Yahweh, A Holy God

Holy = Of God and therefore regarded with reverence, associated with God, consecrated, devoted to the service of God.
Hebrew: qudosh = an object set apart.
Greek: hagios = separate, set apart.

Introduction

People have varying views about holiness. Some mistake it for righteousness, purity or spiritual perfection. To be sure these conditions usually coexist with holiness; but they ought not to be mistaken for holiness, which is a different thing entirely. From the above definition of holiness you will see that an object becomes holy by being set apart or consecrated to Yahweh. It is not holy because it is perfect, or because it cost a great deal. It is holy because it is consecrated (set apart) to Yahweh the LORD God of Israel. He is in possession of it. The matter of its perfection, its appearance, its value at this stage is immaterial. Its holiness is determined by its owner. It is holy because it belongs to the Almighty; not because it is without fault. His Spirit controls it and that is what makes it holy. Bear this important point in mind. Here are some examples of holy, set-apart, consecrated things.

Exodus 3:5	Holy ground
Psalm 2:6, 15:1, 87:1	Holy hill
Psalm 11:4	Holy temple
Exodus 28:2	Holy garments
Exodus 28:29-35	Holy place
Exodus 30:25	Holy ointment
Exodus 30:32	Holy perfume
Exodus 31:14	Holy day, the Sabbath
Exodus 37:29	Holy anointing oil
Leviticus 8:9	Holy crown
Leviticus 23:2	Holy convocation
Isaiah 52:10	Holy arm
Romans 16:16	Holy kiss
Matthew 27:53	Holy city
Hebrews 3:1	Holy brethren
1 Peter 2:5	Holy priesthood
1 Peter 2:9	Holy nation
1 Peter 3:5	Holy women
2 Timothy 3:16	Holy Scriptures

1. A Holy God

Isaiah 6:1

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2: Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3: And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4: And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5: Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

All those entities mentioned earlier became holy by being consecrated - set apart - for Yahweh. How then is Yahweh holy - set apart? What do these angels mean when they say: Holy, Holy, Holy. What does His holiness consist of? How is He set apart? How can we think of Him as being set apart, surrounded as He is by millions of angels?

The Most High is set apart, in that He is in a class of His own. He is totally different from all other gods and objects of worship. He stands out as a unique character: One who is absolutely different from all other deities in the universe. Here is a short list of the amazing qualities that puts the Almighty in a class all of His own.

His purity and perfection of character.
His wisdom, intelligence and knowledge.
His love, generosity, patience, kindness.
His mercy and compassion.
His mental, physical and spiritual powers.
His design abilities and creative skills.
His governing skills.
His laws.
His infinite knowledge and vast experience.
His foresight etc.

In all these things Yahweh the Almighty God of Israel stands out as being absolutely apart from all others. He is unique. He is above all other gods. He can also produce unique things and keep up His production lines for all time. Consider the snowflake, or the human fingerprint. Each is different from the next. Yahweh and His handiwork are infinitely ahead of all others. His products stand in a class of their own. They are holy. And so with the angel host we too exclaim:

"Holy, Holy, Holy!" (Revelation 4:8)

2. Be Ye Holy

It is from such a unique Person that there comes the divine invitation Be ye holy. Come apart, be separate, be dedicated, be pure, be mine. Consider these astonishing commands.

Lev.10:10	And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.
Lev.11:44	For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Lev.19:2	Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
Lev.20:7	Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

The Almighty God of Israel wants His people to be different from all the other peoples of the world. He does not want us to imitate the world in moral values, in outlook or in behaviour. Yahweh wants His people to be dedicated to Him - separate, apart, sanctified and holy.

Be ye holy saith the Lord.

To be sure we believers are in no way more intelligent or inherently better than other people on earth. But in everything we do we must have the highest moral standards, we must be set apart from the ordinary by Yahweh's high and holy standards; and in matters of moral behaviour - we must be totally different from the sinful world. We are to be as different from the world as a holy kiss is totally different from a sexual kiss. In short, the whole concept, operation and purpose of a believer's life must be in a class of its own, set apart - holy.

3. Stay Holy

To those who recognise that they are set apart - different - (not necessarily more talented, but living on a higher moral plane) Yahweh makes many wonderful promises. They include guarantees lasting throughout eternity. They tell of reward, blessing and protection which the saints will enjoy for all time. Here are a few of those promises. See Sermon Note10/01 for hundreds more.

Revelation 22:11	... and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14: Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Exodus 11:7	But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

NOTE: Yahweh makes a distinction, and His people should be aware of that distinction.

4. Holy Work

And why does the high and holy God require us to be holy? How can our separation from the world and its interests benefit Him? The answer is that we might be cleansed and thereafter used by Him to introduce others to the Saviour, who can give them eternal life. Yahweh will only use sanctified (holy) vessels and instruments for His work. A person's potential use in the Vineyard of salvation does not depend upon:

Education / Knowledge / Skill
Wealth / Possessions
Physical Appearance / Personality
Social Standing / Position or Fame

The Vineyard of Salvation

However important we rate these things, they really are of little account without holiness. Indeed, all of them, if not directed by the Spirit of Jehovah, end in vanity and spiritual impotence. This means that no Christian can do any effective work in the Vineyard of Salvation without holiness. Sinners are not saved by information: any more than a car is moved to its destination by a road sign. Sinners are convicted and won over by the Holy Spirit working through sanctified instruments. To be sure we may use the law of God to inform people, but if the Holy Spirit is not with us, and if we are not living up to the truths we know and believe, then there will be no conviction and no decisions for Jesus Christ. Everything of importance depends on the presence of Yahweh's Spirit in your life. If He is with you, then you will be a success in life and in the Vineyard of Salvation.

If He is not with you, you will be a failure - no matter how impressive your performance in the eyes of the world or even in the eyes of the church members.

Absolute Dedication / Righteousness Wanted

What is it that attracts the Spirit of the Most High? Why is the Holy Spirit with some Christians and not with others? How is it that some preachers bring people to Christ and others can never somehow manage it? They answer is: some believers are holy (dedicated, set apart and sanctified) and others are not. Millions know the truth; but comparatively few live it. That is the difference. The Holy Spirit will not work with unclean, unholy human tools. We must be holy, set apart and sanctified if we want Him to use us. This is a sobering fact.

Isaiah 6:5

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
6: Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8: Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

When our iniquity is taken away; when our sin is purged (burned out of our lives), then we can speak for God: but not before. And even then, few will listen and even fewer will decide to be saved. These are sobering facts we Christians must remember; especially as we approach the closing days of this sinful age.

SBS Sermon Notes More Sermons about The Almighty

Elder: David B Loughran
Stewarton Bible School, Stewarton, Scotland
Placed on Internet July 1996 ... Updated August 1999