We often confuse the word “holy” with “righteous” so we use them interchangeably. Holiness is “the state of being pure and free from sin, while righteousness is a state of being morally right and just”. Both holiness and righteousness are attributes of God. Righteousness comes from God’s holiness. One must first attain holiness and then righteousness is born as a fruit.
We cannot be holy yet live in unrighteousness. Those who are holy cannot be unrighteous. Those who are unrighteous do not have God’s holiness. We cannot also be righteous without first being holy. We are enabled to attain these attributes of God only by the Holy Spirit. Holiness and righteousness go together whilst unholiness and sin also go together. Holiness and righteousness show God’s presence whilst their absence shows a disconnection from God.
God calls us to his holiness
God’s primary nature is holiness which should be our desire to attain. Leviticus 19: 2 says you shall be holy, for I the LORD your God is holy. If we fail to be holy, we cannot serve God nor be his friends. It was said to the people of Israel in Joshua 24: 19 you cannot serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. In order to serve God, we must first be holy in order to bring us in alignment with God’s nature.
Samuel said of God in 1 Samuel 2: 2, there is no holy one like the LORD. In order to stand before God, we must be holy. In 1 Samuel 6: 20 the people of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? Nothing short of holiness comes near him because everything about him is holy. Psalms 47: 8 says God sits on his holy throne. Psalms 68: 5 says God is in his holy habitation. Paul affirmed in 1 Corinthians 3: 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. We shall be accountable if we violate the holiness of God.
God is described in Psalms 71: 22, O holy one of Israel. Psalms 99: 9 says the LORD our God is holy. The prophet Isaiah also said of God in Isaiah 48: 17… the Holy One of Israel. These references point to one irresistible fact, which is, God is the only Holy One and in him does righteousness dwell. What efforts have we made to attain God’s holiness to his glory and honour?
How does God show his holiness?
God shows his holiness in many forms some of which we have mentioned below;
Through righteousness
Isaiah 5: 16 says, the Holy God shows himself holy by righteousness. It means righteousness is of God; righteousness shows God’s presence. God is righteous. Where there is holiness, there is righteousness and vice versa. We cannot have one without the other. Both manifest simultaneously.
God said of himself in Isaiah 43: 3, for I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. This means two things, there is only one holy God; and he is the only Saviour of mankind. God said in Isaiah 43: 11, I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. God also spoke in Hosea 13: 4… besides me there is no savior. In due course, God gave us Christ Jesus to be our Saviour.
Through Christ Jesus
Paul wrote in Hebrews 4: 15, for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but2: 10-11 the angel said to them (the shepherds living in the field) … I am bringing you good news of great joy for we have one also who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5: 21 for our sake he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus had the fullness of God’s nature and he is our standard of holiness. Jesus wants us to build a relationship with him, Matthew 11: 29-30.
In his works of creation
God revealed himself to the people of Israel as a holy God. Isaiah 54: 5 says… the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. We read from Exodus 15: 11, “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders? God said in Ezekiel 38: 23 so I will display my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.
God’s spirit is holy, Acts 2: 33; his nation is holy, 1 Peter 2: 9. he loves and rewards righteousness, Psalms 45: 7; and he strengthens our hearts through Christ Jesus with his holiness so that we shall escape blame before our God the Father at Jesus’ second coming, 1Thessalonians 3: 13 .
How do we relate with God?
We are to serve him in holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4: 7 says for God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. Without holiness, we cannot see God. Hebrews 12: 14 says pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. David said in Psalms 93: 5… holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore. God wants us to preserve his holiness in every circumstance.
God said in Ezekiel 20: 40… my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols. How do we uphold God’s holiness in our lives? Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6: 19 that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit therefore it must be kept holy. Do we reflect God’s holiness in our lives?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you that by our holiness, you have made us righteous through your blood. Please keep us holy and true in our relationship with you. Guide us to take on your nature of holiness so we may glorify your holy name in our lives. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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