“The Holiness of God” – Jim Nelson

  Posted on June 13, 2021  by   No comments

In 1 Peter 1: 13 – 16, Peter writes to believers, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 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.  Peter is quoting from Leviticus 11:44 and 19:2.

What does it mean that God is holy?  A few passages come to mind.  As we look at 1 Samuel 2:2, “There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one like you”.  No one exists in your category of being but you.  Psalm 111 says, “Holy and awesome is His name.  Isaiah chapter 6 is a portrait of God’s holiness as I’m sure it is for most of you, verse 3 reads “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory”.   His very being is completely absent of even a trace of sin.  Rev. 15:4, says “You alone are holy”.  God’s holiness pervades His entire being and shapes all His attributes.  His love is a holy love, His mercy is holy mercy, and even His anger and wrath are holy anger and holy wrath. 

A.A. Hodge said, “The holiness of God is not to be conceived of as one attribute among others.  It is rather a general term representing the conception of God’s consummate perfection and total glory.  It is His infinite moral perfection crowning His infinite intelligence and power”.  Puritan Thomas Watson said, “Holiness is the most sparkling jewel of God’s crown.  Holiness is to be regarded not as a distinct attribute but as the result of all God’s moral perfection together” When we think of God’s holiness, we think of His utter separation from sin because everything in the creation is affected and influenced by sin. 

The clearest, the most discernible, the most understandable manifestation of the holiness of God is seen in the incarnation.  In Hebrews 1 we read, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers and the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world, and He, the Son, is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature”.

When Isaiah saw His glory and spoke of Him in chapter 6, he was speaking of Christ.  In John 12:41, we read, “Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory”.  This is called a Christophany, a vision of the pre-incarnate Christ.  This is the heavenly vision of the holy, holy, holy Son and Lord who manifests Himself in this world.  Jonathan Edwards said God only appears in human shape in the Son.  It is Him we love and Him we serve.

How can we become holy?  Holiness only results from a right relationship with God by believing in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Accepting His gift of eternal life, Ephesians 2:8-9.   “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourself, it is a gift from God, not by works, so no one can boast. If we have not placed our faith in God’s Son alone to save us from sins, then our pursuit of holiness is in vain.  Second Corinthians 5:21 reads, “God made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”.   This is a powerful statement on imputation, many theologians refer to this as “The Great Exchange” which means by faith our sins were imputed to Christ on the cross, and His righteousness is imputed to us.  It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that the sinner is justified, declared righteous before God.  God in His grace, because of the work of Christ on the cross, is able to forgive sinners, no matter how large their debt may be.  Amazing grace indeed!

As believers, we recognize that our position in Christ automatically sets us apart from the world. This is well stated by Peter in 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into the wonderful light”

We should all be overwhelmed by the holiness of our Christ and the gift of eternal life that He alone can give.

Your brother in Christ, Jim Nelson