“And one (seraphim) cried unto another, and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts: The whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
From the beginning of Scripture to the end, God is seen as Holy. Indeed, this is perhaps the best word to describe all of God’s attributes combined. As there are many concepts of “holiness” in the world, what is its Biblical definition, essence, and personal application that this knowledge should have on the lives of men?
At the very outset of seeking to understand the concept of the holiness of God, we are shut up to three realities. The first is that we are to have as our AIM to seek Christ, to reveal to us, according to His truth and revelation of His Spirit, what we need to see and know. For the natural man, that man who does not have the Spirit of God by the new birth, it will be impossible for him, in and of himself, to grasp correctly the matter of the holiness of God. It is in the revelation of God according to the truth of His word, and the opening the eyes of our hearts and minds by the Spirit, that we can truly grasp in some small measure what true holiness is. So, our AIM is to know by seeking. However we are LIMITED, and our knowledge of Christ in His holiness has definite limites. Limitation does not come from God’s perspective, even though He will choose how much we are able to receive and to know. It comes from our desire to know, and capacity to believe God to teach us of His holiness. Lastly, there are great POSSIBILITIES, as God has given to us by the Spirit to know those things freely given to the believer by God. He always does that which is beyond what we can ask or think, especially when Christ is sought for His fulness by the Spirit.
So, where do we begin? We begin by a definition, and then by gazing into heaven. The root idea of the Hebrew word for holy, or holiness, when viewed from a religious viewpoint, “…is that withdrawal from what is common or unclean, and consecration to what is divine, sacred, pure.” With respect to God, “…it signifies His separation from, and transcendency over, all His cration…,” revealed in His supremacy, majesty, and awesome glory. It reflects also the ethical spotlessness of His character. When God revealed Himself to Moses in the wilderness near Mt. Sinai, it was by a fire that was burning in a bush, but not comsuming it. Immediately, God revealed Himself to Moses in that fire,communicating His distinctiveness, His separateness from, and above, His creation. The fire would be a picture of His holiness, that constant state of separateness in nature, essence, purety, and power, from all that is of earth. Though God would use throughout Scripture different methods, and pictures, to communicate to men His holiness, there is the distinct quality of the revelation which reveals that He is NOT of this world, though He created it. He does NOT have His origin in this world, especially with regard to the sin that is so prevalent upon it. He is distinct, unique, separate, and of a purety and glory that no man can see His face and live. And yet, this burning fire, this eternal Light, who is “unapproachable,” has made Himself accessible by first coming to His lost and helpless creation. Though He cannot deny Himself in any shape or form, from being what He is “yesterday, today, and forever,” He does come to seek that which is lost, seeking to win the searching soul, by drawing out the individual’s heart to seek Him, ….and find Him. He will turn no seeking heart away, nor deny access to the knowledge of His holiness, unless that seeking heart chooses not to believe, and trust Him fully.
The thrice holy God is perfect in His love, power, and goodness, always seeking to save lost men.
Dear Father, Open our eyes to see Thy holiness, and change us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.