November 3, 2016

Why God is so holy?

This is an incredible question and arguably the most important question that any of us can ask as we seek to know GOD.

Hidden in this question are the questions: How is the Christian GOD different than all the other gods of the world? AND Why is He worthy of my worship?

Let’s begin with where we get this idea of the Holiness of GOD…

Over and over in the Hebrew scriptures the GOD of all creation is described as Holy. In Isaiah 6 The seraphim (heavenly creatures) circle GOD’s throne singing Holy, Holy, Holy and at the end of the scriptures the whole earth is singing the same refrain Holy, Holy, Holy. God has always revealed himself in the splendor of His Holiness. GOD above all things will be known as HOLY. But what does that mean and why is that important for our knowing of GOD?

1 Samuel 2:2
“There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.”

This passage of Scripture is a great place to start. It simply states that there is no one like Israel’s GOD. He is completely and perfectly other. There is no comparison. He is more beautiful, supremely more valuable, and completely worthy of our attention, adoration, and submission.

To be holy is to be distinct, separate, in a class by oneself.

The Holiness of God is His most important attribute, because it is the Holiness of God that defines every other one of His attributes. Holiness is hard for us to understand because it means that there is no comparison. GOD is literally incomparably greater than all things.

Why?

Well first it is important to know that GOD created ALL things. There is nothing that is created that was not made by GOD, through GOD, and for GOD.

Colossians 1:16
“By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”

This means that GOD has always existed and there will never be anything greater, more majestic, authoritative, powerful, worthy of worship than the one true GOD of the Scriptures.

One of our greatest problem in our understanding of GOD is that we try and compare Him with either ourselves or with created things.We have a tendency to imagine things about GOD that are not true and then live as if they are true. Since the beginning of humanity mankind has worshipped man-made god’s. We have a tendency to take created things, things that were meant to draw us to GOD and begin to worship those things as if they were GOD. We all ascribe attributes to these false god’s that were reserved only for the one true GOD of all creation. This is called idolatry.

When GOD began pursuing His people He caused them to see that He was like none other.

What makes God so beautiful is His holiness. Because all other attributes of GOD are defined by this attribute. God is loving, just, righteous, all-powerful, all-knowing, merciful, and sovereign over all. The holiness of God means that God’s love is completely and wholly different than anything else we know. It’s perfect and better than Man’s love. It’s pure and without spot or blemish. God is not only sovereign over all things, He is holy sovereign. Meaning no other power in the heavens and earth has ultimate power over creation.

This is why the Ten Commandments (Moral Law of GOD) begins with this truth:

Deuteronomy 5

Then Moses summoned all Israel and said to them:
“Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I am speaking today in your hearing, that you may learn them and observe them carefully. “The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. “The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, with all those of us alive here today. “The LORD spoke to you face to face at the mountain from the midst of the fire, while I was standing between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire and did not go up the mountain.

He said,
‘I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ‘You shall have no other gods before Me.‘You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. ‘You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

To know GOD as Holy is to recognize His supreme, beauty, worth, and power over all other things. We cannot know GOD if we don’t first recognize Him as HOLY.

Why is GOD so Holy? Because there truly is no one like our GOD!

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