Outline Five

The Holiness of God
(Isaiah 6:1-7)

 

Introduction: Have you ever noticed some people just seem to be so unapproachable? For one reason or another you are intimidated by their presence.

It may be:

A. Intelligence - "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth" - nothing is hid from God.

"There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." (Job 34:22; Isa. 40:25-28)

B. Appearance - (Rev. 1:13-17)
C. Size - (2 Chron. 6:18)
D. Mannerisms - (Isa. 55:8-9)
E. Money - (Psa. 50:10-12)

I. God's Most unapproachable attribute is Holiness - (Isa. 6:1-7)

"Holy" - defined by Webster's 1828 Dictionary:

"Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being.

We are told in (Heb. 12:14) - "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

Over and over God tells us to be holy! (Col. 3:12) - "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering:"

(Rom. 12:1) - The word Holy is found at least 87 times in Leviticus, a book of rules, do's & don'ts.

 

II. How do people deal with the holiness issue? -

A. Some try to imitate it - It's hard to criticize anyone who is attempting holiness for it is commanded (Lev. 19:2); but in so doing they not only fail but become self-righteous as the Pharisees. Paul came to a different conclusion (Rom. 7:24).

B. Some attempt to dilute it - Some reasoning is: It's New Testament, God doesn't care anymore. or God doesn't literally mean these things. Are we to assume that God isn't as Holy as He used to be? All we need to know is that God is Love - Really!

C. Some attack and criticize the very concept - This is present day Hollywood's position as well as the modern educational institutions. The idea is to assault the absolute standards. President NIxon what he was trained to do - "the end justifies the means." Situation Ethics! With this kind of national mentality, approaching God is a joke!

D. Some ignore it - They treat it like it doesn't exist. Just go about their business as if there is no day of reckoning or judgment. You can't get away with that forever because even the Devil is forced to recognize it (Mk. 1:23-27).

III. The Problem Remains -

How to approach God!

(1 Tim. 6:13-16) - I do it on the strength and merit of Jesus Christ who was and is Holy. That is why we pray in his name.
Holiness is developed in me through his Word. It's the Word that maintains holiness (Lev. 20:7; Jn. 17:17).

What would have been my level of involvement had I been there in Jesus day?

[1]. Would I have been willing to make Him a greater priority than my job - some did.
[2]. Suffer ridicule - some did
[3]. Trust Christ for provisions
[4]. Stand at the Cross.

 

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