Holiness

God is holy, which we often define as “set apart.” The word holy (adjective), holiness (noun), sanctify (verb), hallowed (adjective), saint (noun, a holy person, or one of God’s people) and sanctuary (noun, meaning a place) are all related words with similar meaning. Compare Exodus 13:2 with Exodus 13:12:

“Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.” (Exodus 13:2)

“That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’S.” (Exodus 13:12)

We see that the firstborn of both people and of animals are set apart for God’s purposes; they are sanctified.

If someone or something is holy or hallowed, it is not common, but special. Ahimelech the priest tells David, “There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women” (1 Samuel 21:4). To be hallowed is to be set apart for a special purpose. The opposite of holy is common.

Common is also sometimes referred to as unclean. Consider the following:

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. (Acts 10:14-15)

God was showing Peter that Gentiles were no longer to be considered unclean, and used the picture of unclean animals to demonstrate what He had done. When Peter referred to the animals as common and unclean, God replied that He had cleansed what was once common. The idea of unclean here is not necessarily dirty, but whatever was called unclean was ceremonially unclean. Another word would be profane.

God is the only one who always was, is, and always will be holy, sanctified, and hallowed. Being distinct from His Creation, He was always set apart and distinct from the universe He created.

The first time we see any derivative of the word holy is in Genesis 2:3:

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Genesis 2:3)

This is before the fall of humankind in Genesis 3. The seventh day was set apart as special because God had finished creating the universe. The new creation was complete and perfect, and there was nothing left to do. He had ceased from all His work which He had done. Therefore, the Israelites were to do the same at the end of their work week, and cease from their work, just like God did (Exodus 20:8-11). This Sabbath day became a sign of their covenant with God (Exodus 31:13).

In the Old Testament Tabernacle, the most holy place represented where God met His people. The ark of the covenant stood in the most holy place, which was considered the footstool of God. The high priest could only go in once a year with a sin offering on the Day of Atonement (Exodus 30:10). Fasting and abstaining from work was involved, as it was a very solemn day (Leviticus 23:26-32). To come into the presence of the LORD, who is most holy, a blood sacrifice was required. Jesus Christ ultimately fulfilled the Day of Atonement and the sin sacrifice. We could never reach the standard of holiness that God requires, which is why Jesus Christ had to die for us. The Bible tells us that we are required to have “holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). We are profane, common, and unclean without the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

While we as believers are holy and called “saints,” holiness is expected of us in practice as well. In Leviticus 19:2, the Israelites were commanded, “Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.” The commandment is the same for us today (1 Peter 1:15-16). For us to reflect the glory and image of God, we are to keep His commandments and not persist in sin.

The ultimate picture of holiness is the view of the throne room of God that Isaiah saw:

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. (Isaiah 6:1-7)

Let us examine some of this piece at a time. These traits relate to God’s holiness.

Isaiah saw this vision the year king Uzziah died. This king was overall a good king, but he eventually was lifted up in pride, and decided to burn incense on the altar (2 Chronicles 26:16). This was something only the priests were to do. The king broke out with leprosy, so he was removed from the temple and dwelt in quarantine the rest of his life. Sin cannot enter His presence. Isaiah saw this vision the year this king died (Isaiah 6:1).
God is high and lifted up. There is nothing greater than God (Isaiah 6:1). His name is above all names; He is the all mighty Creator of all things, and exalted above all.
Seraphim worshipped Him. These creatures worship God without ceasing (Isaiah 6:2-3, see also Revelation 4:8). We can never worship God too much.
God is holy. The threefold use of the word “holy” emphasizes the ultimate essence of God (Isaiah 6:3). As Creator distinct from His creation, holiness sums up who He is.
God’s glory fills the earth. The whole creation was magnificently put together. We can see His handiwork in it (Psalm 19:1-6). The universe shows His wisdom and power; only an omnipotent super-intellect could have created the world we observe. God’s throne room was filled with smoke, which is a sign of His presence and His glory (Isaiah 6:4).
Uncleanness cannot enter into the presence of the holy God. Isaiah immediately recognized his uncleanness, and knew he could not stand in God’s presence (Isaiah 6:5). People always recognize their sinfulness when they encounter God (Judges 13:20; Daniel 10:7-9; Revelation 1:17).
God can declare the unclean holy. Though Isaiah was a sinful man like any other person, God can make us clean. It is no coincidence that this coal came from the altar, where, in the earthly tabernacle, sacrifices were made to make atonement from sin. That earthly altar was a mere replica of the heavenly altar. Isaiah was now being commissioned to preach God’s Word. Ultimately, the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ made us clean. The wrath of God that we deserved fell on Him.

Read more about the holiness of God here.

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