Him." You can do that. You can live a holy life, just like He called you to.
For More Study
Thoughts and Questions for Application
Memorization
1 Peter 1:15-16 - "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" (NIV).
1 Peter 1:15-16 - "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" (NIV).
1 John 1:5-9 - "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives" (NIV).
Rev. 4:8 - "…of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come'" (NIV).
To be holy is to be set apart, distinct, different from. God is called "Holy, holy, holy." We could also say He is "Other, other, other…. Not like you, not like me, completely set apart." And in His holiness, God reaches out to be close to His creation.
In Exodus 19 God instructed the Israelites to prepare themselves to meet God at Mt. Sinai. They are instructed to wash their clothes and abstain from sexual relations. Isn't it amazing that God actually gives the Israelites a role in their own preparation to meet God? For what difference would the physical acts of preparation make before the presence of the Holy, Creator of the universe? Yet, God still says that their acts of preparation were important. Furthermore, God tells them not to cross the boundary and touch the mountain. Here we see the great mercy of God wrapped up in His holiness. If the Israelites were to touch the mountain, they would die. This is not because God is mean and likes to kill people. No, it is the natural implication of humans with sin touching the holiness of God. We immediately die when encountering the presence of the Holy God in an unworthy state. That is why applying the death of Jesus (the Holy One) to ourselves - our necessary act of preparation - is so important. You cannot separate God's holiness from His great love.
God is set apart. He sets me apart. He calls me to live in a set apart way in every aspect of my life. I am not called to live by the standards of this world. The norms of this world are not in line with the holiness of God. For God is different, other, completely separate from the ways of this world. And out of His amazing love, God calls us to approach His holy presence. He takes time to prepare us by washing us and giving us new clothes (the gift of Jesus' death and resurrection). Then, He calls us to draw near with confidence (Heb. 4:16). And finally, He calls us to walk like He walks, to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter:15-16).
Is it really possible to be holy as He is holy? Often, we quickly move past this Scripture thinking that God didn't really mean those words. After all, "No one is perfect," we say. He can't really mean that we should be perfect. Isn't that a bar too high? No, God is always clear and speaks the truth. He doesn't say one thing and mean another.
So, it must be possible to live a holy life. How? Ask the Holy Spirit if there is any area in your life right now that you are not walking in holiness. When He speaks to you, agree with Him. Confess and repent of your sin. And then continue to live a holy life. Walking in holiness is not about scouring our souls to find every last bit of sin… in effect trying to make ourselves holy. We are simply called to respond to the Holy Spirit's conviction in the moment (Gal. 5:16-26)… "to keep in step with Him." You can do that. You can live a holy life, just like He called you to.
For More Study
- Exodus 19-20
- Isaiah 6:1-8
- Philippians 2:12-16
- 1 Peter 1:13-25
- 2 Peter 1:1-11
Thoughts and Questions for Application
- Are you attracted to God's holiness? Are you afraid of His holiness?
- Do you believe that it is possible for you to live a holy life?
- Are there any area(s) of your life that you have given yourself permission not to walk in holiness? Take some time to wait on the Holy Spirit and ask Him.
Memorization
1 Peter 1:15-16 - "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" (NIV).
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