Becoming a theologian: God's Holiness

We continue our journey of looking at God's attributes and we come to looking at God's Holiness. Holiness is defined as the quality or state of being holy, but to understand that, we need to know what it means to be holy. The definition of holy is specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated. In other words God is separated from sin. Today, we will look at three points.

1. God is separated from sin.
2. God is deveoted to His own glory
3. We should be holy

God is separated from sin

Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.

Psalm 99:9

• The Hebrew word for holy is qadowsh
• It means clean, free from defilement.
• A lot of the Law (as contained in Leviticus) was concerned with avoiding things that unclean.
• Thus, one who kept the entirety of the Law could be said to be holy.

God is devoted to His own honor

And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

Isaiah 6:3

• The angels don't just say that God is holy, they say He is "holy, holy, holy." By repeating it, they are emphasizing His holiness.
• The earth is full of His glory
• God set aside the Sabbath day and made it Holy.
• Everything God does gives testimony to His holiness and can bring Him glory and honor.

We should be holy

"Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

Leviticus 19:2

You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

Leviticus 20:26

• We are commanded to be Holy
• God has set us apart from others that He can use us.
• By using us, He will bring glory and honor to himself
• Only through Christ, not on our own efforts, can we be holy
• Do you want to live a holy life and bring honor to God?
• You can do so by obeying Him and letting Him use you as He wishes.
• Studying the Bible regularly like we are helps us to know Him and to know what it is we should be doing.