Holy God

Lesson Nine - The Holy God

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory." O holy LORD God, we are unclean and unworthy to come before You, but You cleanse away our sin by the shed blood of the Son, Jesus our Savior. Mercifully grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may know You and trust in You always, for You are holy and righteous in all Your ways. Amen. (Isaiah 6:3 NKJV)

My Dear Children,

How can I ever describe for you the holiness of God? It is beyond the comprehension of a sinner like me. What I can tell you is only that which I, with my limited understanding, have come to know from the Scriptures. God is holy! What does this mean? God is pure and perfect. He is morally pure and without sin. He is whole and well and has no flaw or defect whatsoever. His holiness, of course, encompasses all His other attributes: He has perfect love, perfect justice, perfect hatred for sin and evil, perfect mercy and compassion, perfect knowledge, perfect grace, etc. We, on the other hand, though created to reflect His holiness, are fallen and unclean. Nothing in us is pure or righteous. As Isaiah writes, "We are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (64:6). Through the shed blood of Jesus, God forgives and cleanses us from all sin and uncleanness so that we are holy and righteous in His sight (1 John 1:7--2:2); but, not until the Last Day, will we who believe perfectly reflect the holy image of our Maker and Redeemer!

1. Read Isaiah 6:1-13. What did Isaiah see? What did he hear? How did he react? Why? What did the LORD do to cleanse Isaiah of his sin? What did God then call Isaiah to do?

2. In Leviticus 19:2, we read: "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." What does God say of Himself? Compare this to Matthew 5:48. How does this passage describe God the Father? What does God expect of us?

3. In James 1:13, we read: "Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." What does this passage of God’s Word tell us of Him? Is there any evil or sin in God?

4. Deuteronomy 32:4 says of God: "He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He." Is there any imperfection or unrighteousness in God? Cf. Psalm 92:15. What does this mean for us as God deals with us?

5. Read Hebrews 4:15; 7:26; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 2:21-24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 8:46; 1 John 2:1-2. Was Jesus, God’s Son, holy and without sin? What did He do for us sinners?

6. Read Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 2:38; John 14:17; 1 John 2:27. How do these passages describe the Spirit of God? Is He holy? Is He truthful?

7. Psalm 99:9 says: "Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy." How should we respond to the holy God?

8. In Revelation 15:4, we read: "Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy..." Cf. vv. 1-5. Who alone is perfect and complete holiness? How will all believers one day respond to the Holy God?

GOD

We believe that there is only one true God (Isaiah 44:6; I Corinthians 8:4). This God (called the LORD or JEHOVAH) is one divine Being or Essence, but three distinct Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (thus the name, Triune or Three/One God), each being eternal and equal in power and majesty, because each Person is the LORD God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7; Isaiah 48:16-17; John 1:1; Colossians 2:9; I Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 9:14; I Peter 4:14). We believe that no one can worship or serve the Triune God except he believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God and the Savior of mankind from sin and its consequences (John 3:18,36; 5:23; 14:6; I John 2:23; 5:11-12). Hence, all who deny the Trinity of God (that God is three Persons) or the Unity of God (that God is one divine Being), or who do not trust in Jesus Christ, the Son, for salvation, do not worship and serve the true God.

Please Memorize: Isaiah 6:3; Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 15:4.