Then as God alone is the Source and Fount of holiness
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 11 viewsNotes
Transcript
Then as God alone is the Source and Fount of holiness, let us earnestly seek holiness from Him; let our daily prayer be that He may “sanctify us wholly; and our whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess 5:23).
Then as God alone is the Source and Fount of holiness, let us earnestly seek holiness from Him; let our daily prayer be that He may “sanctify us wholly; and our whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess 5:23).
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1) SCRIPTURAL STATEMENTS SETTING FORTH THE FACT OF GOD'S HOLINESS
(1) SCRIPTURAL STATEMENTS SETTING FORTH THE FACT OF GOD'S HOLINESS
Isaiah 57:15 -
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One That inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Psalm 99:9 -
9 Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at his holy hill; For the Lord our God is holy.
Habakkuk 1:13 -
13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, And canst not look on iniquity: Wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, And holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
I Peter 1:15, 16 -
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
John 17:11 -
CHRIST here contemplates the Father as the Holy One, as the source and agent of that which He desires for His disciples, namely, holiness of heart and life, being kept from the evil of this world. Is it not remarkable that this attribute of holiness is ascribed to each of the three persons of the Trinity?
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
GOD the Father is the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 41:14);
GOD the Father is the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 41:14);
14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, And thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
GOD the Son is the Holy One (Acts 3:14);
GOD the Son is the Holy One (Acts 3:14);
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
GOD the Spirit is called the HOLY SPIRIT (Ephesians 4: 30).
GOD the Spirit is called the HOLY SPIRIT (Ephesians 4: 30).
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
(2) THE SCRIPTURAL MEANING OF HOLINESS AS APPLIED TO GOD
(2) THE SCRIPTURAL MEANING OF HOLINESS AS APPLIED TO GOD
Job 34:10 -
10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
An evil GOD, one that could commit evil would be a contradiction in terms, an impossible, inconceivable idea.
An evil GOD, one that could commit evil would be a contradiction in terms, an impossible, inconceivable idea.
Job seemed to doubt that the principle on which the universe was conducted was one of absolute equity.
Job seemed to doubt that the principle on which the universe was conducted was one of absolute equity.
He must know that GOD is free from all evildoing.
He must know that GOD is free from all evildoing.
However hidden the meaning of His dealings, He is always just.
However hidden the meaning of His dealings, He is always just.
GOD never did, never will do wrong to any of His creatures;
GOD never did, never will do wrong to any of His creatures;
He will never punish wrongly. Men may, yea, often do; GOD never does.
He will never punish wrongly. Men may, yea, often do; GOD never does.
Leviticus 11:43-45 -
Leviticus 11:43-45 -
This means that GOD is absolutely clean and pure and free from all defilement.
This means that GOD is absolutely clean and pure and free from all defilement.
The construction of the Tabernacle, with its holy and most holy place into which the high priest alone entered once a year; the Ten Commandments, with their moral categories; the laws of clean and unclean animals and things - all these speak to us in unmistakable terms as to what is meant by holiness as applied to GOD.
The construction of the Tabernacle, with its holy and most holy place into which the high priest alone entered once a year; the Ten Commandments, with their moral categories; the laws of clean and unclean animals and things - all these speak to us in unmistakable terms as to what is meant by holiness as applied to GOD.
Two things, by way of definition, may be inferred from these Scriptures:
Two things, by way of definition, may be inferred from these Scriptures:
First, negatively, that GOD is entirely apart from all that is evil and from all that defiles both in Himself and in relation to all His creatures;
First, negatively, that GOD is entirely apart from all that is evil and from all that defiles both in Himself and in relation to all His creatures;
second, and positively, by the holiness of GOD is meant the consummate holiness, perfection, purity, and absolute sanctity of His nature. There is absolutely nothing unholy in Him.
second, and positively, by the holiness of GOD is meant the consummate holiness, perfection, purity, and absolute sanctity of His nature. There is absolutely nothing unholy in Him.
So the Apostle John declares: "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
So the Apostle John declares: "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.
