The Holiness Of God Lesson

Posted on January 8, 2018 Updated on January 9, 2018

Scripture

Various Verses

Memory Verse

“There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2

Objective Of The Lesson

The study of this attribute has been slightly neglected by the modern church in favor of His love and grace. This should not be the case. A proper study of the holiness of God will help your kids understand how and why God wants them to live righteous lives.

Teacher Exhortation

• Be faithful in teaching all of God’s attributes.
• I will be including many reference verses for each lesson on the attributes of God. It is not necessary that you go over all of them. Use only as many verses as time will allow you to cover.
• The holiness of God presents a perfect opportunity to present the gospel message.

Introduction

Holy is not something that God decides to be or do.

• It is His very nature. God IS holy.
• God would have to stop being God in order to be unholy.

God Is Holy

The entirety of who God is and what He does is holy.

Although often neglected, no other attribute is so frequently declared and explained in the Bible than His holiness.

God’s holiness is emphasized in the Bible.

• It is the only attribute that is mentioned multiple times in a single verse.

“And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3

“And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” Revelation 4:8

God is called holy throughout Scripture.

The following verses demonstrate that all that God is and all that He does is holy.

“Do not profane my holy name, for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites…” Leviticus 22:32

“Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.” Psalm 22:3

“He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever— holy and awesome is his name.” Psalm 111:9

“For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place…” Isaiah 57:15

“My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.” Ezekiel 39:7

“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are— the Holy One of God!” Mark 1:24

A study of the holiness of God covers two specific points:

• God is separate from all creation.
• God is completely morally pure.

God Is Separate From All Creation

God has an exalted status.

• He is far above His creation.

God is infinitely set apart and greater than His creation.

• There is no comparison between the holiness of God and that of any other being or thing.

We are simply not at His level.

The following verses demonstrate that no one compares to God’s holiness.

“There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2

“Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” Exodus 15:11

“Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God?” Psalm 77:13

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.” Isaiah 40:25

“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy…” Revelation 15:4

God is completely separated from sin.

• He has no relationship with sin.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

God Is Completely Morally Pure

God is completely without sin.

• He takes pleasure in all that is true, pure and upright.
• God cannot sin, take pleasure in sin, tolerate sin or have fellowship with sin.

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.” Psalm 145:17

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5

“So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.” Job 34:10

“I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people; for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name.” Leviticus 20:3

“For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.” Deuteronomy 23:14

“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing…” Habakkuk 1:13

“And nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:27

“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You.” Psalm 5:4

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

Application

Every attribute of God should elicit a response.

What should be our response to knowing that God is holy?

• Awe And Worship
• Fear And Reverence
• Reflection By His Children

Awe And Worship

The following verses demonstrate that as the only holy being in existance God deserves to be worshiped and praised.

“Sing the praises of the Lord, you His faithful people; praise His holy name.” Psalm 30:4

“Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise His holy name.” Psalm 97:12

“Let them praise your great and awesome name— He is holy. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His footstool; Holy is He. Exalt the Lord our God And worship at His holy hill, For holy is the Lord our God. ” Psalm 99:3, 5, 9

Fear And Reverence

The following verses demonstrate that as the only holy being God deserves to be revered.

“Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Revelation 15:4

“Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.”  Psalm 96:9

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

“The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.” Isaiah 8:13

Reflection By His Children

God calls His children to live as He is. We are to reflect His nature.

• He is holy and He commands His children to be holy.

“44 I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. 45 I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44-45

“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Leviticus 19:2

“So that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God.” Numbers 15:40

“for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16

“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him…” Ephesians 1:4

“But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

“…Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2:19

Review

Go over both principles that were covered about the holiness of God.

• God is separate from all creation.
• God is completely morally pure.

Review Questions

• Can anyone compare to God? Is anyone at His level?
• Does God sin?
• Does God take pleasure in sin?
• Does God tolerate sin?
• If God is holy, what should be our response? Should we be holy like God is holy?

Take some time to memorize the memory verse at the end of the lesson.