God is Holy

1 CORINTHIANS 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

Our grasp of God’s truth today is real, but still partial. And that’s not meant to discourage us—it’s meant to keep us humble, hungry, and hopeful. Your takeaway is right on the mark: keep growing, keep studying the Word. Spiritual maturity isn’t a switch we flip; it’s a lifelong sharpening of our sight. Every time you open Scripture, pray, or wrestle with a question, the “dim mirror” gets just a little clearer.

Prayer:

Lord God,

Thank You for reminding us that, while we see only in part today, You already know us fully and completely. Keep our hearts teachable, humble, and eager for Your truth. Help us grow in wisdom as we study Your Word, not just gaining knowledge, but becoming more like Christ in our character and our choices.

Give us perseverance when understanding feels dim, and give us joy in every bit of light You reveal. Steady our steps so we keep pressing forward, trusting that one day we will see You face to face in perfect clarity.

Strengthen our faith, deepen our love, and anchor our hope in You alone.
In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

1 PETER 1:16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Peter isn’t calling us to a life of stiffness or fear—he’s calling us to reflect the character and purpose of the God who made us His own. Holiness isn’t only avoiding sin. If it stopped there, it would just be emptiness with no direction. Holiness is belonging—being set apart to God, not just set apart from wrongdoing. It’s leaning into the life He designed for us: loving well, obeying His leading, using our gifts, and letting His Spirit shape what we desire and how we live.

JUDE 1:4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

This is one of the oldest—and most dangerous—distortions of the gospel. Jude saw it in the early church, Paul confronted it in Romans, and it still shows up today: the idea that grace gives permission to sin. But real grace never works that way. Grace frees us from sin’s penalty so that we can finally escape sin’s power—not indulge it.

When someone treats Christ’s sacrifice as a “license” to sin, it shows they haven’t understood the heart of the gospel at all. Jesus didn’t die to make us comfortable in our old life; He died to make us alive to a new one. The cross doesn’t lower the seriousness of sin—it shows just how serious it is. And when we get that, sin stops looking like freedom and starts looking like chains again.

God is Holy.

ISAIAH 6:1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke

When Isaiah’s world felt unstable, when a beloved and long-reigning king was gone, God pulled back the curtain to show Isaiah who was actually ruling. Humans come and go. Empires rise and fall. But the throne of heaven is never vacant. And what Isaiah sees isn’t comfort through sentiment—it’s comfort through sovereignty and holiness.

The holiest prophet Israel ever had fell apart in God’s presence because he realized just how pure, weighty, and overwhelming God’s holiness is. Even the seraphim—those fiery, powerful beings—cover their faces. That tells us something: if the highest angels cannot look at God directly, His holiness must be beyond anything we can grasp.

And that triple declaration—Holy, Holy, Holy—isn’t for emphasis only. It’s identity. When you get close to God, the first thing you become aware of is not His power or His wisdom, but His holiness. It’s what defines everything else He is.

In moments when life feels shaky, God reminds us He is still enthroned. And when our hearts draw near to Him, the thing that transforms us most deeply is seeing Him as He truly is—holy.

God is Pure.

HABAKKUK 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor …

God’s purity isn’t soft or optional; it’s absolute. His holiness is so complete that He cannot approve, endorse, or ignore evil. That’s why Habakkuk is confused: “If You are this holy, why do You allow wickedness to continue? Why not stop it immediately?”

But God’s holiness doesn’t mean He is blind to evil—it means He responds to it in His perfect timing, with perfect justice, never with indifference. Habakkuk eventually learns that God’s patience is not approval and God’s delay is not tolerance. He sees the wickedness more clearly than we do, and He will deal with it fully.

1 JOHN 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

God is pure light—no shadows, no hidden motives, no corruption, no cruelty. God isn’t merely better than darkness. He is utterly unlike it. That’s why you can trust Him without reservation—His holiness means His intentions toward you are never twisted, never manipulative, never harmful.

Every other attribute—His love, His justice, His power—draws its beauty from His holiness. His love is holy love. His justice is holy justice. His plans for you are shaped by a holy heart that cannot act with anything less than perfect goodness.

A perfectly good, perfectly holy God is watching over us, and nothing evil slips past Him unnoticed.

God is Set Apart.

