Galatians 6:7-8
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to this flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting," Galatians 6:7-8. As we continue looking at some of the personal perfections of God, I wanted to remind us why we are going over these biblical truths. The first part of verse 7 tell us not to be deceived, and that God is not mocked. All of us are covered with unredeemed flesh. Our own flesh will lie to us and will deceive us. Add this with false teachings about who God is and we have a major problem. We can end up thinking highly of ourselves and lowly of God. Our actions will proclaim that we do not really think that God is Who His Word says He is, or that He will really do what He says He will do. The tactics of satan and this world system have not changed. Turn to Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-24. The same questions come up today, is God really who He says He is, and will He really do what He said He will do? This is another reason we are learning about Who God is from the Scriptures.
Today we will learn some things about the holiness of God. God is holy. What does it mean to say that God is holy? The word "holy" in the Scriptures simply means "separate." God is God, and we are not. God is Other. God is not like us. God is absolute Purity. The sum of all moral excellency is found only in God. We can learn about these truths to the point that we become doctors in theology, but because our minds are finite and God is holy, we will be in awe for eternity. We see glimpses of this in the Scriptures. "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake," Ezekiel 1:28. Turn to Daniel 8:15-18; 10:5-10; and Revelation 1:10-18. Notice the response of these men was to fall on their faces as if they were dead. God is not like us, He is Holy. There are multitudes today who say they have went to heaven and talked with God; but what is missing in their testimonies is the holiness of God, and their reverence for His holiness. If someone today says they went to heaven we know they are liars, and their testimony of heaven proves they are liars. God is holy.
It seems as if we speak more about God's other attributes than we do of His holiness. "God is oftener styled Holy than Almighty, and set forth by this part of His dignity more than by any other. This is more fixed on as an epithet to His name than any other. You never find it expressed "His mighty name" or "His wise name," but His great name, and most of all, His holy name. This is the greatest title of honour; in this latter doth the majesty and venerableness of His name appear." Stephen Charnock. Those who are in heaven know that God is holy. "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory," Isaiah 6:3.
God is holy, therefore, He hates sin. "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren," Proverbs 6:16-19. Those who love sin hate the One who is holy. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil," John 3:19. "Because God is holy He hates all sin. He loves everything which is in conformity to His law, and loathes everything which is contrary to it. His Word plainly declares, "The froward is an abomination to the Lord" (Prov. 3:32). And again, "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord" (Prov. 15:26). It follows, therefore, that He must necessarily punish sin. Sin can no more exist without demanding His punishment than without requiring His hatred of it. God has often forgiven sinners, but He never forgives sin; and the sinner is only forgiven on the ground of Another having borne his punishment; for "without shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb. 9:22). Therefore we are told, "The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserveth wrath for His enemies" (Nah. 1:2). For one sin God banished our first parents from Eden. For one sin all the posterity of Canaan, a son of Ham, fell under a curse which remains over them to this day (Gen. 9:21). For one sin Moses was excluded from Canaan, Elisha's servant smitten with leprosy, Ananias and Sapphira cut off out of the land of the living." A.W. Pink.
God is holy, and He is all-knowing. He knows every sin that has ever been committed, and every sin that has been or will be committed is directly against Him. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him," Ezekiel 18:20. Because of sin, there has to be punishment. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," Romans 6:23. All whom the Lord saves He pays their sin debt to God. All whom the Lord saves will stand before God one day in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We will be accepted by God only because of the righteousness of Christ. All whom the Lord does not save will suffer the wrath of God for eternity. God does not make exceptions. God has given us One way to be saved, and that is through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," Romans 5:1.
For those of us whom the Lord has saved, we are to live holy lives. "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation: Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy," I Peter 1:15-16. We are never told to be like God in all of His personal perfections, but we are told to be holy. "This is the prime way of honouring God. We do not so glorify God by elevated admirations, or eloquent expressions, or pompous services of Him, as when we aspire to a conversing with Him with unstained spirits, and live to Him in living like Him." Stephen Charnock.
As we continue in our Christian walk to go on and know the Lord, may we pray and seek His help, "Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it," I Thessalonians 5:22-24.
Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
