The holiness of God
This essential truth about the very being of God’s character need to understood in light of his very demonstration in the person of his son upon the cross; it is at this vital junction that we meet the only true passage into having a full definition of who and what God is. No one has the right to define God in a way that is contrary to his own revealed will, which is the foundational place to start. When dealing with a topic such as this, we have to be very care as to what consider in approaching this central defining attribute. We need to see this in an all-defining, all-encompassing perfectness which is seen in all its glory in the central event of history; that is the sinner redeeming atonement in Christ. But first, we must know what holiness is when we speak of God.
Here I will appeal to a great work from James R. White called “Letters to a Mormon elder,” which he states the following point:
God's holiness is not simply limited to His moral perfection -- His holiness is related as well to His absolute "otherness," or, as we saw before, His utter uniqueness. That which is holy is separate, distinct. God is separate, distinct -- He is not to be confused with the creation itself. Have you noticed that this truth is also compromised in Mormon theology; --- The God of the LDS faith is not separate from the creation! In fact, not only can it not be said that He is the creator of all that exists, but if one believes that He was once a fallen man who lived upon another planet, then He was, at least for a time, dependent upon other things. If He is a man like you and me, then we know that we are not holy in the sense of being separate or unique. No, the god of Mormonism is certainly not the Jehovah of the Bible. Because God is holy, He cannot abide the presence of evil. Evil, though it exists with His permission, and functions to serve a purpose, is still abhorrent to Him. He must punish evil if He is to be just. Please note that I am not saying that God is limited by what we think is justice. We are often wrong in our ideas. Rather, God is the very definition of what is right, what is just. He loves righteousness and justice.
From the above statement we learn something very important as we broach the teaching of God’s holiness; in that we are dealing with God uniqueness or as we note his completely distinct existence, we can know this in terms of his “otherness.” In other words, since James in this instance is refuting the Mormon ideal of there being literally thousands, if not, millions of Gods. It is at this point that God’s uniqueness, his otherness that sets him apart as being the true God who pure as to his being.
What this means is that the true believer will bask and marvel at this essential reality whereas the unbeliever will not be able to such a thing; since they have not been granted such a passage into the realm of who God is and what he is as too his being. Of course, this is the most important aspect; God is holy as to his being which means that he is far above all other created “gods” idols.
Let us now consider what the bible has to offer on this vital subject as ascertain a biblical picture,
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalms 19: 7-11.
The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God. Psalms 24:1-6
In the above passages we must recognise that Gods creation and his laws are both being summed up as “holy” within reference to his uniqueness; to which is, we could draw the inference that everything is an exact likeness of his holy nature. This would include the creation itself, mankind and especially the laws of God. When it comes to understanding who God is, we need to allow the texts determine for us just what God want us to know and not go beyond that point.
Therefore, with “the laws, the precepts of the lord” are said to pure and holy and this is a real point to hold, as they are just extensions or expression of Gods holiness flowing from his very being. They serve to give us an understanding of the precise character of God. We can know a very personal projection of God through a careful examination of his laws for they reveal what God is like as to his being. Then we have, the “earth is the Lord's, those who dwell therein” In other words, man as to his very being created in God image; therefore we can see some trace of the divine creator with in each person at some level (I do not mean we are of the divine Lord) but that we are created with some of his attributes. More importantly, each of us is at his mercy and will.
Another point these passages highlight for is the very fact that salvation is a gift of God, every aspect thereof. Notice these words, “. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God.” In these words we find an important truth being communicated to us. In that we are told man has no real part in salvation not even “the seek” of verse 6, man first must be given the ability to seek after God. This is why David says it is God who provides righteousness, it is therefore, limiting man’s role.
Let now consider the following passage from psalms,
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord Glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness. Psalms 29: 1-2
Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones and awesome above all who are around him? O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. Psalms 89:5-9
The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! Psalm 99: 1-5.
In these three passages we have much ground to cover; as it shows us that Man can be holy only in and through another’s perfection. It is not speaking of self-righteousness or being justified in one’s own sight, in the last psalm we have a direct application being made as to how this can be seen, “you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.” This shows us that man is only found righteous based upon God declaration thereof.
It is his holiness, his justice and his mercy that one receives; he directly applies it in and through his own work. This is seen in the greatest demonstration that God gave; it is found in Jesus Christ alone, we are made right before God in light of what Christ done. Consider what Romans 3 says, “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. …. and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” This is what these WoF preachers needs to preach on and not himself as the central theme.
As the psalmist makes clear in the last passage mentioned about God, “He is holy” and we are nothing more than redeemed sinners. This is the truth that the bible as a whole addresses and makes clear for us to understand.
Let’s consider a few more psalms that will give us more information about this situation,
I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. …. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. Psalms 145:1-3, 17-21.
