What Does It Mean To Be Holy?

Text

Exodus 19:1–6 NASB95

1 In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 When they set out from Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of the mountain. 3 Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

We do not see “holy” and its cognates attached to character in this book (it’s not mentioned with the fruit of the Spirit) - but the letter teaches us that it is the HOLY Spirit developing our character

A Holy Spirit, cannot help but develop a Holy Character - why? because it is consistent with His nature.

I do not want you to simply look at the list of sinful activities and characteristics of Gal 5:19ff. and just infer that this is just a checklist to tick off as I walk through life.

I want you to see that these are anchored in the very nature and character of God. One aspect of that character that I chose to highlight is the HOLINESS of God.

The concept of holiness is one we are very familiar with, the bible uses the word hundreds of times. Even the Spirit that moves in us is called the “Holy Spirit”

It is a crucial and core aspect of God’s character that seeks to condition the way we think about God and engage God. Meaning, that because God is holy, my mind and action must respond appropriately.

APPL. we’ve have been taught to think that my character is only formed by a list of do’s and dont’s - and while I’m not suggesting that there are not do’s and dont’s - I am advocating that these are predicated and premised on the NATURE of God

It is important for us to keep in mind that “Holiness” speaks more about God than it does to us. Without God no one and no thing can be made holy. This means for something else to emobdy or embrace the attitude/character/life of holiness - God would need to get involved

Exodus 3:5 “5 Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.””

This ground was regular ground until God got on the ground

Exodus 19:10–11 “10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.”

The reason the people had to be “made holy” is God was coming on the mountain, it will cease to be a regular mountain because God is now on it

Exodus 30:32–33 “32 ‘It shall not be poured on anyone’s body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33 ‘Whoever shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people.’ ””

God said don’t make oil like that because it was holy, these ingredients are regular ingredients, but God put His hands on it, God said I have a purpose for it, now it’s holy

So, a thing’s or a person’s holiness is not founded on their ability to follow the recipe, keep the rules, check off the list, but it’s based on HOLINESS in God’s character

What do we mean when we say God is Holy?

God is not regular! - He is Holy!

God is not common, and should not be reduced to anything that is common (keep in mind this obviously speaks to a disposition of your heart and not your devotion to a formula)

God is not just some everyday enitity, some familiar friend, some routine ritual, *****

God is unique, there is no one like God - There is no one else like YHWH

God is utterly distinct from anything that is or was in exisitence

That’s why He didn’t want you to try to make an image that represents him, becasue you can’t take what is common and try to make a representation of the Holy God - He is one of a kind, take it or leave it!!!

1 Samuel 2:2 “2 “There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.”

Revelation 15:4 “4 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For all the nations will come and worship before You, For Your righteous acts have been revealed.””

Only God alone is complete and majestic in HOLINESS - Only he has the power to make something else holy.

Holiness should shape the way I view God

Holiness should fuel my drive to develop a character God is pleased with

Text

Exodus 19:4 “4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.”

God is going to bind the expectation of holiness on the Israelites on their salvation from Egypt

When God saved you, He saved you to Himself - This means that He saved you to holiness!

God did not give you this gift to be irresponsible in your stewardship of it.

God did not save you for you to live any way you want to live

God calls you with a holy calling - calling that is unique (in origin), valuable (in design/cost), and endowed with purpose - not for you turn your back on it when it gets hard or if inconveniences you.

In salvation God brings you to where He is. . .and where He is, is holy

This was important for Israel to learn because they were coming out of Egypt

God had to go down into Egypt to pull Israel out

Now, He has to go down into Israel to pull Egypt out

THAT WAS HIS CALL TO HOLINESS!

Egypt had a culture, a way of thinking, a way of living, multiplicity of Gods - But YHWH wanted them to Himself - He “brought you to Myself”

We enjoy this state that God has brought us to, through holiness

God brought them out of slavery

God brought them into a new relationship (through the covenant)

His salvation set the stage for Israel to display God’s holiness

God brought us out of slavery and into sonship - saving us from sin***

Ephesians 1:4 “4 just as He chose us in Him (SALVATION before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love”

Exodus 19:5 “5 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;”

What’s interesting in the text is that God makes a condition for Israel

God is building on what He just said, Salvation is not one and done

God has expectations, plans, and desires based on the fact that He saved you

HOLINESS isn’t just present as a state, but also a process

“If” you obey and “if” you keep my covenant

God’s choosing Israel, did not eliminate Israel from a responsibilty toward the God that saved them

Holiness was not only something they were brought to, but it was something they had to live in.

Exodus 19:6 “6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.””

When you do this, you shall be this. . .

Israel was to be a model for all the nations, to show them YHWH

Isaiah would later say in Isaiah 49:6 “6 He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.””

What God did in Israel, God is doing in us

God saved us not from Egypt, but from sin

God came down himself to deal with our sin problem

It was not on eagle’s wings but on the blood stained cross of Jesus Christ

Same Jesus came into the world to take us away from the penalty of sin, He’s now trying to take the world out of us, so we can be saved from the power of sin

We were down in the mire

In the slave pits of sin

Lost, and headed for hell

But a the right time God sent His Son, The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 “9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 6:11 “11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified (made you holy), but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

Now that we are brought to God, brought to His holiness

Now Peter says 1 Peter 2:7–9 “7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,” 8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

The same demand God made for Israel’s holiness is the same demand He makes for yours that’s we are described as:

1 Peter 2:5 “5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

Romans 12:1 “1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Notice the Sanctuary and Temple language God uses of us

We are made to be a holy people - that’s not just a status thats a process

This process is called sanctification

There are verses that teach us that “sanctification” is something that happened (1 Pet 1:2. We are chosen by the sanctifying work of the Spirit 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”)

But, it is also a process, it also something you pursue as a Christian

This is your dedication to holiness

Salvation brings men to the holiness of God

HOLINESS IMPLIES

Value

Usefulness

Representation

Sanctification is your will to appreciate and embrace the value God has placed in your life

Sanctification is your commitment to be used in the service of God (Royal priesthood)

Sanctification is your dedication to represent God in every aspect of your life - it’s your dedication and determination to stop letting you take control and let God instead

Num 20:12. Deut 1:37. He blamed the people for it - This is why its a dedication. We could say Moses slipped up once

What do I do with this?

Hebrews 12:14 “14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.”

Romans 6:19 “19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.”

Romans 6:22 “22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.”

Galatians 3:14 “14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

God is using you to get to the world

Do you see your value? Can God uses you? Can you faithfully represent God?