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Holiness of God - 8/18/2008 10:46:20 PM
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J_Michael80
Posts: 399
Joined: 3/6/2008
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During my junior year in college, one of my roommate's brought his parents over to our apartment for the weekend. And right before dinner, my roommate's dad asked me this question "How come people in the Old Testament had to sacrifice animals but you never do?" I answered him "because Jesus Christ was the sacrifice." I realized as time went by that there was actually a bigger picture to this short discussion. The bigger picture was the holiness of God.
When Isaiah saw the awesome majesty of God's holiness, he said, "Woe to me!" Lets remember that Isaiah was a prophet of God. He was a good and righteous man, the chosen servant of God. But when Isaiah saw the holiness of God, he saw his sinful nature. Therefore, instead of saying blessed unto me as I have seen the glory of God, he instead put a curse upon himself and said, "woe unto me!" The word "woe" is mentioned as a curse in the Bible. Isaiah saw that he was not good in God's presence.
Then Isaiah said, "I am ruined!" It took only one glimpse of the holiness of God and Isaiah was brought to nothing, as he saw how wretched he was in the presence of God's holiness. Yes, God is infinitely holy and we are always un-holy. Isaiah was the best man in town as he was the prophet who spoke God's word. But in the presence of God he realized that even his own lips were unclean. Before Isaiah could get ready for the ministry, his sin and guilt needed to be atoned. Then he was ready for the ministry, "Here I am send me!"
We need to see that we are nothing but dust and ashes before the Lord God Almighty and understand that Jesus Christ died for our sins. The holiness of God humbles our pride, but most importantly, demonstrates the absolute perfection of God. Repentance begins at the feet of the Holy God. We must always remember that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, no one can approach God without Jesus Christ. Why? Because our God is a Holy God.
< Message edited by faithfulservant_ -- 8/20/2008 1:01:35 AM >
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RE: Holiness of God - 8/19/2008 9:28:13 PM
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J_Michael80
Posts: 399
Joined: 3/6/2008
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This is truly a humbling experience. This is the first time I've gotten no response from my post. Nobody has any comments or questions?
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RE: Holiness of God - 8/19/2008 9:41:23 PM
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deliveredarling
Posts: 1989
Joined: 8/30/2007
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When Jesus died for ours sins, He removed our "ruinedness". No longer are we to view ourselves as unworthy or mere dust.
Being born again and created as a new creature, we are now children of the Most High God. That is celebration worthy.
That is not to say that we forget we are sinners. We still will sin. However now, we have Jesus and death no longer knocks on our door.
This is not a license to sin, He is the reason for our hope, when we do sin.
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"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed: but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light."
Luke 8:16
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RE: Holiness of God - 8/19/2008 9:56:28 PM
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J_Michael80
Posts: 399
Joined: 3/6/2008
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Hi Deliveredarling,
Let me clarify the meaning of the word ruined in this verse. When Isaiah said "I am ruined" as he saw the holiness of God, he did not literally mean I am finished. On the contrary, the Hebrew root word for "I am ruined" simply means "I am lost." Therefore, it took only one glimpse of the holiness of God and Isaiah was brought to zero, as he saw how wretched he was in the presence of God's holiness. The basic theme of this verse is the humbleness and humility of Isaiah, one of God's beloved prophets. 
Likewise, when I personally come before God, I don't feel worthy of anything. I definitely feel grateful and priviledged, but not worthy. And even though we are adopted sons of God if we are born again, we are still mere flesh. Thank you for the response, I appreciate it. 
< Message edited by faithfulservant_ -- 8/19/2008 11:07:33 PM >
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RE: Holiness of God - 8/20/2008 12:09:54 AM
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Ezra
Posts: 1780
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God's entire plan of salvation revolves around the holiness of God. But the absolute holiness, purity, perfection, and righteousness of our God is beyond human comprehension. Even sinners redeemed by God's grace have little or no understanding of the unimaginable holiness of God.
That is why He is described as a "Consuming Fire" and there is fire round about His throne. Mt. Sinai was on fire when God descended there. The eyes of Christ are described as "a flame of fire" and "His countenance as the sun shineth in his strength". When Christ returns the second time to judge the world with His mighty angels He will come "in flaming fire taking vengeneance on them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:8).
But one thing is quite clear. No unclean sinner may enter into or approach the presence of our Holy God. And we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. We would all die in His holy presence. This was quite clear to Isaiah and it should be quite clear to us. That is why Isaiah said "Woe is me!".
The logical outcome to the conflict between our sinfulness and God's holiness would have been the utter destruction of the human race. But God chose another way so that His infinite grace and mercy would be eternally glorified in and through His saints. He chose to make saints out of sinners, and children of God out of children of disobedience. Only God could think in this manner.
In order to do so, a terrible price had to be paid. And there was no man who could pay that price. Therefore God the Son voluntarily chose to humble Himself, become obedient unto death, and die for our sins according to the Scriptures. It was also imperative that Christ shed His blood for our redemption, since without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. This reveals the amazing love and grace of God for worthless sinners who are actually enemies of God and rebels against His holy laws. There is none righteous, NO NOT ONE.
All the just demands of a holy God against sin and unrighteousness were met on the Cross at Calvary. "The LORD hath laid of Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:6). God is perfectly and eternally satisfied with that one offering for sin for all time and for all sinners. Therefore we now have a Gospel. Every sinner who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ and repents of his sins and idolatry receives forgiveness and remission of sins (Lk. 24:47). This is part and parcel of the Gospel.
But God does not stop with the forgiveness of sins. We are washed in the blood of the Lamb to cleanse us from our great defilement. We are clothed with the righteousness of Christ in order to shake off our own filthy rags. He first declares us righteous and then He makes us righteous by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to us in order to make us holy, because it is God's command and: "Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1 Pet. 1:16; cf. Lev. 11:44).
< Message edited by Ezra -- 8/20/2008 12:19:19 AM >
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And whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely. Revelation 22:17
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RE: Holiness of God - 8/20/2008 5:53:43 PM
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Lufia
Posts: 187
Joined: 5/25/2008
From: Canada, quebec province
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The holiness of God and our need for a Savior is exactly what a lot of people don't understand. They think that every 'good' person will go to Heaven. But there is no 'good' person in God's eye. We must have Jesus to clean us. that is why Jesus is the only way to God. No Buddha or Allah or good actions from us. Only Jesus.
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Give your life to Jesus and enjoy the ride!
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