In the above passage we have a more in depth picture of the doctrine of God holiness, his uniqueness, and his complete distinct character. David states these words, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” These words speak to all the above points but they bring forth the fact that God is unsearchable to man, he cannot be found by our own understanding or methods. It is he alone who reveals himself. In fact, Paul states this same point in 1 timothy when he states, “he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honour and eternal dominion.”
But we also have the truth of God’s holiness being spoken of in verses 17-21, where we have a great tribute to his saviour hood. Notice what is said, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” It is these very words that are clearly and accurately handle the doctrine of salvation, but take note that these are people who he already has saved but are in the process of sanctification.
All of these psalms are neatly considered by Apostle Peter lets us consider his words,
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like new-born infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
It is also where the Lord Jesus Christ was pointing towards in the passage below,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
With all this information at our aid in the quest for just what kind of God we serve as Christians, one must of necessity conclude that He is absolutely holy; there is nothing else that compares. As it all fails to capture the true nature and character of God set forth in the pages of his divinely revealed word. Since Jesus our lord took the holiness of God to be one the most beautiful and unique attributes of God, there is every reason for us to likewise do the same.
Another thing this also includes is that the believer also by the extension of grace and mercy found in Christ can also be seen as holy. But once again it does not originate from within us but is only our by the merit of Christ, it is his work that secures our place in the eyes of God the father. We neither bring anything to the table nor do can we gain anything based upon our own efforts.
Now in the book of Isaiah we also have strong testimony to God holiness, but it is in the form of him being unique and true over against all the false gods; which are nothing more than Idols in the mind of the people around Israel. Let’s consider these passages as a witness to this glorious God that exists.
The first passage comes from Isaiah 40, and it reads as follows,
To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compares with him? An idol! A craftsman casts it and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains. He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skilful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move. …. To whom then will you compare me that I should be like him? Says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. (Verses 18-20, 25-26.)
The second passage comes from Isaiah 41, and it reads as follows,
Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff; you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the Lord; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory. (Verses 14-16)
The third passage comes from Isaiah 43, and it reads as follows,
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. … Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears! All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right, and let them hear and say, it is true. “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no saviour. (Verses 1-3, 8-11.)
The fourth passage comes from Isaiah 48, and it reads as follows,
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the seas; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.” (Verses 17-19)
Here we have three testimonies about the absolute uniqueness of God in regard to his existence; for he alone is the self-existent one, who is interdependent but does not depend on anything or anyone else. This is the true uniqueness of the True and living God, he draws his dependency from within his being as he is tri-personal: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In these passages we have some great truths being expressed.
First, God absolute holiness is evident in both passages; this means he is perfection and pure as to his being. He does not have the ability to sin; therefore, he is pure with in his being. He is not limited to time and space like all false gods, therefore, he is perfect as he does not have any limitedness. Second, he is also seen as being the true redeemer of his people, and they shall bask in his glory at the end of time. Whether it would be of the Israelite remnant or the Gentile remnant, who make up the group of the elect. Third, the most important point that is seen in this is the fact that Yahweh, the God of Israel unlike all other false gods; Yahweh knows everything that will ever happen due to the fact it is in his decree.
Here is what John Calvin has to say about this subject of God’s providential decree,
Moreover, such is the proneness of the human mind to indulge in vain subtleties, that it becomes almost impossible for those who do not see the sound and proper use of this doctrine, to avoid entangling themselves in perplexing difficulties. It will, therefore, be proper to advert to the end which scripture has in view in teaching that all things are divinely ordained. First, that providence of God is to be considered with reference both to the past and future. Second, that in over-ruling all things, it works at one time with means, at another without means, and with another against means. Lastly, the design of God is to show that he is taking care of the whole human race, but especially vigilant in governing the Church, which he favours with a closer inspection.(The institutes of the Christian religion, book 1, chapter 17, section 1.)
Also consider what another reformed believer, Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said,
There is no attribute of God more comforting to his children than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe that Sovereignty hath ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children of God ought more earnestly to contend than the dominion of their Master over all creation—the kingship of God over all the works of his own hands—the throne of God, and his right to sit upon that throne. On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldlings, no truth of which they have made such a foot-ball, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on his throne. They will allow him to be in his workshop to fashion worlds and to make stars. They will allow him to be in his almonry to dispense his alms and bestow his bounties. They will allow him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but when God ascends his throne, his creatures then gnash their teeth; and when we proclaim an enthroned God, and his right to do as he wills with his own, to dispose of his creatures as he thinks well, without consulting them in the matter, then it is that we are hissed and execrated, and then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on his throne is not the God they love.(Sermon on “divine sovereignty,” by Charles H Spurgeon.)