1 SAMUEL 2:2 There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.

When we compare ourselves to other people—or to the “darkness” around us—we can feel respectable, even righteous. But that’s a false scale. The moment we set ourselves beside God’s holiness, all illusions disappear. Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:2 is crystal clear: There is no one like the Lord. No rival. No peer. No comparison. His holiness isn’t just moral purity—it’s His absolute uniqueness, His complete otherness. He’s in a category all His own. And realizing that doesn’t crush us; it humbles us in a healthy way. It leads to gratitude, because this holy God chooses to be our Rock—steady, faithful, and unshakable.

ISAIAH 6:5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

When Isaiah saw the holiness of God, he immediately realized the depth of his own sin. He wasn’t comparing himself to the people around him or measuring himself against the moral failures of his nation. In the presence of perfect purity, he could only say, “Woe is me,” because God’s holiness exposed what was inside his own heart. That’s the dilemma Scripture points to: without holiness, no one can stand before God. Isaiah felt this truth personally, and it shattered his pride. This is why truly godly people don’t waste their energy gossiping, criticizing, or focusing on the faults of others. When someone grows intimate with God, His holiness turns their attention inward, toward their own character and their own need for cleansing. Instead of judging, they become humble; instead of talking about others, they guard their lips; instead of scrutinizing someone else’s life, they nurture their relationship with God. A person who has encountered God’s holiness becomes marked by purity, humility, and a quiet, sincere walk with Him.

ROMANS 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

When we come face-to-face with God’s holiness, we become deeply aware of our own sinfulness and the brokenness of our human nature. Recognizing God’s absolute purity exposes how far we fall short, making us feel “wretched” in comparison. This awareness is not meant to condemn us permanently but to lead us to the only One who can set us free—Jesus Christ. Understanding God’s holiness awakens both conviction and hope: conviction of our sin, and hope in His grace. It is in this tension that we are drawn toward repentance, surrender, and dependence on God’s transforming power, acknowledging that apart from Him, we cannot overcome the body of sin we inherit.

GOD’S HOLINESS IS MANIFESTED IN HIS LAW.

God’s holiness is revealed in multiple ways, each showing His perfect purity, justice, and love. First, His holiness is manifested in His law, as the commandments reflect His perfect moral standard, showing what is right and exposing what is wrong. The law convicts us of sin and points us to our need for God’s grace. Second, God’s holiness is revealed in His provision, exemplified in the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a sacred place set apart for God, where His presence dwelled among His people. Its careful design and the rituals surrounding it displayed His absolute purity and the reverence required to approach Him. Third, God’s holiness is most fully revealed in the cross, where Jesus bore the penalty of sin, demonstrating God’s justice and mercy simultaneously. Through the cross, God provides a way for sinful humans to be reconciled to Him, showing that His holiness does not ignore sin but triumphs over it through redemption. Paul saw God’s holiness reflected in all these ways—through the law that convicts, the tabernacle that teaches reverence, and the cross that redeems—leading him and us into a deeper understanding of who God is and how we are called to live.

ROMANS 7:12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

The Law is holy because it reflects the character of a holy God. And because God is perfectly holy, everything He commands is for our good—never to restrict life, but to protect it, shape it, and lead it toward what is truly best.

EXODUS 20:2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Before God ever says, “You shall,” He first says, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out…” In other words, obedience is never demanded from people still in chains—only from those whom God has already freed.

Israel wasn’t given the law to become God’s people; they were given the law because they already were His people, rescued by His grace. And the same is true for us. Once we were slaves to sin, unable to break free on our own. But through Christ, God brought us out of that slavery. Only then does He say, “Now that you’re free, let Me show you who I am—and who you were made to become.”

That’s why the Ten Commandments aren’t just rules—they’re a revelation of God’s character. His holiness, His faithfulness, His purity, His truthfulness, His love for life and relationships—all of it is reflected in His commands. When we understand that the law flows from His rescue and His character, we begin to appreciate it not as a burden, but as guidance from a holy God who has already saved us and now invites us to walk in the freedom He purchased.

3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

The very first command—“You shall have no other gods before Me”—is rooted in God’s holiness. It declares that He has no equal, no rival, no competitor, because none exist. His holiness means He stands utterly alone in majesty, purity, and worth.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.

