Introduction to God's Holiness
Why understanding God's holiness is essential for becoming a holy people.
Teaching
Welcome back! We've covered a lot of ground so far!
As the theologian Carl Henry said, God is a "living center of activity pervasively characterized by all his distinctive perfections." God is unified, but in our limitations, we can only focus on a small bit of what our First Love is like at a time.
In this module, we are going to focus on a topic that is often neglected: the holiness and justice of God.
Often we look away from this subject because we find it uncomfortable. But the psychologist Diane Langberg says:
If we worship a God who is just, who hates injustice, and cannot participate in it for one second and remain himself, then we as his people will also love and do justice. We will be known for it.
Think about it… If we want to be a holy people, who live with integrity, and who pursue what is right and just, then part of what we need to do is encounter a holy God, so that we might be transformed into his likeness.
Prayer
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(From the Book of Common Prayer)
Reflection & Discussion Questions
- 1
When you picture God's holiness, what images or metaphors come to mind?
- 2
How might remembering God's holiness actually provide comfort and hope amid the brokenness of our world?
Next Steps
Read Isaiah 6:1-8 and reflect on Isaiah's encounter with the holy God.