This morning a friend of mine texted me this question: “My friend, why is God holy?” I was led to respond with the following:
“A very interesting question. God is holy. Holiness is a part of who and what God is. We were formed in the image of God, so we are meant to be holy as well. Part of the reason Jesus was sent to us, in addition to giving us grace and forgiveness by his personal example of self-sacrifice, was to teach us by example what it looks like to pursue holiness. He often took time to be alone in prayer with God, drawing close to God, be in his presence undisturbed. When we do that, or experience God’s presence in other ways, we receive a portion of the holiness of God, a sacred moment, grace, peace, joy, love, reverence.
In these moments our heart can be changed, giving us the opportunity to be more holy, living in and with God’s Spirit, producing in us love, joy, peace patience, kindness and other fruits of the Spirit that shape how we relate with others. These attributes, when shared and spread to those around us, serve to bring God’s love and peace to the world. When people see that in us and recognize it for what it is, they call it holiness. … God is holy, so we can become holy, so we can bring God’s love to the world.”
Here are some scriptures focused on being holy and holiness[1].
Leviticus 11:44 – For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.
1 Samuel 2:2 – There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
Psalm 99:3 – Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!
Psalm 103:1 – Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Isaiah 57:15 – For thus says the one who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Romans 12:1 – I appear to you therefore brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Ephesians 4:20-24 – But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Hebrews 12:14 – Strive for peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
[1]Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version©), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.