Holiness

God’s holiness is rooted in his unique identity as the creator of the cosmos and the powerful source of all life and beauty and goodness. However, the power of God’s holiness is also dangerous to us as mortal creatures. But, in God’s desire to partner with humanity, he made a way for us to access his holy presence safely through Jesus. Jesus applies the dangerous heat of God’s holiness to the things that separate us from God. As we read the Bible, we see that wherever Jesus goes, sickness is healed, brokenness is made whole, and death gives into life. This tells us something significant about what it means to participate with Jesus’ ongoing work in the world. Those who follow Jesus are called to be agents of God’s transforming holiness. As you join in this study, I encourage you to reflect on concrete ways that you can live as an agent of God’s holiness to those around you.

Holiness is a biblical word that means “unique, set apart.”

HOLINESS

Hebrew “Qadosh” קדֹוש

ἅγιος Greek “Hagios”

The first two things called “holy” in the Bible are:

1st: The Sabbath Day

God “sanctifies” it (makes it holy by setting it apart) as a day of rest from all work to enjoy the goodness of creation.

GENESIS 2:3

2nd: The “Holy Ground” around the burning bush of God’s Presence

God’s presence is so powerful and unique that it makes the area surrounding his presence set apart as well.

EXODUS 3:1-6

In both cases the holiness of these things is honored by treating them with special care, not doing activities on them that are done elsewhere.

In the rest of the Bible all kinds of things can be holy:

People

LEVITICUS 8:1-10

Places

EZEKIEL 42:13

Things

EXODUS 40:1-10

Time

LEVITICUS 23:1-2

People, places, and things are considered “holy” because they have a close relationship to God, who is the source and definition of holiness.

God’s holiness is a way of talking about God’s character and nature as the most unique, powerful, beautiful, and good being in all the universe:

“There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you.”

1 SAMUEL 2:2:

God is called “holy” for the first time in Exodus 15:11. (Read the entire poem to get the Big Idea)

God’s holiness is connected to his unique role as the creator and author of all life and beauty.

ISAIAH 6:3; 17:7;43:15; 54:5; 55:5

God’s holiness is also connected to his character as the source of all moral goodness and purity

LEVITICUS 11:44

Israel’s sin is often contrasted with God’s holiness: see Jeremiah 51:5, Psalm 78:41.

God’s holiness is so pure and good that it poses a paradox for humans living in a world ruined by sin.

His power and purity is the source of all life and sustains our existence.

ISAIAH 6:3

But his power and purity can become dangerous to mortal humans corrupted by sin: This paradox is seen most clearly in the dangerous goodness of God’s presence living in Israel’s midst in the tabernacle and temple.

The temple had to be kept separate from all types of “impurity” that would defile God’s holy presence

LEVITICUS 11-15

Only holy priests were allowed into God’s direct presence in the temple, and even they were in danger if they didn’t honor God’s holiness.

However, Isaiah the prophet had a strange vision where he was in the temple (where he didn’t belong!) and in the direct presence of God.

Isaiah 6:1–7 NKJV

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”

The prophet Isaiah has a wild and beautiful vision where he witnesses Yahweh on the throne and heavenly creatures calling out “holy, holy, holy.” Isaiah is unraveled by the sight and aware that he might be destroyed because of his impurity. But then a creature, the “seraphim,” touches Isaiah’s lips with a hot coal from God’s altar and tells him, “your guilt is taken away and your sin is atoned for.” Instead of being destroyed by this burning coal, it somehow makes Isaiah pure. Normally in the Bible, if something pure touches someone impure, the impurity transfers and defiles the purity. But Isaiah’s vision presents a new idea. Now we see a purified object transferring its purity onto someone impure. Isaiah is not ruined like he feared. He is transformed in the presence of God’s holiness.

He is terrified for his life because of his moral impurity (“unclean lips”)

ISAIAH 6:5

Instead of being destroyed, God has a burning, holy coal taken from his presence and applied to Isaiah’s lips (ouch!)

