The ordinary Hebrew word for holy is Kadosh, "separated" It is represented in the N.T. by the Greek word 'Agios' it is used for what is set apart from a common to a sacred use, as the utensils and ministers of the sanctuary, and certain days, and for what is separated from ceremonial defilement or immorality, including false worship and heathen practices. God is holy for He is separated from all other things by His infinite perfections by his being, wisdom, power,holiness, justice,goodness, truth,the glory that fills the earth. Even "Holy Angels," ascribe holiness to him.
Holy, Holy, Holy, from the standpoint of Revelation the first thing which has to be said about God is his sovereignty . But this first point is intimately connected with a second-so closely indeed that we might even as whether it ought not should have become first: "God is the Holy One."
These words by the noted Swiss theologian "Emil Brunner" reflect the importance of God's holiness.
The Bible itself readily confirms Brunner's view since it calls God holy more than anything else. Holy is the epithet most often affixed to his name.
Also we read that God alone is holy,(Rev.15:4). God is said to be glorious in Holiness.. "Who is like thee,O Lord!" Who is like thee, majestic in holiness, terrible in glorious, in holiness doing wonders. God's holiness is celebrated without ceasing by the "Seraphim" (Celestial beings who stood before the enthroned of the Lord), when He appeared in a vision to "Isaiah." Each had six wings; with two he covered his face and with two he covered his feet, and with two he did fly). And one cried unto another and said:" Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of your glory. God's people are called to join in these praises, we read " Sing praises to the Lord, O you saints, and give thanks to his Holy name (Ps. 30:4 ).
Because of this emphasis the Christian Church prays in the words of the "Lord's Prayer, " hollowed be thy name. ( Matt. 6:9 KJV). to say that the attribute of holiness is important is not to say that we understand it. One misconception is to think of God's holiness in human terms. It is imagined that holiness or righteousness is something that can be graded. According to the Bible, the holiness of God cannot be placed in the same category as human goodness.
Holiness, then, is the characteristic of God that sets him apart from his creation. Majesty is the dominant element in the visions of God in his glory seen both in the O.T. and the New. The element of majesty links the idea of holiness to sovereignty . I, the Lord am a jealous God. ( Ex 20:5). Rightly understood, the jealousy is central to any true concept of God. It is Brunner who points out with an acknowledgement to a jealousy within a marriage. A married person must not allow any third person to enter the inner relationship of the marriage.
God rejects every attack on his sole rights as Lord of creation! The holiness of God is therefore not only an absolute difference of nature. In simpler terms, the holiness of God means that God is not indifferent, but He becomes the absoluteness of his Holy will which is supreme and unique. "Bottom line: ( He is it). In simpler terms, the holiness of God means that God is not indifferent to how men and women regard, him. He does not go his solitary way heedless of their rejection of him. Recognition will come now, in each individual case or it will come true in the day of Judgment!
The third element in the idea of holiness is the element of wrath is an essential part of God's holiness, but we must not think of it in the context of a emotional human reaction to anything. He takes the matter of being "God" seriously, you can ask "Satan." When Satan sought to do that, Satan was judged ( and will yet be judged). When men and women refuse to take the place that God has given them, they will be judged also. A final element in the idea of holiness is one I mentioned earlier;
"Righteousness." Righteousness is involved in holiness. in other words, when we ask, what is right and what is moral? The right is what God is and reveals to us. It is the desire to obey God that ultimately makes ethical behavior possible.
So what do we do, we who are sinful and yet confronted with the holy God? Do we simply go on our own way? Do the best we can? Turn our backs on the "Holy?" If it were not for the fact that God has chosen to do something about our predicament, that would be all we could do. But the glory is its message that the holy God has done something. He has done some thing that was needed. He has made for us a way into his presence through the Lord Jesus Christ, as a result of which the "unholy" becomes "holy" and is able to dwell with him. Amen!
(The beautiful Hymn- dated 1783, Holy, Holy Holy, the last stanza says it all.!
Holy,Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth, and sky, and sea,
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
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