"Holy is his name" ~Luke 1:49 (ESV)
"Hence that dread and amazement with which, as Scripture uniformly relates, holy men were struck and overwhelmed whenever they beheld the presence of God...Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God." ~John Calvin
"The one concept, the central idea I kept meeting in Scripture, was the idea that God is holy. The word was foreign to me. I wasn't sure what it meant. I made the question a matter of diligent and persistent search. Today I am still absorbed with the question of the holiness of God. I am convinced that it is one of the most important ideas that a Christian can ever grapple with. It is basic to our whole understanding of God and of Christianity." ~R.C. Sproul (The Holiness of God, pg. 12)
Holiness is something which will continue to stretch my mind. What does it mean to be holy? God is the one and only being who completes this with fullness. The word "holy" is not only used in Scriptures to draw attention to how God is different and apart from us, but also to draw attention to His absolute purity. As Christians, we are called saints, literally meaning, "holy ones."
So, why are we called, "holy ones"?
Being made in the image of God means that we reflect God to the world. We show him off, so to speak. We present to the world who God really is. We magnify and glorify Him. If not directly, indirectly. Meaning, God is glorified in everything. We can get on board and be a part of it, or we can waste our life. Why wouldn't we want to be a part of it? What a honor to share in this privilege.
Everytime I start to write about the holiness of God, I have to just stop and soak it all in. It seems endless. Wow, what a great God we worship! He is holy!
2 comments:
The Hebrew word for "holy" means "seperate, or set apart". This is an important aspect of holiness.
Holiness is not only moral excellence, it is separation from difilement and sin. And we are called to be "holy as our Father in Heaven is holy"!
Quite a task!
You asked. So, Why are we called, "holy ones"? I know you know the answer, but is'nt great to be reminded,and to preach the gospel to each other daily. I know I need the gospel daily. We are called holy ones, Because Jesus Christ's righteousness was imputed to us who believe.(Rom. 1:17;3:21-26;10:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9). The great exchange, my sin for His righteousness.(Doesn't that make you want to dance and do some back flips)This righteousness imputed or reckoned to us believers is, an anlien righteousness.It is not our own righteousness, for none are righteous,but God's righteousness imputed to us.So, as Luther said, believers are simultaneously righteous and sinful.
Praise be to His wonderful name.
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