Carole and I were talking about John’s post on spiritual separation the other day, and she said something that hit me right in the heart: God is a HOLY GOD. On its face, this is almost rote knowledge of God, but it is the missing element for so many among the lost – and even among those who identify as Christians. God’s holiness will never commune with sin. God loves the sinner, but there is no reconciliation and no true fellowship without the cleansing and redeeming power of the Blood of His Son, because our God is a HOLY GOD.
Our HOLY GOD is to be Feared
The fear of the Lord is far from the hearts of those who do not know and acknowledge God as a HOLY GOD. How do I know that? Because that’s my story. I was struck by the Father’s love for my prodigal self, but then I took it to myself. I decided that His love for me was so great that it meant I was okay. I propped myself up on God’s love and stayed in the pigsty. I had no fear of the Lord because I didn’t acknowledge His holiness.
It was the holiness of God’s Love that wrathfully confronted my presumption and rebellion. And it is His holy Love that chastens and confronts me still. Our HOLY GOD will NOT unite with the sinful flesh…EVER.
It is an error of epic proportions to believe that God’s Love is anything other than holy. His Love woos us and pursues us but it’s all for the purpose of our being reconciled through His Son, Jesus Christ. We are not meant to continue on our wicked way, saying, “God loves me so all is well!” Without the reconciliation brought about by Christ’s death at Calvary, I am forever separated from God. Why? Because God is a HOLY GOD.
The Love of a HOLY GOD
God’s Love wooed and pursued me, drawing me to Him with chords of kindness. But the holiness of that Love blasted my face off when I presumed a belonging on my terms and not His. Seeing my wickedness through His holy perspective set me on the path to salvation and reconciliation. As Andrew Murray put it, I was on The Path to Holiness.
The calling of God is not to impurity but to the most thorough purity, and anyone who makes light of the matter is not making light of man’s ruling but of God’s command. It is not for nothing that the Spirit God gives us is called the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 PHILLIPS
God’s Love is never in doubt but to present it as divorced from His holiness is pure heresy. Maybe this is the root of the popular false gospel that says whatever we do is fine because God loves us and we’re forgiven and under grace. Once you know God as a HOLY GOD, it hurts your heart to see and hear such deadly drivel. Only death and eternal separation will come from that abomination, and I know this because I was once on that path.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
1 Peter 1:14-16 HCSB
Our God is Love, and He is a HOLY GOD.
Ah… Jennifer. How much our spirits join in your plea to holiness. May His Lordship deepen this in His children, here and there, this cleansing&purity He is after (under His terms and under His power to achieve it). One of the things I have most hated is holiness, because of two reasons that joined forces: 1) My own sin. 2) The religious approach to God’s holiness. Today I see His holiness from “afar”. I no longer see myself worth of it. I wish with all my being that His Kingdom be pure and nothing defiled enters it, but not because… Read more »
From “afar”… I mean with this ONLY He is holy. Now I like holiness because I like Him… but I also know very well there is nothing in me holy except Him.
Love…