Knowing God’s Holiness and Grace

What comes to mind when you think of God’s holiness? Is He far off and unapproachable? How can holiness and grace function together?

Holiness is the core of God’s being. He is Supreme, entirely set apart from the common and mundane, above all creation.  God is holy and pure.

Verses of God’s Holiness

Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? ~ Exodus 15:11

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. ~ Psalm 29:2

Let them praise your great and awesome name—he is holy. Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?  ~ Psalm 77:13

He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name. ~ Psalm 111:9

All of those descriptions of God’s holiness are minding boggling.

God is the One who Redeems, extending a covenant to his people. He is not only set apart and unique, but interacts with his people who are undeserving.

Holiness and Grace

God chooses to make Himself known and desires relationship with us. The prophet Isaiah saw a vision of God’s holiness and grace.

And they (seraphim in Isaiah’s vision) were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;  the whole earth is full of his glory.”

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” ~ Isaiah 6:1-7

Grace allows us, as imperfect sinners, to have a connection with the holy God. Only by God’s initiative of extending grace to us, can we enter such a relationship.

He does not cast us away from His presence because of anything we have done or not done, but desires to connect with us in spite of our undeserving condition.

Jesus displayed the fullness of God’s holiness and grace. He was pure and holy, extending grace to us to that we are brought back in relationship with God.

We respond by living our lives with holiness and grace, through God’s power.

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”~1 Peter 1:14-16

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  ~ Colossians 3:12

Jesus instructed us on holy living through his teachings, as shown in the Sermon on the Mount and the Lord’s prayer.

We are made holy only through Jesus Christ, not by ourselves. Personal holiness is a work of gradual growth and development in the believer through perseverance in Christ. It is possible only because of the Holy Spirit at work in us, drawing us to a deeper understanding of God.

Holiness is not following man made rules; it develops through knowing God in worship, prayer, bible study, and service to others.

“The pursuit of holiness requires sustained and vigorous effort. It allows for no indolence, no lethargy, no halfhearted commitment, and no laissez faire attitude toward even the smallest sins. In short, it demands the highest priority in the life of a Christian, because to be holy is to be like Christ — God’s goal for every Christian.” Jerry Bridges in The Discipline of Grace: God’s Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness:

The holy God of the universe seeks us out and desires relationship with us. As we come to know Him, He desires us to grow in holiness and grace, extending His love to others.

May we be transformed by God’s holiness and grace.