Idolatry is forbidden because God is holy—utterly unique, completely set apart, and incomparable to anything in creation. When God says, “You shall not make for yourself an idol,” He is protecting the truth of who He is. No object, no symbol, no image—whether from heaven, earth, or the sea—can capture or represent His glory. To reduce Him to a created form is to distort His nature and dishonor His holiness.

Idolatry also harms us. When we worship something created, we lower our view of God and we lower ourselves. Idols make God manageable, controllable, and small—something we can shape according to our desires. But the Holy God cannot be contained, manipulated, or represented by human imagination. He is infinitely above all things.

8 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 

The command to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” shows God’s holiness and His care for us at the same time. God sets apart one day as holy not because He needs rest, but because He knows we do. As a holy and loving God, He understands the limits of the people He created. The Sabbath teaches us to trust Him by stopping from our work, reminding us that our lives do not depend on our constant effort but on His faithful provision. It protects us from burnout, pride, and the illusion that we are in control. Whatever is your six days, that is your work days, the seventh is your Sabbath. The important thing is you observe the day of rest.

9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work…

God gives six days for our labor—to work, build, create, produce, and fulfill our responsibilities. But then He calls us to step back on the seventh day and intentionally stop. This rhythm isn’t about legalism or rigid scheduling; it’s about recognizing that all our work exists under God’s authority, and all our strength comes from Him.

By setting aside one day as Sabbath, God is teaching us something deeper than physical rest. He’s shaping our hearts to trust Him more than our own efforts. He’s reminding us that work is good but not ultimate, and that rest is sacred because it re-centers our lives on Him. The specific day may vary depending on a person’s responsibilities or culture, but the principle remains: six days we labor, and one day we rest, worship, and allow God to refresh our mind, body, and spirit. Honoring the Sabbath in this way keeps us grounded, restores our perspective, and protects us from a life driven by striving instead of faith.

17“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

The Ten Commandments fall into two parts: the first four shape our relationship with God, and the last six shape our relationship with people. And the connection between the two is holiness. Because God is holy, the way we treat Him must be holy—and because God is holy, the way we treat other people must also reflect His character.

The command, “You shall not covet,” goes straight to the heart. It shows that holiness isn’t just about external actions like stealing, lying, or committing adultery—it reaches into our thoughts, desires, and motives. Coveting begins in the heart before it ever shows up in behavior, and God cares about the heart because His holiness is not skin-deep. He wants us to be free from jealousy, comparison, and dissatisfaction because those things poison relationships and pull our attention away from Him.

HEBREWS 12:10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

Human parents discipline with limited wisdom—they do what seems best. But God disciplines with perfect wisdom, perfect motive, and perfect love. His discipline is never random, harsh, or petty. It always aims at one goal: our good.

God isn’t satisfied with us staying the way we are. His holiness is not something He keeps distant from us; it’s something He invites us into. When He disciplines, He is shaping our character, cutting away what harms us, correcting what derails us, and forming in us what reflects Him. Holiness isn’t just moral behavior—it’s becoming whole, healthy, and aligned with His heart.

GOD’S HOLINESS IS MANIFESTED IN HIS PROVISION.

ISAIAH 6:6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”

When the seraphim touches Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal from the altar, it is a vivid picture of how God Himself provides the way for sin to be removed. Isaiah doesn’t cleanse himself—God initiates and completes the cleansing. This mirrors the structure and purpose of the tabernacle, which God designed to teach Israel two truths: His holiness and His provision for dealing with sin. The outer court, where the people gathered, showed that access to God begins with sacrifice.

The holy place, entered only by priests, demonstrated that God invites His people closer but still with boundaries. And the holy of holies, where only the high priest could enter once a year, represented God’s perfect, unapproachable holiness—yet also His desire to dwell among His people through a mediator. Isaiah’s experience is like a personal “holy of holies” moment: God’s holy presence confronts his sin, but instead of destroying him, God provides a cleansing sacrifice. It’s a reminder that God’s holiness is never meant to push us away; it is meant to transform us, drawing us into relationship through the means He lovingly provides.

