"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy”
1 Peter 1:16
This is another attribute of God that we have mentioned so far because it is impossible to talk about other attributes of God without mentioning this one. Through the Bible of God we find this attribute from beginning to end, so we will mention some verses that confirm this.
“The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. "
Ps.111: 7-9
The psalmist here describes the works of God and mentions one of the names of God and that is "His name is holy" and this is quite logical because in the previous verse we saw that God says that he is "holy". Only someone can have such a name. who is really "Holy" who really has such a quality and that is God himself.
"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
Isa.57: 15
From these verses we see another attribute of God and that is "God is eternal" whose name is Holy and who lives in the "Holy". The name "holy" is mentioned in many places in the Bible and there is information that someone calculated that this name is mentioned more times than the name "Almighty".
The word "holy" is written in Greek as "hagio" and is used for something that is purified, set aside for special use. The Bible uses this word when describing the faithful as "holy," but at the root or essence of that word is the holiness of God. Of course, our "holiness" is not like God's because we receive holiness through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ who lives through us, and His "Holiness" is credited to us because He is Holy.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. "
Gal.2: 20
"... Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God [am] holy."
Leviticus 19: 2
" Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I [am] the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 20: 7
,, O love the Lord, all ye his saints …”
Ps.31: 23
And while we are here on earth, we will strive for "Holiness" because we have an earthly form, but we have a promise that we will also wear a heavenly form, therefore "holiness".
" And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."
1 Cor.15: 49
God's holiness is difficult to describe but we know that She is absolute, unchangeable, perfect who can never be defiled or defiled by anything and she is the essence of God that does not depend on external influences, she is the perfection of God's nature that is complete and does not need nothing can be added or subtracted. That is why God can never think sinful or sin. His thoughts and deeds are pure and holy, and because of his "Holiness" God cannot look at evil and lawlessness as the prophet Habakkuk writes.
,,[Thou art] of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, [and] holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth [the man that is] more righteous than he?”
Habakkuk 1:13
God is immutable infinitely and absolutely The world and His standards do not change what was once the standard it is today and it will be in the future and therefore His wisdom, love, mercy, grace, justice, judgment and all other attributes are absolutely all that.
We have mentioned that God's works are "holy," so here is what Psalm 145 says:
,,The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”
Ps.145: 17
Here someone might ask the question perhaps: What about Satan? We find the answer to this question in Ezekiel where it says:
“Thou [art] the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee [so]: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
"
Ezekiel 28: 14-15
So Satan was the Perfect Cherub, but he later turned away from God and God threw Him to the ground.
" How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
Isa.14: 12-14
“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. "
Ezekiel 28:17
We have seen that the works of the "Holy One" and the gifts we receive from God are perfect and holy:
,,Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
James 1:17
So that from God we receive perfect and holy mercy, forgiveness of sins, grace, love, peace, joy, suffering, faith, eternal life, etc. and we also received the Holy Spirit without knowing anything about God's "Holiness." We also received the "Word of God" in the form of the scriptures we call the Bible.
It is holy because the Word is from the Lord and is established in the heavens forever, and because it is in heaven, "it is holy."
,,For ever, o Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.”
Ps.119: 89
,,Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.”
Ps.119: 140
" We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost. "
2 Peter 1: 19-21
And finally, here are a few more verses from the holy book of God that speak of the holiness of God:
" Who [is] like unto thee, o Lord, among the gods? who [is] like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful [in] praises, doing wonders? "
Exodus 15:11
" Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God [am] holy.”
Leviticus 19: 2
" And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord [am] holy, and have severed you from [other] people, that ye should be mine.”
Leviticus 20:26
“[There is] none holy as the Lord: for [there is] none beside thee: neither [is there] any rock like our God "
1 Sam.2: 2
"Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy."
Ps.99: 9
"Holy One, who dwells in the praises of Israel! Our fathers have trusted in you, they have trusted, and you have delivered them."
Ps.22: 3-4
" But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.”
Isa. 5:16
" I [am] the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.”
Isa.43: 15
" For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. "
Isa.30: 15
Finally, let us end with the verses where the Lord Jesus calls the Father Holy and the hymn with which the "Holy One" will glorify God in heaven:
" And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are]. "
John 17:11
" And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, o Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”
Rev. 15: 3-4
