God is Holy, which means that He is separate, He is set apart from all else that is. This otherness is an essential part of His nature. When God’s people and God’s angels cry out that He is “holy, holy, holy” they are confessing with force that God is holy in His essence, in all that He is and does, and that this attribute is central to what makes God, God. Tied into this His holiness means that He is absolutely pure, completely unstained by sin or evil. As Christians this is essential to know because in His holiness He calls those of us who are His people, His children to reflect Him by also being holy. We are to be holy first and foremost because our God and our Father is holy and He alone is the standard by which holiness is to be measured or judged.
Sermon Notes:
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer
What does it mean to say God is holy?
God is in a whole other category than anything or anyone else. “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11
God is the source and standard of moral purity.
Why does it matter that God is holy?
Holiness is God’s requirement for all of us. “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30
Holiness is God’s command to his children.
“No man can expect to make progress in holiness who is not often and long alone with God.” – Andrew Murray
