So far, we have discovered that there were many false ideas circulating about the character of God from the Greeks, Romans and even from his own people, the Jews.
God is not unknowable. He is not hiding from us.
The fact that God sent his only begotten son is evidence that God’s great desire is to be known by all. He wants us to know him and not just know about him.
To know God is to have a deep and personal relationship with him. God is involved in human affairs, and he is not aloof as some Jews and pagans claim.
To recap, God’s holiness means that he is pure and free from evil, making him morally perfect.
So how are we to approach this God who is transcendent—so excellent, remarkable and infinitely better than us? How do we establish a relationship with him who is so holy?
Accept the invitation
God loves the people he created and Jesus came to tell us that God wants people to draw near to him. He invited the weary and those worn down by the cares of this life to come to him for help.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest. Matt 12:28
His own invitation for relationship and eternal life is like a wedding invitation—a celebration of joy.
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage. Matt 22:4
He also invited men to come and follow him as disciples. Disciples would know him in a very intimate way—they would shadow his every move, sit at his feet to learn instruction, and walk in his dust.
And Jesus said unto them, come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. Mark 1:17
The problem with sinners
The Jews believed that the holiness of God meant that he was hostile to sinners. Yet, Jesus came and made friends with those who they considered to be the vilest of sinners. Jesus was frequently in the company of the physically unclean—lepers, prostitutes, and tax collectors. He called sinners to repentance.
Jewish thinking emphasized God’s holiness, and the difference between God and humans was so wide that there existed a great gulf between them.
It is true that sin separates men and women from God.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23b
However, it is also true that Christ brought into the world the message of a gracious, merciful and selfless God. A God to whom humans were so precious that he took upon their sins and sorrows, and sacrificed himself for them. A God that loves sinners.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:8,9
I’m reminded of the chorus in a song by Point of Grace, which speaks of bridging the great gulf between us and God. The image and message is so clear, and I love the play on words between bridge and cross.
The Great Divide by Point of Grace
There’s a bridge to cross the great divide
A way was made to reach the other side
The mercy of the father, cost his son
His life
His love is deep, his love is wide
There’s a cross to bridge the great divide
There’s a bridge to cross the great divide
There’s a cross to bridge the great divide
Joy in Heaven
So Jesus came with a message of a God who forgives, a God who loves, a God who seeks sinners to come home to him. A God who rejoices over sinners that repent—that turn from sin and turn to him for salvation.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety-nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:7,10
No gulf, no barrier, no veil
When Christ died, the veil that curtained off the Holy of Holies in the Temple was ripped in two. The gospel of Mark describes it as a rip that extended from the very top, right down to the bottom.
The Holy of Holies was the sanctuary of God’s presence. Only one man could enter that place—The High Priest. He could only enter on one day in the year—the Day of Atonement. Even then, he could not stay beyond what God had instructed lest he forfeit his life.
The tearing of the veil indicated that through Jesus’ death it was possible for sinners to access the holy and almighty God.
Ann Spangler states so eloquently that, “As Christ’s followers, we are transformed rather than destroyed by God’s power because Jesus has made it safe for us to come into the presence of a holy God, who cannot tolerate sin. Christ’s own holiness has become our bridge into God’s presence.”
Thank you, Jesus!
A call to holiness
Once we are saved, God calls us to a life of holiness because we belong to him. We are meant to be different from other people. We are meant to be dedicated to God. We are meant to be sanctified for his service.
But as he which hath called you to be holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (conduct);
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. I Peter 1:15,16
Holiness in our everyday lives
Gazing upon the holiness of God will help us to be holy in our own lives.
God’s holiness should cause us to fall down on our knees in awe, adoration and worship.
I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. Psalm 111:9
God’s holiness is the standard of all holiness, inspiring us to leave sinful practices behind.
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1
To be honest, I’ve not always reverenced God for his holiness as I should.
This most recent and lengthy Covid lockdown (our 12th week) has made it easy to slip into a rather casual approach to everything. I’ve fallen into the path of least resistance by schlepping around all day in comfortable pajamas.
It’s spilled over into a very casual approach to God, with my family watching our church service live streamed in our PJ’s. Feeling convicted of late, every Sunday morning we now make an effort to tidy ourselves up and dress properly for the live streaming service out of respect for God.
Ann Spangler suggests that we need to make tangible signs of God’s holiness in our lives, especially in devotions and private worship.
We can do this by creating beautiful spaces for prayer and bible reading, or listening to music and lyrics that centre on his greatness and holiness. Even holding the bible reverently and reading it with care helps.
We all need reminders of his holiness.
Bibliography
Barclay, W.1976, The Mind of Jesus, Harper & Row, London.
Spangler, A. 2015, I am with You, Daily Meditations on knowing and experiencing God, Tyndale House, Illinois.
Tucker, A. 2013, The Biographical Bible, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Unger, M.F. 1988, The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Moody Press, Chicago.
Wyatt Kent, K. 2011, Deeper into the Word Old Testament, Bethany House, Minnesota.
Point of Grace ,The Whole Truth Album Track 3, The Great Divide, Accessed on 15 August 2021 from
Big difference with your articles and other modern day so called preachers, is the abundant use of the Scripture. Excellent
Thanks. God’s word trumps all.