(Each Saturday, a faith leader offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com)
Love is an attribute of God that Christians commonly emphasize and rightfully so. The word “love” is found 311 times in the KJV translation of the Bible. God is love personified, and He showed His love through His son Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for all of humanity’s sins. Emphasized less by many Christians but just as important, the word “holy” also describes God and is found 611 times in the Bible. To be holy means to be sacred, consecrated, and specially set apart with the implication that the person or object being described is pure. God’s holiness is significant for a few reasons.
God’s holiness is a core part of His character. Psalm 111:9 says, “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” The prophet Isaiah was given a special revelation of God on His throne, high and lifted up. The heavenly beings in the throne room cried out “Holy, holy, holy.” Saying the word only one time was not enough to appropriately express how holy God is. His perfection and purity set Him apart from all His creation, which was originally very good but later became corrupted by sin.
God’s holiness reveals mankind’s imperfection and need of redemption. God’s moral law is a much higher standard than any person can perfectly attain to, and we can learn what He thinks about a variety of issues from His governmental law that was given to the nation of Israel in the time of Moses even though our form of government is not a theocracy like theirs was. Romans 7:7 and 7:12 say, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet … Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”
Only a holy God could originate holy laws. While such seemingly impossible standards could lead people to give up and think there is no hope, God intends for His law to show us our need for the redemption and forgiveness that is found in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:24 says, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” There would be no need to believe in Christ as the only one who can save us from our sin if we didn’t see our need to be saved in the first place. The purpose of the law is to teach people that they have violated God’s perfect standard and therefore need to believe in the perfect Son of God for redemption, forgiveness, justification and peace with God.
God’s holiness gives His followers something significant to aspire to. Believers in Jesus Christ are called saints in the Bible, and a saint is one who is specially set apart. Believers are already holy by way of their identity as God’s children through Jesus Christ, and God intends that the believer’s identity in Christ be practically lived in everyday life. When people are born again by faith in Christ, they don’t just receive the Spirit of God in their lives. They receive the Holy Spirit who enables them to have lives that progressively reflect more of the holiness of God. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (behavior); Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
In a world groaning and struggling under the effects of sin, getting a clearer view of the holiness of God can be life-changing. “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory!”
Greenfield Baptist Church is a caring church with a life-changing message. Founded in 2015, this independent Baptist church meets at 138 Main St. in Greenfield. Worship services are held on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m., and Midweek Prayer Meeting is held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. For more information about the church, please call 413-356-0150 or visit www.greenfieldbaptistchurch.net. Sermon videos can be viewed by searching for “Greenfield Baptist Church MA” on YouTube.