GOD’S HEART OF HOLINESS

“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” – 1 Peter 1:15

It is a privilege of Grace for human hearts to be invited to commune with GOD”S HEART of HOLINESS: “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1Pet.1:15-16). God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Love, Unchanging and Holy. But the only character that is thrice repeated in any doxology found in the Bible is God’s Holiness: first in the Old Testament and also in the New. In Isaiah’s vision the heavenly creatures, the seraphim, cried to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa.6:3). In John’s revelation of open heaven the four living creatures worshipped God day and night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Alimighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (Rev.4:8b).

To say the word “holy” twice in Hebrew is to describe someone as most holy. To say the word “holy” thrice intensifies the idea to the highest level. Holiness is at the centre of God’s Character. Holiness means that God is distinct and set apart. He is worthy of reverence for His Deity and Purity. God chose the people of Israel to reveal Himself to them and through them to the world. The crossing of the Red Sea was a miracle of miracles for them. Rivers at times dry up but no one had ever heard of the sea getting divided! Following their miracle march on the dry land of the seabed, Moses and the children of Israel sang an immortal song to the Lord. The most exuberant exclamation was of His matchless Holiness: “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in HOLINESS, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Ex 15:11). God is far above anything in all of creation, in His Holiness!

Even in His Trinity, God is Holy, Holy, Holy! Each of the Three Persons of the Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is all-holy! In His High Priestly prayer the Lord Jesus addressed His Father as “HOLY Father” (Jn 17:11). The angel told Mary that the Son of God to be born of her would be the “HOLY One” (Lk 1:35). The persecuted disciples, while praying, referred to the Son as “Your HOLY Servant Jesus” (Acts 4:27,30). The Third Person of Trinity is the “HOLY Spirit” (Jn 14:26) – the “Spirit of HOLINESS” (Rom 1:4).

Holiness is not only a unique character of God; it is also His most desired quality in His people. The Book of Leviticus which taught the people of Israel about ritual and moral purity, reveals God’s Holiness through three recurring statements: (1) Be holy; (2) Be holy as I am holy; (3) I make you holy (Lev 19:2; 20:7, 8; 21:8). Interestingly, the Three Persons of Trinity are involved in this life of Holiness. The Father proclaims the call: “Be holy!” The Son presents the model: “As I am holy!” The Spirit promises His help: “I make you holy!”

In essence, God commands and promises Holiness: “Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us CLEANSE ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting HOLINESS in the fear of God” (2Cor.7:1). Without the promise of the Spirit’s help, the call to holiness would be impractical and unreasonable. But most importantly, Jesus makes Holiness possible! The Son of God came down from sinless Heaven to the sin-sick world. Taking human form and facing all sorts of temptations, He lived an absolutely pure life, thus giving us a pattern. Now, the Holy Spirit indwells us and in accordance with His very name, His primary work is to make us holy.

As we abide in covenant relationship with our Father-God through His Son Jesus Christ by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Father’s passion, the Son’s pattern, and the Spirit’s power would always be all-sufficient to fulfil our Call unto Holiness. God will draw our hearts closer to commune with His Heart of Holiness, and make us holy as He is holy!