"The Holiness of God: A Call to Consecration"

Title: "Encountering the Holiness of God"

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, let's explore the profound theme of God's holiness, drawing insights from various scriptures that reveal the majesty, purity, and uniqueness of our Heavenly Father.

Point 1: The Majesty of God's Holiness

When the prophet Isaiah was called by God, he had a breathtaking encounter with the Almighty seated on His throne (Isaiah 6). The sheer magnitude of God's holiness left Isaiah trembling in awe.

Exodus 15:11 paints a vivid picture of God's glory: "Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?"

Exodus 15:11 NIV

Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

This splendor, this unmatched greatness, demands our worship and praise.

God’s nature is pure and good. His goodness is above all creation and every living creature. His greatness surpasses everyone and everything.

As His creation, we are called to stand in awe of His majesty.

Our hearts should be tuned to constant praise for the awesomeness of our God.

Point 2: The Purity of God's Holiness

God's holiness is not merely an external characteristic; it goes to the very core of His nature.

James 1:13 reminds us that God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else.

His purity is unmarked by sin and evil.

His holiness sets the standard for what is right and good.

James 1:13 NIV

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

God does not tolerate sin. His holiness will not allow it.

While He is longsuffering and patient for us to repent, sin never goes unpunished.

To know what is pure and holy, we must measure against the holiness of God.

He is our standard for all that is right and good.

In 1 Peter 1:15-16, we are called to reflect this holiness in our lives: "But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, 'You must be holy because I am holy.'"

1 Peter 1:15–16 NIV

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

God calls us to pursue holiness, to live a life of righteousness that is pleasing to Him.

What area in your life needs the pursuit of holiness?

Point 3: Holiness: A Distinguished Life in Christ

The uniqueness of God's holiness sets Him apart from all else.

He desires His people to be consecrated and set apart for Him.

In Leviticus 11:44-45

Leviticus 11:44–45 NIV

I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

, God instructs the Israelites to be holy because He is holy.

The call to holiness wasn't just about looking different; it was about reflecting the nature of the Holy One.

In the New Testament era, Jesus brought clarity to the concept of holiness.

In Matthew 15:1-11, He taught that true defilement comes from the heart, not external things.

We, as Christians, live under the covering of God's grace, and our holiness is rooted in Christ.

Matthew 15:1–11 NIV

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Hebrews 10:10 reminds us that we are made holy through Jesus, yet the call to holiness remains.

We are purchased people, and our obedience to God's preferences distinguishes us as His own.

Hebrews 10:10 NIV

And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

When we live holy lives, we distinguish ourselves as God’s people and honor him through happy obedience.

Conclusion: Responding to God's Holiness

In conclusion, the holiness of God is an invitation and a challenge.

It invites us to worship, to stand in awe of His majesty.

It challenges us to live a life of purity and righteousness, reflecting the holiness of our Heavenly Father.

As we respond to this call, may we be a people set apart, consecrated for His glory.

May our lives be a testimony to the world, distinguishing us as God's people who honor Him through happy obedience.

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the revelation of Your holiness. Help us, through Your Spirit, to pursue holiness in every aspect of our lives. May our worship be genuine, and our obedience bring honor to Your name. In Jesus' holy name, we pray. Amen.