The tabernacle in the Old Testament reveals both the holiness of God and His provision for sin. Its design—with the outer court, the holy place, and the holy of holies—symbolizes the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity. Entry into the tabernacle required the priests to approach through one entrance, first offering sacrifices on the bronze altar and washing at the laver, teaching that holiness requires cleansing. The furniture inside—the showbread, lampstand, and altar of incense—points to Jesus: the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, and the One who intercedes for us. The thick veil protecting the Ark of the Covenant signified that God is holy and inaccessible to sinners, yet when Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn from top to bottom, granting all believers direct access to God. This shows that holiness cannot be achieved by human effort or willpower; it is only through Jesus, by His grace, that we are cleansed, transformed, and empowered to pursue holiness, reflecting God’s character in our lives.

GOD’S HOLINESS IS MANIFESTED IN THE CROSS

The foundation of holiness is first recognizing God’s holiness—His absolute purity, justice, and love. Human effort alone cannot measure up to His perfect standard, and trying to achieve holiness on our own will always fall short. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross changes everything: it completely removes the penalty of our sin and grants us forgiveness. When we come to Him, we are simultaneously saints and sinners—saints because we are accepted in Christ, sinners because our transformation is ongoing. This tension reminds us that holiness is not about instant perfection but about a lifelong process of being conformed to God’s character. By trusting in Jesus and yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit, our hearts, desires, and actions are gradually transformed, enabling us to reflect God’s holiness in our daily lives.

1 PETER:14 …do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

When God calls us to Himself, He doesn’t just wipe away our sins—He transforms us from the inside out. We are no longer to live according to our old desires and patterns of sin, but instead are called to reflect the holiness of God in every aspect of our lives. This transformation is not something we can manufacture on our own; it is the work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live in alignment with God’s character. The good news is that God’s grace doesn’t stop at forgiveness—it renews our hearts, reshapes our desires, and guides our behavior, enabling us to pursue true holiness and live in a way that honors Him.

ISAIAH 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Encountering the holiness of God changes the way we perceive and respond to Him. We see that when Isaiah stood before God’s absolute holiness, he became keenly aware of God’s presence and heard His voice—even in a conversation among the Father, Son, and Spirit. This encounter stirred Isaiah’s heart to respond with willingness and obedience: “Here am I. Send me!” When we truly grasp God’s holiness, we too become sensitive to His voice, discerning His heart, His purposes, and His will for our lives. It is not just an intellectual understanding but a personal, transformative experience that compels us to act, aligning our lives with His holy character. Holiness awakens responsiveness, intimacy, and a readiness to serve wherever God calls.

JOHN 12:41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

John connects Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah 6 with the revelation of Jesus Christ. What Isaiah saw—the holiness of God and His glory—was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. Through Christ, the invisible holiness of God was revealed in human form. This shows that the holiness Isaiah experienced was not only a distant, awe-inspiring vision but also a foreshadowing of the incarnate Son, who perfectly reflects God’s character. Seeing Jesus’ glory helps us understand that God’s holiness is both transcendent and accessible: transcendent in His perfection, and accessible through the redemption and transformation Jesus provides. It is through Christ that we encounter God personally, are drawn into His presence, and are empowered to reflect His holiness in our lives.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

We stand in awe of Your holiness. You are Holy, Holy, Holy, completely pure, righteous, and set apart. Thank You for revealing Your holiness through Your Word, Your law, the tabernacle, and ultimately through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, we confess that we fall short of Your perfection. Forgive us for our sins, for the ways we have failed to honor You, and cleanse us by Your grace.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross to take away our sins and open the way for us to come boldly into Your presence. We recognize that true holiness is not something we can achieve by our own effort, but a gift You work in us by Your Spirit. Transform our hearts, renew our desires, and shape our lives so that we may reflect Your character in all we do.

Help us, Father, to live in obedience to Your commandments, not out of fear, but out of love and reverence for You. Teach us to rest in Your provision, to honor Your holiness, and to respect others as You command. Make us sensitive to Your voice, attentive to Your Spirit, and willing to say, “Here am I. Send me,” whenever You call us.

May our lives increasingly reflect Your holiness, pointing others to Your glory, mercy, and grace. Empower us to grow daily in intimacy with You, to be holy as You are holy, and to live lives that bring honor to Your name.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.

Amen.

The content of this article is adapted from the source below:

Attributes of God - God is Holy, Be Holy