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A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF GOD (6):
God, The Holy One
Victor M. Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A. About once a month, we have been engaged in a study entitled: “A Better Understanding of God.”
1. The Creator
2. The Giver
3. The Redeemer
4. The Revealer
B. In this lesson, we want to examine the topic: “God: The Holy One.”
I. GOD IS HOLY
A. All three members of the Godhead are described as being Holy.
1. The Father
a. There one verse that refers to God as “holy Father” (John 17:11)
b. He is called “the Holy One” (2 Kings 19:22; Ps. 89:18; Isa. 12:6).
For the LORD is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our King.
NOTE: The Prophet Isaiah uses the word “Holy One” to describe God thirty (30) times. And in Isaiah 57:15, he describes as “the lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy…”
c. Elsewhere, He is simply said to be holy (1 Sam. 2:2; Ps. 22:3; Isa. 6:3; Luke 1:49).
And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts.
2. Jesus
a. Holy Child (Acts 4:27, 30)
For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together.
b. Holy One (Ps. 16:10)
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
a. The words “holy spirit” are only found 2 times in the Old Testament (Ps. 51:11; Isa. 63:10)
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
b. The words “Holy Spirit” are found in the New Testament at least 90 times.
B. Before we leave this point, let’s listen to the words of Revelation 15:4.
Who shall not fear thee, O LORD, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy…
1. God is the only being who is holy through and through. His very nature is holy.
2. Questions:
a. Can any of us look upon evil? God cannot (Hab. 1:13)
b. Can any of us dwell with evil? God cannot (Ps. 5:4)
c. Can any of us be tempted with evil? God cannot be (Jam. 1:13).
d. Can any of us tempt others to evil? God cannot (Jam. 1:13).
II. THE DEFINITION OF HOLY
A. The word “holy” involves three English words: holy, sanctified, and saint.
B. The word involves three things.
1. Purity
a. Free from pollution and contaminates
b. Free from evil
c. Free from sin
d. Free from lies and deception
2. Being set apart
a. Once something is purified, if it is holy, it is set apart from other things.
b. It is set apart from the common and normal: cabinets, safes, rooms, chests, etc.
3. A special purpose
a. This pure, set apart thing, has a special purpose.
b. It may be for show (piece of jewelry). It may be for a certain use (set of dishes). It may be for wear (a wedding gown). It may be for enjoyment (antique car).
III. GOD MEETS THE CRITERION
A. God is completely pure (1 John1:5).
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
B. God is separate from all others (1 Sam. 2:2).
There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee…
C. God’s purposes are different than any other.
1. Creator (Eccl. 12:1)
2. Redeemer (Isa. 60:16)
3. Revealer (1 Cor. 2:10)
4. Judge (Heb. 12:23)
IV. THE INFLUENCE OF GOD’S HOLINESS
A. The ground He touches is holy (Exo. 3:5).
B. His name is holy (Exo. 19:6).
C. His people, Israel were holy (Deut. 7:6).
D. His city was holy (Neh. 11:1).
E. His temple was holy (Ps.5:7).
F. The mountain upon which Jerusalem sat was holy (Isa. 11:9).
G. His angels are holy (Mark 8:38).
H. His Scriptures are holy (Rom. 1:2).
I. His calling is holy (2 Tim. 1:9).
J. His dwelling place is holy (Heb. 9:12).
K. His priesthood is holy (1 Pet. 2:5).
V. THIS HOLY GOD WANTS US TO BE HOLY
Can two walk together, except they be agreed.
1. If God is holy, and He is, then those who walk with Him must be holy.
2. Remember, evil cannot dwell with God (Ps. 5:4).
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
A. Both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, He exhorted His people to be holy as He is holy.
1. Old Testament (Lev. 19:2)
2. New Testament (1 Pet. 1:15-16)
B. In order to be holy, we must meet the three elements of holiness.
1. First, we must be purified. This is done when we obey the gospel (1 Pet. 1:22).
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeign love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.
2. Second, we must be set apart.
a. This is done by God once we have obeyed the gospel.
b. He takes us out of the world, and puts us in the church.
1) Acts 2:47b
…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
2) Colossians 1:13
Who hath delivered us out of the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
3. Third, we have special purposes in this life.
a. To fear God and keep His commandments (Eccl. 12:13).
b. To spread the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15).
c. To do good works (Eph. 2:10).
d. To bear much fruit (John 15:8).
e. To bring glory to God in the church (Eph. 3:21).
f. To let our lights shine before men (Matt. 5:16).
CONCLUSION
A. A holy God wants you to be with Him in the holy of holies.
B. We do this by, first, answering His holy calling (2 Tim. 1:9).
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling…
C. After our initial purification, we continue to live lives that are holy.
1. 2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2. Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.