The Holiness of God

          I'm re-reading the book, The Pursuit of Holiness, by Jerry Bridges.

          Here are some of the important truths found in chapter two.


          The Holiness of God.

          God has called every Christian to a holy life.


                            "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 1:15-16


          This call to a holy life is based on the fact that God Himself is holy.
     Because God is holy, He requires that we be holy.

          God has not called us to be like those around us.  He has called us
     to be like Himself.  Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the
     character of God.

          As used in Scripture, holiness describes both the majesty of God
     and the purity and moral perfection of His nature.  Holiness is one of
     His attributes, that is, holiness is an essential part of the nature of God.

          God's holiness is as necessary as His wisdom or omniscience.
     Just as He cannot but know what is right, so He cannot but do what is
     right.

                             
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          God's holiness is perfect freedom from all evil. 

          John said,

                            "God is light;  in Him there is no darkness at all."
                                                                                        1 John 1:5       

          Light and darkness, when used this way in Scripture, have moral
     signifance.  John is telling us that God is absolutely free from any
     moral evil and that He is Himself the essence of moral purity.

          God always acts consistently with His holy character, and is it this
     standard of holiness that God has called us to when He says, "Be holy,
     because I am holy."

          The absolute holiness of God should be of great comfort and
     assurance to us.  If God is perfectly holy, then we can be confident
     that His actions toward us are always perfect and just.

          It is impossible in the very nature of God that He should ever be
     unfair.  Because He is holy, all His actions are holy.

         
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          Acknowledging His holines is one of the ways we are to praise God.
    
          The four living creatures around God's throne never stop saying:
    
                            
                                  "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty;
                                    who was, and is, and is to come."
                                                                 Revelation 4:8


          When Moses was prasing God for the deliverance of the Israelites from
     Pharaoh's army, he also sang of God's holiness.

                                 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD?
                                   Who is like you -- majestic in holiness,
                                    awesome in glory, working wonders?"
                                                                        Exodus 15:11


          God is often called in Scripture by such names as the Holy One, or
     the Holy one of Israel.

          Holiness is the perfection of all His other attributes:  His power is
     holy power;  His mercy is holy mercy;  His wisdom is holy wisdom.
     It is His holiness more than any other attribute that makes Him worthy
     of our praise.

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          However, God demands more than that we acknowledge His holi-
     ness.  He says to us, "Be holy, because I am holy."  God rightfully
     demands perfect holiness in all of His moral creatures.  It cannot be
     otherwise.

          He cannot possibly ignore or approve of any evil committed.
     He cannot for one moment relax His perfect standard of holiness.

          The prophet Habakkuk declared:

                             
                                "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;  you
                                  cannot tolerate wrong."
                                                                       Habakkuk 1:13

          Because God is holy, He can never excuse or overlook any sin
     we commit, however small it may be.

          Well might we Christians, though justified solely through the
     righteousness of Christ, ponder carefully the words of the writer to
     the Hebrews:


                              "Make every effort to live in peace with all
                                men and to be holy;  without holiness no
                                one will see the Lord."
                                                               Hebrews 12:14


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          Because God is holy, He hates sin.

          Speaking of various sins in Israel, God says, "For all these
     things are what I hate."     Zechariah 8:17


          The more we ourselves grow in holiness, the more we hate sin.
     David said, "I gain understanding from your precepts;  therefore I
     hate every wrong path."  Psalm 119:104


          Now if that is true of a man, think of God.  As we grow in holi-
     ness, we grow in hatred of sin;  and God, being infinitely holy, has
     an infinite hatred of sin.

          We need to cultivate in our own hearts the same hatred of sin God
     has.

          God hates sin, wherever he finds it, in saint and sinner alike.
     He does not hate sin in one person and overlook it in another.  He
     judges each man's works impartially (1 Peter 1:17).


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          The holiness of God is an exceedingly high standard, a perfect
     standard, but it is nevertheless one that he holds us to.  He cannot
     do less. 

          While it is true that He accepts us solely through the merit of
     Christ, God's standard for our character, attitudes, affections, and
     actions is, "Be holy, because I am holy."

          We must take this seriously if we are to grow in holiness.