I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      In the previous lesson of this series on Deity, we considered the evidence of God’s existence as a matter of great importance.

B.      In this lesson, we will examine another matter of great importance, which is the essential quality of God – His holiness.

                                                             1.      This topic is vitally important in our understanding of Deity.  If we do not understand holiness, then we cannot understand God.

                                                             2.      It is also vitally important to our relationship with God, for unless we become holy ourselves, we cannot have fellowship with Deity.

II.      A VIEW INTO THE THRONEROOM OF GOD

A.      Consider the vision given to the prophet Isaiah at the beginning of his ministry, which was a view to the spectacular scene of the Lord on His throne (Isa. 6).

                                                             1.      Isaiah saw the seraphim (six-winged creatures) standing above the Lord, and one called out to another, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (v. 3).

                                                             2.      At the sound of this voice, Isaiah despaired for himself, for he knew that he was unholy and unworthy to be present before the holy Lord (v. 5).  Such fear is typical whenever man has encountered Deity (Moses – Ex. 3:6; Israel – 20:18-21; apostles – Matt. 17:5-7).

B.      More than eight hundred years later, the apostle John saw a scene similar to that which Isaiah had seen (Rev. 4).

                                                             1.      John saw a door standing open in heaven and God sitting on the throne (vv. 1-3).

                                                             2.      Like Isaiah, John heard the six-winged creatures calling out, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come” (v. 8).

C.      The words heard by Isaiah and John expressed the very essence of God’s character – “Holy, holy, holy.”

                                                             1.      Notice that it was not enough for the seraphim to say “holy” once.  The depth of God’s holiness required them to declare Him to be “holy, holy, holy.”

                                                             2.      Not only this, but also they repeated the phrase without ceasing.  Just as God’s holiness continues forever, so also should expressions of praise for His holiness continue without ceasing.

III.   GOD’S HOLINESS

A.      Let us understand the true meaning of holiness.

                                                             1.      The word “holy” in the original language (Greek hagios) means “separated” (compare to hagiasmos, meaning “sanctification” or “holiness;” hagios, meaning “saint” or “separated one”).

                                                             2.      To truly understand holiness, one must become acquainted with the character of God.

a.       Holiness cannot be truly defined without referring to God, for holiness is simply the quality of God.  He defines holiness by who He is.

b.       Attempting to define holiness to a person who has no knowledge of God is like attempting to describe red to a person who has never seen color.  How can it be explained?

                                                             3.      God has revealed Himself to us so that we may know His holy nature and His holy mind.

a.       His creation (nature, the universe) gives a general revelation of His authority, His power, and His providence (Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:19-20).

b.       His word (the Bible) gives a specific revelation of His love, His law, and His will for us (Ps. 19:7-14; 2Tim. 3:16-17).

c.        Simply stated, His will is for us to be holy like Him – “…but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior, because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1Pet. 1:15-16).

B.      As a practical matter, God’s holiness means that He cannot tolerate that which opposes His holy nature.

                                                             1.      Those who reject God’s revelation of Himself and rebel against His will are separated from Him.

a.       Notice Isaiah 59:2 – “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”

b.       Passages such as Romans 1:18-32, 1Corinthians 6:9-10, and Galatians 5:16-21 describe behaviors that are unholy and incompatible with God’s holy nature.

                                                             2.      Notice 1John 1:5-7 – “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

a.       The contrast between light and darkness demonstrates to us the separation between God’s holiness and unholy things.  They are utterly incompatible.

b.       The darkness to which John refers is a figure of unholiness and sin in particular.

IV.    HOW DO WE REGARD GOD?

A.      To have proper regard for God, we must revere Him as holy, holy, holy.

                                                             1.      Reverence for God’s holiness means understanding that He is exalted above us.

a.       Notice Isaiah 55:8-9 – “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD.  ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

b.       In Psalm 61:2, David referred to God as “the Rock that is higher than I.”

                                                             2.      Many make the mistake of projecting human traits upon God.

a.       God rebukes this notion in Psalm 50:21 – “You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you…”

b.       God is not “the man upstairs,” and we must not treat Him as if He is.

c.        God’s judgment is different from ours, for He is holy.

i.         God loves His people, but if we imagine God as a doting Father who sees His child as incapable of doing wrong, then we are mistaken.

ii.        For those who go on sinning while assuming God will “understand,” they must realize that God is holy and He expects His children to be holy (2Cor. 6:17-18; Heb. 10:26-27).

B.      Our actions reveal our true regard for God.

                                                             1.      Consider the example of Moses in Numbers 20:2-12.

a.       Moses’ actions revealed his unholy attitude.  By not doing exactly as God told him, Moses did not treat God as holy before the congregation.  Because of this, Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land.

b.       Notice that the end result did not justify Moses.  Even though Israel received water, Moses was still severely punished because he had disrespected God.

c.        This example demonstrates that regarding God as anything less than holy is a true source of sin.  Sin is a matter of man lacking proper respect for God.

                                                             2.      What do our actions reveal about our regard for God?  If God was displeased with Moses, then would He be any less displeased with us if we disobey Him and treat Him as less than holy?

a.       If we exchange God’s word for another message, then do we not treat Him as unholy?

b.       If we trade God’s way of worship for another, then do we not regard Him as unholy?

V.      CONCLUSION – WHAT SHALL WE DO?

A.      All of us have treated God as unholy at some time.

                                                             1.      When we did so, we showed that we did not regard God as holy enough to obey Him.

                                                             2.      We also showed that we did not regard God as holy enough to believe His law of sin and death (Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 6:23).

B.      How can man, who becomes unholy with sin, ever come into fellowship with the Holy God?

                                                             1.      Notice Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

                                                             2.      Likewise, consider 1Corinthians 6:11 – “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

                                                             3.      None of us could be made holy but for the grace of God in Christ Jesus.

a.       Only by obeying the gospel of His grace can we be made suitable to have fellowship with our Holy God.

b.       Notice Ephesians 2:13 – “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

C.      Therefore, let us not be like Moses when he treated God as unholy and suffered the loss of the promise land because of it.  Let us regard God as holy, holy, holy.