GOD IS HOLY, BE HOLY!

Can you imagine how humbling it would be to meet the most powerful or influential person in the world?

And did you know that He already does? The God of the universe desires to meet us and one of the ways He does is through His attributes. One of His essential attributes is also one people talk about the least – His holiness. But Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God is holy, holy, holy! Let’s explore God’s holiness through the acronym P.U.R.E.

PERFECT IN CHARACTER

The word holy (Heb. qadosh, Gk. hagios) means “set apart” or morally perfect, pure, and unique. To say God is holy is to say He is utterly set apart and without sin (Exodus 15:11; 1 John 1:5). This matters because Satan’s attack is often to make us doubt God’s character, but God is perfect and cannot be touched by evil (Habakkuk 1:13). When life tempts us to question Him, we must remember His holiness. He is absolutely pure and trustworthy.

ULTIMATE STANDARD

God’s holiness is the measure of all moral excellence. As A.W. Tozer wrote, “Holy is the way God is… He is that standard.” This is why stealing, adultery, and sexual immorality are indisputably wrong, because God defines right and wrong. In Exodus 20, God gave His people commandments rooted in His love and deliverance, not to restrict joy but to guide them into freedom. Romans 7:12 affirms the law is “holy, righteous, and good.” Happiness cannot exist without holiness; true joy flows from living according to God’s standard.

REQUIRES US TO BE HOLY

Psalm 19:7–11 declares God’s commands as perfect, right, and pure. They are for our protection, not our restriction. On the other hand, sin offers fleeting pleasure but leads to death. As 1 Peter 1:14–16 commands, we must “be holy” in all our conduct whether public, private, at work, at home. Holiness is not just avoiding sin: it is actively living for God, bringing joy and freedom.

When Isaiah saw the Lord, he became deeply aware of his sin (Isaiah 6:5). Peter, before Jesus, said, “I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). Paul called himself the least of the apostles and the foremost sinner (1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:15). This humility guards us from self-righteousness (Matthew 7:3–4). Additionally, God disciplines His children in love so that we may share in His holiness (Hebrews 12:6–11). Spurgeon put it well: God will not allow His children to sin successfully.

EXPERIENCED THROUGH JESUS’ WORK ON THE CROSS

The holiness of God demands judgment for sin, but because of His love we were provided a substitute. In Christ, God’s justice and mercy meet perfectly (2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:4-6). At the cross, God’s holiness was upheld, His justice satisfied, and His love fully displayed. To know God is to see His holiness not as something cold and distant, but as part of His perfect character. And because He is holy, we must be holy, dependent on Christ’s finished work on the cross and the Holy Spirit’s power to lead lives that are set apart.