ISAIAH 6:6

Instead of the temple becoming contaminated by Isaiah’s impurity, the opposite happens: God’s holiness transfers to Isaiah and erases his sin and impurity.

ISAIAH 6:7

This is unexpected to say the least! The implications of Isaiah’s vision are huge. Perhaps God doesn’t need to be protected from the impurity of our sin, maybe it’s the other way around. Maybe it’s our sin that is endangered by God’s holiness.

Question 1:

Take note that the coal in Isaiah’s vision is taken from the altar, the place where sacrifice is made. Reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for you in order to say, “your guilt is taken away.” What comes to mind?

Question 2:

Isaiah says, “I am a man of unclean lips and come from a people of unclean lips.” Isaiah’s aware that unholy words defile a person. Jesus repeats this idea in

Matthew 15:11 NKJV

Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

If all your words and the words of your people were tape recorded this past week, which words would you want Jesus to purify?

Holiness is more than being good and morally upstanding.

When referring to the holiness of God, the holiness definition takes on a much richer meaning. God's holiness is His defining characteristic. The holiness of God is a term used in the Bible to describe both His goodness and His power. It is completely unique, and utterly all-powerful, radiating out from God like an energy. In fact, God's holiness is so overwhelming, that it can actually be dangerous to approach.

What is holiness?

God's holiness is His defining characteristic. The holiness of God is a term used in the Bible to describe both His goodness and His power. It is completely unique, and utterly all-powerful, radiating out from God like an energy. In fact, God's holiness is so overwhelming, that it can actually be dangerous to approach.

It's helpful to think of God like the sun. The sun is so bright and powerful that its energy radiates out through the solar system. It's a good, helpful thing to be within the sun's energy, but the sun itself is so powerful that it's dangerous to get too close. In scripture, where we see examples of mortal men approaching the presence of the almighty God, the exact same scenario that this metaphor depicts is played out.

Take, for example, the story of Moses and the burning bush. As Moses approaches the burning bush (which as we know is the presence of God), God tells Moses to take off his shoes because he is on holy ground and warns him not to come any closer.

It's an intense example of just how overwhelmingly powerful God's holiness is. Other examples of God's holiness in the Bible can be found in verses depicting the Holy of Holies, the inner room of the Israelite temple where God Himself resided. Because the Israelites, and especially the priests that worked within the temple, were in such close proximity to God's holiness, they had to take great care in order to keep themselves pure.

For the Israelites, keeping oneself pure involved not only trying to remain morally pure but also ritually pure as well. The rituals that the Israelites had to follow in order to stay pure were numerous and included things such as staying away from dead animals, certain foods, and certain bodily fluids. While becoming ritually impure was never defined as being sinful, the problem was that the Israelites were not able to exist within such close proximity of God's holiness if they were ritually impure.

Mark 5:21–43 NKJV

Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

In Leviticus, we learned that sickness, blood, and death are impure, which makes sense. For example, we tend to step back when people cough, sterilize cuts, and wash our hands after preparing raw chicken. But it wasn’t just about hygiene for Israel. Being impure meant that you could not enter into God’s holy temple because impure things defiled holy things, and impure things were destroyed in the presence of God’s purity. But Isaiah’s vision revealed that this order could be reversed. When Jesus arrives on the scene, we see him fulfill and demonstrate the powerful implications of Isaiah’s vision. Jesus becomes the holy coal that atones for sin and destroys death and sickness without destroying the person. He doesn’t avoid people who have impurities; rather, he touches them in order to bring wholeness. Wherever he goes, the sick are made whole and the dead come alive.

Question 1:

Where are signs of spiritual, moral, or relational decay present in your city? Where are people hurting and excluded? Write down the spaces that come to mind and circle the one that you sense is most neglected and in need.

Question 2:

Take note of the list you made. Why do you think many people try to avoid these spaces of decay, hurt, and isolation? Why do you think Jesus intentionally goes into these places? As you read the passage in Mark, what do you notice about Jesus’ approach?

