WHO GOD IS: HOLY

“15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Pt. 1:15-16)

Holy, holy, holy is the refrain of the seraphim in Isaiah 6:3 with regard to the God of Heaven. Holiness describes being set apart from the common or profane (cf. Ezek. 22:26). God is above all and is to be given the utmost reverence for holy is His very name (Ps. 111:9). The second person of the Godhead, the only begotten Son of God, is holy (Lk. 1:35, 2:23; Acts 3:14, 4:27). The third person of the Godhead is called the Holy Spirit (Mt. 1:18; Acts 5:3-4).

God requires that each of us be holy because He is holy. Each member of the church is part of the holy priesthood. This shows the responsibility we have to offer acceptable sacrifices to God (1 Pt. 2:5). Tragedy comes to those who do not (cf. Lev. 10). We are a holy nation that has been called out of the world of wickedness (1 Pt. 2:9). Tragedy comes to those who go back to the pigpen of sin (cf. 2 Pt. 2:20-22). We are those that dedicate our hearts to God making sure He controls all in our lives (1 Pt. 3:15). Tragedy comes when God is rejected from His rightful position (cf. Rm. 1:20-32).

The material world that captures so much attention and time is temporary (2 Cor. 4:18). It will be burned up when Christ returns (2 Pt. 3:10). What is our reaction? We practice holy living, we keep our eyes on the goal, and we keep on growing (2 Pt. 3:11-18). God is holy and so must we be!

Trent Thrasher