Holiness of God (3) – Continued

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See full series: closer-to-god-2022

Holiness of God (3) – Continued

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr


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NOTE: This lesson is part 2 addressing how God is holy.  The video and pre-recording of what will be presented is part of our previous lesson dealing with the holiness of God.   Please consult that lesson: The Holiness of God – 1 – Rose Avenue Church of Christ .  The lesson presented for this portion will be posted after the live recording.

 

Here is the slightly modified outline of this presentation.

CLOSER TO GOD (19)

Holiness (3)

The Holiness of God (2)

 

As we continue our study of holiness, we are in the midst of examining the holiness of God.  We have noted that we are to be holy even as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). This is a crucial element of drawing closer to God, our 2022 theme.  So if we are to be holy as He is holy, we need to understand His holiness.   That is what we are in the midst of examining.   Last week we studied some qualities associated with the holiness of God.  We noted that holiness is the quintessential word to describe the character of God.  But examining every quality of God validates His holiness.  Last week, we noted His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence as well as His eternity.  Tonight, we continue by noticing some more or His qualities.

 

  1. God’s Character demonstrates His holiness (continued)
    1. Immutability – an expression that means He does not change –
      1. Malachi 3:6, “I am the LORD, I do not change”
      2. 1 Samuel 15:29, And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.” Spoken to Saul as the LORD rejected him as king
      3. Hebrews 6:17-18 speaks of the immutability of the counsel of God in which it is impossible for Him to lie. The writer’s point, God keeps His word.
      4. We can have confidence in God because we know that He keeps His word. He has proven it over and over, which is why we need the Bible.
    2. His righteousness –
      1. He is a moral and just God. He does what is right and what is best.
      2. Isaiah 5:16 – He shall be hallowed in righteousness.
      3. Psalm 119:142 – His righteousness is an everlasting righteousness.
      4. 1 John 1:5-6 – in Him is no darkness in Him at all. Having noted this earlier, here we observe because He is righteous, He will not dwell in or tolerate darkness.
      5. Romans 1:32, 2:5 – one day God is going to judge this world in righteousness (and in many cases He already has). 2 Thessalonians 1:5-6 notes that it is a righteous thing for God to punish the wicked.
      6. This is why, if we choose to live a life in rebellion against Him, or even simply live without giving Him any thought (the way many suppose they are good enough), we ought to be fearful. There IS a day of righteous judgment coming!
    3. Sovereignty –
      1. Sovereign means that He has absolute authority. This is so because He is God, and because of all the qualities we have addressed thus far. He can do as He will and without impunity.  If He created this world, He has the right AND might to determine its path and what is best.
      2. This is a description often associated with kingship. Thus, any passage that speaks of Him as LORD God is a reminder of His sovereignty.
      3. Psalm 135:6 notes, “Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth…
      4. Isaiah 46:10 notes Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
      5. Revelation 4:11, as He is praised and worshipped, they said, “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
      6. Because of His sovereignty, we ought to be careful before we question Him and challenge Him. When we approach Him, it ought to be “with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28-29)
    4. In all of these qualities, we can see WHY God is holy and to be regarded as Holy.
  2. His name is holy –
    1. Leviticus 22:32 – You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
    2. Psalm 111:9 – He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.
    3. Exodus 20:7 – “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (3rd commandment) Leviticus 19:12 elaborated on this by noting they were not to swear falsely, nor to profane His name.
    4. Jews were so concerned about the name of God that there were (and are) rules in place for writing and pronouncing His name.[1] For example: Once the name of God is written, it is NOT to be erased or defaced.  And when pronouncing His name, they often substitute something lest they mispronounce it.  This is done out of reverence for Him.   Deuteronomy 12:3-5 is a text used to explain this – while they were to destroy the idols of the land and their names, vs. 4 notes they were not to worship God with such things.  There are 4 consonant letters associated with God’s (primary) name (YHVH).  What vowels belong in the pronunciation is not known for certain anymore.  But some ancient texts would place the vowels for the word Adonai UNDER YHVH to remind readers to be reverent with His name.  A later 16th century German scribe combined the 2 names and from it was born the name, Jehovah.
      POINT: Jews were serious about respecting God’s name – it is AS Holy as He is!
    5. 1 Chron 16:35 – speaks of giving thanks to His holy name. (Psalm 97:12 – Give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.) Some 23 times in OT, the expression “holy name” is found, always attributed to God.
    6. Leviticus 24:10-23 – a man was stoned to death for blaspheming the name of the LORD.
    7. NOTE: We have a big issue today with irreverence. Nothing ought to cause you cringe more than when that profanity is directed toward God’s name.  AND, we ought to consider this with euphemisms as well (substitutions for profane names).
  3. His place is holy –
    1. Wherever God is, His place is holy. Just His presence ought to make it holy.
    2. Isaiah 57:15 – He inhabits eternity, and His name is Holy.
    • Psalm 2:6, “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” A messianic prophecy.
    1. Psalm 3:4, He heard me from His holy hill. Psalm 15:1* – who may dwell in Your holy hill?
    2. Habakkuk 2:20, “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”
    3. Do we think about with the church?  While we understand that the building is not sacred, we MUST never forget that when we come together, we are coming into the presence of God and Jesus.
      1. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, we are “the temple of God”.
      2. Every act of worship is directed toward Him – Colossians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, Hebrews 4:16, we may boldly come before His throne of grace (in prayer), etc.
      3. We worship God and Jesus, who is NOW in the presence of God – Hebrews 10:19-22 – He has entered in the presence of God
      4. When we come together, God is holy and deserves the best that we can give Him – that is clearly part of worshipping Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24)

And thus we can see the holiness of God in His character.  Everything about Him – who He is, where He is, and what He does – it all declares His holiness.  But for today, let us consider who He is and serve Him with reverence and godly fear (Hebrews 12:28).  Is He holy to you?

[1] The Name of God (jewishvirtuallibrary.org)

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