44 For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
45 For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
(3) THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S HOLINESS
(3) THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S HOLINESS
Proverbs 15:9, 26 - "The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination unto the Lord." GOD hates sin, and is its uncompromising foe. Sin is a vile and detestable thing to GOD.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: But the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Isaiah 59:1, 2 - "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Israel's sin had raised a partition wall.
Israel's sin had raised a partition wall.
The infinite distance between the sinner and GOD is because of sin.
The infinite distance between the sinner and GOD is because of sin.
The sinner and GOD are at opposite poles of the moral universe.
The sinner and GOD are at opposite poles of the moral universe.
This in answer to Israel's charge of GOD's inability.
This in answer to Israel's charge of GOD's inability.
From these two scriptures it is clear that GOD's holiness manifests itself in the hatred of sin and the separation of the sinner from Himself. Herein lies the need of the atonement, whereby this awful distance is bridged over.
From these two scriptures it is clear that GOD's holiness manifests itself in the hatred of sin and the separation of the sinner from Himself. Herein lies the need of the atonement, whereby this awful distance is bridged over.
This is the lesson taught by the construction of the Tabernacle as to the division into the holy place and the most holy place.
This is the lesson taught by the construction of the Tabernacle as to the division into the holy place and the most holy place.
Proverbs 15:9 - "But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness."
Proverbs 15:9 - "But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness."
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son," etc.
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son," etc.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Here GOD's holiness is seen in that He loves righteousness in the life of His children to such a degree that He gave His only begotten Son to secure it.
Here GOD's holiness is seen in that He loves righteousness in the life of His children to such a degree that He gave His only begotten Son to secure it.
The Cross shows how much GOD loves holiness.
The Cross shows how much GOD loves holiness.
The Cross stands for GOD's holiness before even His love.
The Cross stands for GOD's holiness before even His love.
For CHRIST died not merely for our sins, but in order that He might provide us with that righteousness of life which GOD loves.
For CHRIST died not merely for our sins, but in order that He might provide us with that righteousness of life which GOD loves.
"He died that we might be forgiven; he died to make us good."
"He died that we might be forgiven; he died to make us good."
Do we love holiness to the extent of sacrificing for it?
Do we love holiness to the extent of sacrificing for it?
For other manifestations see under Righteousness and Justice of GOD.
For other manifestations see under Righteousness and Justice of GOD.
(4) PRACTICAL DEDUCTIONS FROM THE DOCTRINE OF GOD'S HOLINESS
(4) PRACTICAL DEDUCTIONS FROM THE DOCTRINE OF GOD'S HOLINESS
1. First, we should approach GOD with "reverence and godly fear" (Hebrews 12:28).
1. First, we should approach GOD with "reverence and godly fear" (Hebrews 12:28).
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
In the story of Moses' approach to the burning bush, the smiting of the men at Bethshemesh, the boundary set about Mt. Sinai, we are taught to feel our own unworthiness.
In the story of Moses' approach to the burning bush, the smiting of the men at Bethshemesh, the boundary set about Mt. Sinai, we are taught to feel our own unworthiness.
There is too much hilarity in our approach unto God.
There is too much hilarity in our approach unto God.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 inculcates great care in our address to God.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 inculcates great care in our address to God.
1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
2. Second, we shall have right views of sin when we get right views of GOD's holiness.
2. Second, we shall have right views of sin when we get right views of GOD's holiness.
Isaiah, the holiest man in all Israel, was cast down at the sight of his own sin after he had seen the vision of GOD's holiness.
Isaiah, the holiest man in all Israel, was cast down at the sight of his own sin after he had seen the vision of GOD's holiness.
The same thing is true of Job 40:3-5 ; 42:4-5.
The same thing is true of Job 40:3-5 ; 42:4-5.
3 Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: Yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: But now mine eye seeth thee.
We confess sin in such easy and familiar terms that it has almost lost its terror for us.
We confess sin in such easy and familiar terms that it has almost lost its terror for us.
3. Third, that approach to a holy GOD must be through the merits of CHRIST, and on the ground of a righteousness which is CHRIST's and which naturally we do not possess.
3. Third, that approach to a holy GOD must be through the merits of CHRIST, and on the ground of a righteousness which is CHRIST's and which naturally we do not possess.
Herein lies the need of the atonement.
Herein lies the need of the atonement.