The Holiness Of God

In the Bible there is a very important teaching about Holiness. The word Holy or its related forms are used 527 times in the Bible, that is the significance of Holiness. 

A deep desire to live in Holiness is an indication that you are climbing the mountain of God. If you decide that you want to cleanse yourself off the dirt of the world, it means that you want to grow closer to God and reside in his holiness. 

Psalm 24:3-4 says, ‘3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.’

That which stands opposite to the holiness of God, is trusting in an idol or swearing by a false god. 

Deuteronomy 7:6-7 says, ‘6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. 7 The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.

There are several steps to climb in Holiness and each of us have a unique holy call. God wants us to step into the different levels of holiness. There are two kinds of holiness, imputed and practical. Imputed holiness is God given holiness. Practical holiness is something we should strive for, as the Lord has chosen us to be his people from among all the others in the world. Our Holy God has called us to be Holy people. 

Joshua 3:5 says, ‘Joshua told the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”’

If today we are able to sanctify ourselves before God, he will  do wonders for us in our tomorrow. So if we take a decision to live in holiness, miracles are waiting for us. Holiness is essentially a preparation for the wonders of God. 

In the Old Testament, it was believed that God resided in the sacred inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle. All the parts of the Tabernacle can be attached and detached, it’s transportable and can be rebuilt elsewhere. The first and last tabernacle in the Bible is mobile.  In the New Testament,  God resides in us, in our body which is the temple of God. 

The Tabernacle has three sections, the first part is an open space without a roof, and it is termed as Outer Court. This is an open court, where everyone can come in, pray and make sacrifices. 
The next phase is called the Holy Place. Only priests can enter this place as priests are selected and consecrated for God. They don’t live like ordinary people. 
The next phase is the Holy of Holies, which can only be accessed by the High Priest once a year . 
As you go from the outside of the tabernacle to the inside the level of Holiness increases and the number of people allowed to access these sections decreases. 

Who enters the holy of holies? 
Those who have a clean hand and a pure heart. God lives in unapproachable light. God wants us to climb this mountain and enter the sacred cover of holiness. While we confess our sins, God forgives our transgressions, and purifies us, he makes us righteous in his sight. This is called imputed holiness. Practical holiness is the work you put in, the decisions that you make to lead a holy life and sanctify yourself. 

Leviticus 11:44 says, ‘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.’

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

God is Holy. Holiness is one of God’s shared attributes. God has shared attributes and unshared attributes. Shared attributes are certain traits that God shares with us. 
Unshared attributes are those traits that cannot be shared with us.

For example, God's omnipotence, his all knowing power, his omnipresence etc  are traits that cannot be shared with us. These attributes cannot be shared with anybody, even the angels don’t possess it. Holiness, love, loyalty are attributes that we share with God. The very essence of God has holiness. God himself, his place, his Word, his Spirit and anything related to God are either holy or become holy.
 
God’s place is Heaven and it is holy though not as holy as God Himself. God’s holiness is unique.

Romans 1:4 says, ‘and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.’

This verse talks about Jesus, the Son Of God who is perfectly holy. He is never convicted of any sin in his life.

I urge you to read and pray with the verses above. As you pray and read the scripture, a sense of holiness will be placed on you.