Introduction/Holiness of God
Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory. -Valley of Vision
THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
It has been said that what comes into a person’s mind when he or she thinks about God is the most important thing about him or her. High views of God lead to high and holy living, worship, evangelism, and service. Low views of God lead to a low and base way of interacting with God, self, and others.
This teaching series will seek to promote a high view of God by examining fifteen of God’s attributes. By gaining an accurate understanding of who God is, Christians become better equipped to understand themselves and the world around them. Because every area of one’s life and worldview is influenced by one’s understanding of God, it is essential to understand His defining attributes.
An attribute refers to a quality or characteristic that belongs to a person. God’s attributes define and describe who God is. Although we cannot understand the full depth of God’s character, this teaching series will explore some of the main characteristics of God that are mentioned in Scripture. (Lawson, Attributes of God).
INTRODUCTION
Are you ready to delve into the depths of the divine? Are you ready to uncover the mysteries of the universe and the role of God in our lives? The study of God's attributes is not for the faint of heart, but for those who seek a deeper understanding of their faith, it is essential. This is not a journey for the timid but for the bold and the courageous. Let us embark on this journey together and discover the power, love, and mercy of our Creator.
Unfortunately, many people in our world today have ignored the attributes of God. Instead, they choose to live their lives without giving God a second thought. This is a dangerous path to take, as ignoring God's attributes can lead to a lack of understanding and appreciation for His sovereign role in our lives.
WHY STUDY THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD?
Anyone seeking a deeper understanding of their faith must contemplate the grandeur of God manifested in all His perfect attributes.
A study on the attributes is about knowing God, not simply knowing about God. Some one has said, "The more we know God, the more we love God, and the more we love God, the more we will obey God. Thus, resulting in greater glory to God." The purpose of this booklet is to help you grow in intimacy with God. To help you love God and to share His amazing attributes with others.
THE HOLINESS OF GOD
“To many people today, holiness is a foreign concept. for the authors of Scripture, however, holiness is one of God’s most prominent attributes. It denotes both His separation from creation as the infinitely superior One and His absolute moral purity” (Lawson, Attributes of God).
Scripture readings
Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 6:1–7
The holiness of God is a fundamental aspect of Christian theology and is closely related to the nature of the Holy Spirit. To understand the holiness of God, we must first understand what it means to be holy.
Holiness is not just a characteristic, but God's essential attribute.This means holiness is the essential part of God's nature and is inseparable from His being. It is the essential attribute in that holiness emphasizes God's absolute purity, perfection, and moral excellence, and it demands that his followers strive to be holy as well. As we seek to understand and live out the concept of holiness in our lives, we can be confident that God will empower us to become more like him and to bring glory to his name. God cannot be anything other than holy, and everything He does is a reflection of His holiness.
Holiness is often defined as being set apart or dedicated to God. As such, the holiness of God refers to His complete separation from sin and evil. God is completely pure and righteous, and His holiness is the standard by which all other things are judged. There is no mixture of sin and evil with God's purity.
Isaiah, the prophet, experiences a vision of God's throne room, where he witnesses seraphim declaring God's holiness. Throughout the passage, the word "holy" is repeatedly used, emphasizing the purity and separation of God from all that is sinful or impure. Not only is God's holiness a characteristic of His nature, but it is also the standard by which He judges His people. The people of Israel were called to be holy, just as God is holy, which required living in accordance with His will and obeying His commandments. The concept of the holiness of God is a profound and awe-inspiring one that serves as a reminder of His greatness and our own unworthiness.
Holiness is closely related to God’s justice and righteousness: God's holiness demands that he punish sin and evil, and this is why the Bible speaks so often about God's wrath and judgment. However, God's holiness is not just about judgment and punishment; it is also about salvation and redemption. God's holiness demands that he provide a way for sinners to be reconciled to him, and this is why he sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins.
Infinite purity, even more than infinite knowledge or infinite power, is the object of reverence . . . “The Holy One of Israel” is He who is to be feared and adored.
The Bible tells us to "be holy because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). This means that we are called to live our lives in a way that reflects the holiness of God, striving to be pure and righteous in all that we do. However, due to man’s fallen nature, he has no inherited righteousness to offer God. For this reason, Christ came! “For our sake he made him to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Corin. 5:21). Our righteousness is an alien righteousness. It is not natural to us; therefore, it is not found within, but from without. By grace through faith God Himself imputes us with the very righteousness of Christ. Now we are to live that out practically (i.e., sanctification).
—Charles Hodge
When the Bible calls God holy, it means primarily that God is transcendentally separate. He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us.
—R.C. Sproul
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley.
-Valley of Vision
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