By Pastor Stephen Hess –
If someone asked you to describe God, what would be the first words to enter your mind? Many people would probably first think of attributes such as power, wisdom, or perfection. Perhaps the most common one-word definition of God today is “love.” After all, Scripture does tell us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). But one of the most overlooked characteristics of God is his holiness. Scripture repeatedly describes God as “holy”, and one could argue that holiness is one of his most foundational attributes.
When the prophet Isaiah has a vision of God, he saw a number of angelic beings called “seraphim” above the throne of the Lord. These beings were worshipping the Lord and calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isa. 6:3). When we turn to the book of Revelation, we see that the Apostle John had an extremely similar vision of God: “And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures…and day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev. 4:6-8). Clearly if the heavenly host was moved to continually proclaim God’s holiness, then this attribute must have been central to his character.
But what is holiness? One definition of holiness is moral purity. Many places in Scripture talk about how believers are called to pursue a holy or morally pure life. For example, in 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul says, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of the body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” Jesus was the ultimate picture of holiness as moral purity, for we are told numerous times that he lived a life that was completely sinless. 1 Peter 2:22 says, “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.”
However, holiness is not merely defined in terms of moral purity. More fundamentally, to be holy means to be set apart from what is common. For example, in the Old Testament Aaron and the priests were “set apart” as holy and separated from the other Israelites, to offer sacrifices on behalf of God’s people and mediate between them and their Lord (1 Chron. 23:13). The priesthood was a reflection of the fact that God himself is completely set apart from all his creatures. As we read in the prophet Isaiah, “To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One” (Isa. 40:25). Or as Isaiah 46:9 says, “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.”
God is the supreme definition of what it means to be holy both in terms of being morally pure and being set apart. It is because God is holy that believers are called to embody these same characteristics in our lives. As Peter said, “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’” (1 Pet. 1:14-16).
Holiness is central to God’s character, and it is central to the believer’s calling. Yet it is too often overlooked in our Christian study today. That is why on Wednesday nights this spring at Highview we are working through a 12-week study called “The Holiness of God.” This study will deepen your understanding and awe for God’s holiness, and challenge you to embrace the calling of holiness in your own life. I hope you will invite a friend and come join us!