Theologian R. C. Sproul once wrote, “When the Bible calls God holy it means primarily that God is . . . separate. He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us. To be holy is to be ‘other,’ to be different in a special way.”
As we consider what it means for God to be holy, we recognize this is one of His many attributes including love, grace, mercy, and compassion. Even though our holy God is far different and greater than us, He allows us to know and love Him.
Having led the Jews out of Egypt, Moses wrote a song celebrating God’s deliverance and lifting up His power and holiness (Exodus 15:1-18). “Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?” (Exodus 15:11).
In the New Testament, the apostle John described a vision of worship in heaven where believers in Jesus sang “the song of Moses . . . and the song of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:3), proclaiming, “Great and marvelous are your works . . . . Just and true are your ways . . . . Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy” (Revelation 15:3-4). What an amazing, holy God!
In the few and rare occasions where people have been allowed to have a peek at what the angels are doing in heaven, the angelic beings were singing continuously “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God” (Isaiah 6:1-3; Revelation 4:8). Holiness is the only attribute of God mentioned in triplicate. If God says something about His character once, it’s vitally important. But when He says it three times, that’s some serious emphasis.
Our holy God is wonderful and without equal (Isaiah 40:25). May we worship Him today, declaring “You alone are holy”! (Revelation 15:4).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 18:1-15
More:
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:7 and 1 Peter 1:13-17. Since God is holy, how does that affect the way you live?
Next:
Pick a song that focuses on the holiness of God and worship Him by singing it. How can you practically live out holiness in what you’re facing today?
Roxanne Robbins on January 10, 2016 at 12:51 pm
As I’ve studied the Book of Revelation, this year through Bible Study Fellowship, my view of this Book — and of God — has changed in many ways. Previously, I tended to think of Revelation as presenting a stern God. Digging deeper into passages in Revelation, such as the one you included in your post, have shown me that to the contrary God, in His kindness and grace, grants us access to His throne. While I can’t comprehend what it will be like to see Him on the throne, it gives me great hope and anticipation to know that through Jesus Christ we can be deemed holy enough to approach the throne of God rather than be cast from it as we deserve based on sin.