Question 3:

As you consider the one space you circled, what are three concrete ways you could join or invite other Jesus followers to live as agents of God’s healing holiness in that place? What practical steps are needed to make these ideas a reality? Write them down.

Question 4:

Pray over the space you circled along with each concrete idea you wrote down. Post your list somewhere you will see it and seek ways to carry it out this year.

The narrative of God's holiness doesn't end there.

Later on in the Bible, we see incredible stories of God's holiness expanding out from the temple and purifying things that were otherwise impure. Isaiah, for example, has a vision where he enters the temple impure but is purified while he is there by a burning coal - a physical embodiment of God's holiness. Later on, Ezekiel also has a vision where the holiness of God pours out from the temple like a river, revitalizing and purifying all the land it comes into contact with.

Ezekiel’s vision contains another important contribution to this theme.

Ezekiel’s vision of a new temple is part of his larger vision of how God will restore his covenant people after their sin and covenant failure: In Ezekiel 8-11 God’s presence leaves the temple after it’s defiled by Israel’s idolatry and sin.

EZEKIEL 8-11

Ezekiel envisions a new temple (chs. 40-47) in a new land (ch. 48) with a new covenant people (chs. 36-37).

This temple needs to be honored as holy space, but at the same time, Ezekiel’s vision about the river flowing out of the temple makes it clear that God’s life-giving holiness will one day flow out of the temple into the world creating all kinds of new life

EZEKIEL 47:7-12

These examples of God's holiness purifying impure things all lead up to Christ. Christ, who is God's holiness in human flesh, goes out into the land, healing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out demons - all of which are examples of God's holiness now purifying the things it comes into contact with.

When Jesus arrives on the scene announcing the arrival of God’s kingdom, he seems to identify and move towards people who were considered ‘unclean’ and unfit to enter God’s presence in the temple.

Jesus’ contact with the leper (Matthew 8:1-4), the bleeding woman (Matthew 9:20-23), the dead boy (Luke 7:11-17) should have made him “unclean,” but instead his holiness and purity transfers to them, healing and restoring their bodies.

Jesus declared that people are not made impure by anything that touches or enters their bodies, but rather by the moral corruption and selfishness that comes out of their minds and hearts.

MARK 7:14-23

Jesus claimed that he was the new temple, the place where God’s holiness meets people in their sin and uncleanness: He offered forgiveness of sins apart from the temple and said his death was a sacrifice that covered for the sin of others.

MATTHEW 9:1-8

MATTHEW 26:26-29

Jesus established the community of his followers as a new temple, where God’s holiness meets with his people and changes them forever.

After his resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 resembles the entrance of God’s holy presence into the temple.

ACTS 2:1-4

COMPARE THE IMAGES OF CLOUD, FIRE AND GLORY IN EXODUS 40:34, LEVITICUS 9:23-24, AND 2 CHRONICLES 7:1 WITH THE IMAGE OF FIRE IN ACTS 2:1-4

The apostles argued that the community of Jesus’ people are a new temple, and so are called to be holy like priests, set apart from showing the world the grace and mercy of God.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-17;

EPHESIANS 2:19-22;

1 PETER 2:4-5, 9-10

Jesus also used the image of Ezekiel’s temple-river to describe any person who trusts in him: the Spirit will make that person a holy source of God’s own life that spreads to others:

JOHN 7:37-39

The story of the Bible concludes with John’s vision of the new creation, where Ezekiel’s river is flowing out of God’s presence creating a new garden of Eden-city where his people are with him forever.

REVELATION 21-22

Concluding Thoughts

Through all of these examples, we are able to piece together a compelling picture of the holiness of God. God's holiness is a powerful force that must be treated with the utmost respect. At the same time, God's holiness is a gift, able to heal a broken and impure world. Best of all, as followers of Christ, a part of God's holiness now resides in us as well, making it our mission to go out and spread the holiness of God to all the world.