How does God’s holiness awaken awe and uncover sin in us? (Holiness)
Few attributes of God strike the human heart with more intensity than His holiness. Scripture often describes God as the “Holy One,” emphasizing both His exalted majesty and His moral perfection. To encounter His holiness is to be confronted by His uniqueness, greatness, and purity. This attribute awakens awe, reverence, and humility, while at the same time exposing sin and weakness in humanity. In our continuing series on the attributes of God, holiness stands at the center, shaping how we understand His righteousness, justice, mercy, and love.
1. The Meaning of God’s Holiness
At its core, holiness refers to God’s absolute uniqueness and set-apartness. He is distinct from creation and exalted in majesty (Exodus 15:11). Holiness also carries ethical weight: God’s character is perfectly pure, free from sin and corruption (Habakkuk 1:13). Unlike creatures who may change or falter, God’s holiness is constant, reflecting His unchanging moral perfection.
This means that holiness is not one attribute among many but a description of God’s very essence. When Isaiah hears the seraphim cry “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3), the triple repetition underscores that God is supremely and eternally holy.
2. Holiness Awakens Awe
Encounters with God’s holiness throughout Scripture consistently evoke awe and reverence. Moses removed his sandals before the burning bush because he was on holy ground (Exodus 3:5). Isaiah trembled before the throne of the Lord, overwhelmed by the vision of God’s glory (Isaiah 6:5). The apostle John, seeing the glorified Christ, fell at His feet as though dead (Revelation 1:17).
This reaction arises because holiness reveals both God’s majesty and human smallness. To stand in the presence of the Holy One is to sense the infinite gap between Creator and creature. Holiness rightly humbles us, reminding us that worship is the only fitting response.
3. Holiness Uncovers Sin
God’s holiness not only inspires awe but also exposes sin. Isaiah cried, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). Peter, after witnessing Jesus’ power, exclaimed, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8).
This awareness is not mere fear but a recognition of moral inadequacy. God’s holiness functions like a light that reveals hidden flaws. Humanity’s best efforts fall short when measured against His perfection (Romans 3:23). This realization is painful, but it is also necessary, for it drives us to seek God’s mercy and cleansing.
4. Holiness and God’s Judgment
Because God is holy, He cannot ignore sin. His holiness demands justice, and His judgment flows from His ethical perfection. The Law given at Sinai reflected His holy character and revealed His standard for His people (Leviticus 19:2). Throughout Israel’s history, judgment fell when they violated His covenant and defiled His name.
Yet judgment is never arbitrary. It is the necessary expression of holiness against sin. God’s wrath is not a flaw but the righteous outworking of His holy nature (Nahum 1:2–3).
5. Holiness as the Ground of Redemption
While holiness demands judgment, it also provides the basis for redemption. The same God who declares, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16), also provides atonement for sin. In Isaiah’s vision, his guilt was taken away by a coal from the altar, symbolizing God’s gracious provision (Isaiah 6:7).
In the New Testament, this provision is fulfilled in Christ. Jesus, the Holy One of God (Mark 1:24), bore our sins on the cross, satisfying the demands of holiness so that sinners could be made holy. The Gospel reveals that God’s holiness is not only terrifying but also beautiful, for it is expressed in both justice and mercy.
6. Holiness and Worship
Holiness shapes worship at every level. The temple, sacrifices, and rituals of Israel all highlighted God’s holiness and His people’s need for cleansing. In the church, worship centers on the holiness of God revealed in Christ. Songs of praise, confession of sin, and proclamation of the Word all reflect the reality that God is set apart and worthy of reverence.
Revelation portrays heavenly worship as unceasing cries of “Holy, holy, holy” around God’s throne (Revelation 4:8). Worship is our response to His holiness, declaring His worth and submitting our lives to His will.
7. Holiness and Christian Living
Holiness is not only an attribute of God but also a calling for His people. Believers are set apart, sanctified by the Spirit, and called to reflect God’s character in the world (1 Thessalonians 4:7). This calling is both vertical (devotion to God) and horizontal (love of neighbor).
Holiness is practical: it means pursuing purity, righteousness, and compassion in daily life. It is also communal: the church is described as a holy temple, indwelt by God’s Spirit (Ephesians 2:21–22). To be holy is to belong wholly to God and live for His glory.
8. Holiness and the End of the Story
God’s holiness also frames our understanding of the last days. The final vision of Scripture shows a new creation where nothing unclean will enter (Revelation 21:27). The holiness of God fills the new heavens and new earth, and His people share in it perfectly.
For believers, this is our hope: one day, sin and impurity will be removed forever, and we will stand in the presence of the Holy One without fear. Holiness thus connects our present struggles with the eternal future, reminding us that redemption leads not only to forgiveness but to transformation.
Conclusion
God’s holiness awakens awe and uncovers sin, but it also reveals His love and redemption. His holiness is the foundation for His justice, mercy, and covenant promises. It is central to worship and central to the Christian life. To know God as holy is to tremble before His majesty, confess our sin, and rejoice in His salvation. Ultimately, His holiness calls us to be set apart, not only in reverence but in love, reflecting His character in a world that desperately needs the light of the Holy One.
Bible Verses about God’s Holiness
“Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11)
“But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts.” (Isaiah 5:16)
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:3)
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5)
“For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” (Isaiah 57:15)
“Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.” (Psalm 99:5)
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15–16)
“God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
“Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’” (Revelation 4:8)
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)
