God, holiness of

The moral excellence of God that unifies his attributes and is expressed through his actions, setting him apart from all others. Believers are called to be holy as God is holy.

God's nature is holy

He is perfect

Deuteronomy 32:4; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8 See also 2 Samuel 22:31; Job 6:10; Psalm 18:30, Psalm 22:3, Psalm 71:22, Psalm 78:41; Isaiah 41:14, Isaiah 43:15; Habakkuk 1:13; John 17:11; Revelation 6:10

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.

And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”

And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

He is uniquely holy

1 Samuel 2:2 See also Exodus 15:11; Psalm 77:13; Isaiah 40:25; Revelation 15:4

There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God.

God's name is holy

Ezekiel 36:21–23 See also Leviticus 22:32; 1 Chronicles 16:35, 1 Chronicles 29:16; Psalm 33:21, Psalm 97:12; Isaiah 57:15; Ezekiel 39:25; Luke 1:49

But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone. Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went. I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations— the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes.

God's dwelling-place is holy

Isaiah 57:15 David's palace was regarded as holy because of the presence of the ark See also 2 Chronicles 8:11, 2 Chronicles 30:27; Psalm 2:6, Psalm 3:4, Psalm 5:7, Psalm 11:4, Psalm 15:1, Psalm 20:6, Psalm 47:8, Psalm 48:1, Psalm 65:4; Isaiah 63:15; Joel 3:17; Obadiah 1:16–17; Jonah 2:4; Micah 1:2; Habakkuk 2:20; Zechariah 2:13; Acts 21:28 The Jews accused Paul of defiling the temple area by bringing in Gentiles; Ephesians 2:21–22 the church as the dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit; Hebrews 10:19–22; Revelation 22:19

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.

God's holiness is revealed in his righteous activity

Isaiah 5:16 See also Judges 5:11; 1 Samuel 12:7; Psalm 77:13, Psalm 145:17; Daniel 9:14, Daniel 9:16; Zephaniah 3:5

But the LORD of Hosts will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.

God's holiness affects worship

It is celebrated in worship

Psalm 99:5 See also 1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 29:2, Psalm 99:5, Psalm 103:1, Psalm 105:3, Psalm 145:21; Isaiah 6:3

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; He is holy!

Coming before a holy God requires preparation

Exodus 3:5 See also Exodus 29:37; Psalm 24:3–4; 1 Corinthians 11:28; Hebrews 10:1–2, Hebrews 10:22

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

Special requirements and tasks are given to worship leaders

Leviticus 21:7–8 the priests; Leviticus 21:10–15 the high priest; Exodus 28:1–43; Leviticus 21:16–23; 2 Chronicles 29:5 the Levites

God's holiness is to be seen in his people

God's people are to be holy because he is holy

Leviticus 19:2; 2 Timothy 1:9 See also Exodus 19:6, Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 11:44; Matthew 5:48; Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 11:2 the church is to be pure as the bride of Jesus Christ; Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 5:3; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 1:22, Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:3–7; Titus 1:8 a qualification for an elder; Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 3:1, Hebrews 12:10; 1 Peter 1:15–16

“Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Becoming holy involves striving after God

2 Peter 3:14 See also 2 Corinthians 7:1, 2 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:22–24; 1 Timothy 5:22; Hebrews 12:14; James 1:20–21; 2 Peter 3:11–12

Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace— spotless and blameless in His sight.

The holiness of believers originates from God

Exodus 31:13 See also Leviticus 22:9; Deuteronomy 28:9; Psalm 4:3; 1 John 3:1–3

“Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep My Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

Jesus Christ purifies Christian believers

1 John 1:7 See also Hebrews 7:26–28, Hebrews 9:26–28, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:14; 1 John 3:4–6

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 cleanses us from all sin.

God's holiness makes sin objectionable to him

Habakkuk 1:13 See also Joshua 24:19–20; Jeremiah 50:29

Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

God's holiness necessitates dependence upon him for forgiveness

Psalm 51:1–17 See also Daniel 9:4–19; 1 John 1:9