‘GOD IS HOLY’
HE IS PERFECT IN GOODNESS & RIGHTEOUSNESS HE IS INFINITELY, UNCHANGINGLY PERFECT
“Isaiah 6:3”
“Revelation 4:8”
(Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.)
AN EXPLANATION OF ‘HOLINESS’ FROM “BIBLE STUDY TOOLS (BST) and CROSSWALK STAFF”.
“The word holy means sacred, set apart, revered, or divine. Of all of the attributes of God, holiness is the one that most uniquely describes Him and in reality is a summation of all His other attributes. The word holiness refers to His separateness, His otherness, the fact that He is unlike any other being. It indicates His complete and infinite perfection. Holiness is the attribute of God that binds all the others together. God’s holiness (perfection) is His standard for us in perfection as well. As sinners, that is why we need Christ. Without Christ taking the place for us and dying for our sins, we would all fall short of God’s holiness standard. Because of this, those who have received the gift of salvation through Christ will never have to experience God’s holy wrath poured out on sinners. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the penalty for our sins was paid and we were imputed (credited) with Christ’s righteousness. Now, when God looks on us, He sees Christ’s perfect holiness. It is only in this that we can hope to stand in the presence of the blindingly pure, perfect, Holy One of Israel.”
PERSONAL INSIGHT & REFLECTIONS.
When I accepted and received Christ as my Savior at the age of 23, I was SOOO excited about my new found faith in Christ. I was soaking up everything possible of what the Bible had to say about sin, forgiveness, reconciliation, and how God wanted the believer to live his human life in the midst of a sinful world. As years have gone by some of that excitement started to diminish but was often rekindled with the periodic occurrences life circumstances. Whether it was God calling me to take 2 years off of my business career to attend Bible College or the severe illness of my son or a lackluster retirement life, I would periodically recommitment my life and life ministries to the Lord. Sometimes God has to hit me with a life circumstance 2’ x 4’ board across my head to get my attention to bring me back to the awareness of God’s plan for my life.
I distinctly remember in September of 1971 when I made the decision to acknowledge my sin to God and accept and receive Christ as my personal Savior. I also remember in the spring of 1972 a specific time when I asked God to be Lord of my life. I asked Him to live on the throne of my heart and guide and watch over my daily walk with Him. Inviting God to be your Savior is for salvation through Christ for eternity. Asking God to be Lord of your life is asking God to guide your daily walk (nothing to do with your salvation). It is those 2 decisions that have continuously transformed me over the years to be more like Him (perfection in the Father’s eyes through His Son – Jesus Christ.
APPLICATION
I have seen some mature Christians who have served the Lord and His Church for years, reach their retirement years and take a retirement from Christian service. I don’t see anywhere in the Bible where He tells us to slow down in our Christina walk and service to Him. What a great opportunity of TIME that He has given seniors to teach and mentor the next generations so that His church can continue to thrive when it is our time to join Him in Heaven.
I am so thankful that the Holy God who created me, so love me that He sent His Son to die on the cross to take the penalty for my sin. As a result of my decision to accept and receive His free gift of salvation through Christ, I know that am seen positionally perfect and righteous in God the Father’s eyes THROUGH His Son – Jesus Christ. It is because of this, some eternal day in the future, I will be able to stand/kneel in the presence of the God the Father. If this doesn’t rekindle the excitement in your spiritual life, NOTHING will.
Thanks for reading. Blessings from Carlton Ringer
