Holier Than You Can Imagine

Key Text:

Introduction:

What the holiness of God means:

God, holiness of

The moral excellence of God that unifies his attributes and is expressed through his actions, setting him apart from all others. Believers are called to be holy as God is holy.

Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.

Two dominant aspects of the holiness of God:

God’s holiness means that he is separated from sin and devoted to seeking his own honor. This definition contains both a relational quality (separation from) and a moral quality (the separation is from sin or evil, and the devotion is to the good of God’s own honor or glory). The idea of holiness as including both separation from evil and devotion to God’s own glory is found in a number of Old Testament passages.

Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 201). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

Proposition #1: You must see God as more holy than you ever thought possible!

Proposition #1: You must see God as more holy than you ever thought possible!

You must see God as more holy than you ever thought possible!

Comparisons that help us to understand the holiness of God

Comparing God to "holy" humans (v. 1)

Isaiah sees another king in the year that his earthly king died.

This heavenly king is monumental, filling, and exalted in presence.

See

App: implicated: we allow "holy" humans to have equal status with "holy" God

[i.e. we allow humans with status to have equal influence to us as our God]

Comparing God to unfallen beings (v. 2 - 3)

App: implicated: we think that God is holy in relation to our sinfulness - but this is not the case - God is holy in relation to unfallen creatures too. (v. 2)

God’s presence (v. 4)

God’s power is sometimes manifested in a physical tremor (cf. ; ) and his presence in a cloud of smoke (cf. ; ). So the God who normally hides himself from the senses occasionally made himself known in a form accessible to them, and he ultimately did so in the consummate unveiling of himself in his Son ().

Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 56). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

How can this truth help us see God as more holy than we ever thought possible?

Think scripturally through your comparisons.

Some never make these comparisons because you are never setting the right standard with time in the scriptures.

Others of you are setting time aside, but you are not really investing yourself.

Practical - Ask, "What does this passage teach me about God?" as you do your reading.

Sample Passage:

Questions:

(i)