NewLife News: The Attributes of God - Holiness

1/8/2025

Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of His glory.
Isaiah 6:3

God’s holiness deserves to be proclaimed! The seraphim in this passage rightly declare this truth about God. He is so holy that even now in Heaven, His holiness is being praised and proclaimed by the four creatures surrounding His throne and the elders falling down to worship Him (Rev. 4:8-11).

I know I have made this point ad infinitum but there is no passive reaction to a direct revelation of God’s holiness! As we saw on Sunday, Isaiah had a total system melt down when he saw God’s holiness. Peter tells Jesus to go away because he is so struck by his own sinfulness in the presence of Jesus (Luke 5:8). John, the Beloved disciple, falls down as though dead when he receives the vision of the Resurrected Jesus (Rev. 1:17). God's holiness, His purity, and His righteousness are so perfectly pure that we can’t stand (literally) in His Presence. His holiness demands our honoring and worshipping Him.

In His holiness, God also calls us to be holy. “You shall be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter. 1:16).” Isn’t it interesting that the same man, Peter, who told the Lord to depart from him because of his inherent sinfulness is now the same one writing to the exiles scattered all over to be holy?! What changed? Jesus changed him. In His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated sin and death. Upon His ascension, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to indwell His followers (Acts. 2). It was through the forgiveness of his sins, the cleansing of his unrighteousness, the receiving of the Lord within his heart and being both sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit, that Peter could pen those words. Now the call falls to each of us who believes in the name of Jesus to be holy. This is only possible through the enabling presence of the Holy Spirit, just as it was for Peter. God has not left us alone to attain or decipher some type of holiness code but He Himself dwells within us and empowers us to live the life to which He calls us. Thus we see the Christmastime proclamation "He is Emmanuel-God with us" is not simply a comforting holiday thought but an inner reality for believers.

Let’s praise Him for His holiness today!

New Year’s Blessings to you,
Pastor Andy

Questions for reflection and application:

Have you experienced God’s holiness? How so?
When was a time that you were convicted of your sinfulness?
Have you received Jesus’ saving grace? He’s the One who has made atonement (payment) for our sins.
Are you walking in the power of the Holy Spirit?

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