Exploring God’s Holiness
Holiness … For some, the word conjures up a sense of awe and wonder; for others, it may seem mysterious or even intimidating. Yet, it stands at the heart of who God is — and, whether daunting or inviting, it’s a concept worth exploring. In this post, we’ll unpack what holiness means, trace its presence through biblical narratives, see how it’s embodied in Jesus, and discover what it means for those who follow Him today.
What Does It Mean to Be Holy?
The term “holy” carries rich meaning. At its core, “holy” means to be set apart. Merriam-Webster defines it as “exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.” The Cambridge Dictionary adds that it refers to being “pure or good.” Diving deeper, from a Jewish philosophical perspective, Samuel Lebens[1] proposes a taxonomy of holiness where he identifies two categories of holiness: absolute holiness (unique to God) and relative holiness (attributed to entities sanctified by others). Relative holiness is further categorized into legal holiness (based on law, often God’s law), subjective holiness (based on an individual’s awe), and personal holiness (where a person habitually regards things as holy). The concept unifying these types of holiness is God’s gaze—His attention or focus confers holiness. Biblical examples illustrate that holiness is associated with what God observes and regards with favor, such as the land of Israel, the Temple, and the Jewish people, all described as being at the center of God’s attention.
From a Christian perspective, Dr. Charles Stanley describes Holy God as being absolutely morally pure – He cannot sin and hates sin because of the destructive power of sin in a person’s life.
God’s Holiness: Examples from the Bible
The Bible paints vivid pictures of God’s holiness shaping history. When Adam and Eve sinned, their close connection with God was shattered; God’s holiness couldn’t overlook sin, leading to humanity’s exile from Eden. In Noah’s time, because of God’s holiness, He could not tolerate the rampant sinful behavior of people, and therefore, after giving them much warning, He destroyed everyone except Noah and his family. Additionally, centuries later when God appeared to ninety-nine-year-old Abram (later called Abraham) and said to him, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect (Genesis 17:1), Abraham fell face-down in awe and reverence in response to God’s holiness. Jacob, Abraham’s grandson had a vision of God one night when he was fleeing from his brother Esau’s wrath after taking Esau’s birthright through deception. Jacob’s vision of holy God prompted him to build and consecrate an altar to God out of reverent fear and awe (Genesis 28:10-22). Years later, when God commanded Jacob to return to Bethel with his family and build an altar to Him, Jacob directed his household to put away their foreign gods and purify themselves because they would be going to the place where he had first met holy God (Genesis 35:1-4). One of the most compelling revelations of God’s holiness is the biblical account of Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush. God commanded Moses to take off his shoes because the place where he was standing was holy ground (Exodus 3:1-5). At Mount Sinai, God instructed strict boundaries for the people, emphasizing His holiness and the reverence required to approach Him. (Exodus 19:9-25). The ancient sacrificial system further illustrated this attribute: only the high priest could enter the most sacred space once a year. When Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered unauthorized fire, they were struck down—a dramatic reminder that God must be regarded as holy by all who approach Him (Leviticus 10:1-7). The prophet Isaiah recounts his vision of God’s holiness when he was called to be a prophet. Isaiah stated the following: “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” Isaiah also recounted that he saw seraphim who cried one to another saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 46:1-8). Notably, God struck King Uzziah with leprosy because he burned incense to God on the altar of incense, which was a duty God had prescribed only for priests who were consecrated (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). In Revelation 4, the apostle John’s vision of God’s throne room in heaven as revealed to him by the resurrected Jesus, echoes Isaiah’s vision of God’s holiness. John describes four living creatures above the throne and around the throne who do not rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” We are also given a glimpse of twenty-four elders around the throne who “fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him and cast their crowns before Him saying, ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created’” (Revelation 4:8-11).
Jesus: Holy God in the Flesh
The holiness of God is not just an Old Testament concept—it’s embodied in Jesus Christ. Isaiah prophesied hundreds of years before Jesus was born: “… Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” meaning “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). Throughout the Bible, Jesus is presented as the Son of God: angels, demons, and disciples alike recognized Him as such. Even before His birth, Jesus Christ held the title of the Son of God. In Luke 1:32-35 when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to give her the news that she would be the mother of the Christ, he stated twice that Jesus would be called the Son of God. During Jesus’ ministry when He cast out demons, these demons addressed Him as the Son of God. In Luke 4:4, we are informed of the following: “And demons also came out of many, crying, ‘You are the Son of God!’ Additionally, in Mark 3:11 we learn that: “Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, ‘You are the Son of God. In Matthew 16:15-16 Peter made the declaration that Jesus is the Son of God.
Jesus claimed a relationship of Sonship and equality with God the Father. In John 10:15, 30 Jesus said: “Just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father…I and the Father are one.” In Mark 14:36 when Jesus was facing imminent crucifixion, He referred to God as his Father when He said: ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” In Mark 14:61-62 Jesus clearly stated that He is the Son of God: “Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’” Jesus also revealed in John 17:5 that He co-existed with God the Father before His birth. As He prayed for His disciples and all of us who would believe in Him, Jesus said, “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” His acknowledgement of this paternal relationship before He came to earth affirms His unique status as Son in a divine relationship. Two times in the earthly life of Jesus—once at Jesus’ baptism and once on the mount of transfiguration—God the Father broke in and said, “This is my beloved Son.”
From all eternity, without any beginning, the Father has always had a perfect image of himself and a divine reflection or radiance equal to himself, namely, the Son. Indeed, Hebrews 1:3 informs us that, “The Son [Jesus] is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. This indicates that Jesus is indeed God! The sinless nature of Jesus is also seen during His temptation in the wilderness by Satan. Jesus resisted Satan at every turn with the word of God. Finally, when Satan tried to get Jesus to worship him, Jesus said, “Away with you Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only you shall serve.’” in 1 Peter 2:22 Peter wrote that Jesus committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth. Finally, since God is the only one without sin, for Jesus to be able to pay for our sins, He must be holy God. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, we are told that God, the Father made Jesus the Son who knew no sin to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Our Call as Christians to Live Holy Lives
God’s desire for His people to be holy is clear throughout Scripture. After the flood, God called Noah and his family to a new beginning. Later, He set Israel apart as a holy nation: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44–45; 19:2). But humanity’s repeated failures to live up to God’s standard showed the need for a Savior. Jesus, the only truly holy one, fulfilled that need. The process of growing in holiness is a lifelong journey guided by the Holy Spirit, who shapes individuals to reflect the character of Christ. This transformation calls for surrender, studying the Bible and applying its teachings to our daily lives, prayer, discernment, obedience, and involvement in community life. Engaging with others helps nurture qualities such as forgiveness, love, and patience—traits that flourish within real relationships and honest engagement.
God’s holiness is both awe-inspiring and inviting. It reveals His perfection, justice, and love—and calls us to a life set apart for Him. As we respond to His call, we discover that holiness isn’t a formidable concept or an unattainable standard of behavior that we have to strive to attain. It’s God’s invitation to live in His presence, to be transformed by His love, and to reflect His character in a broken world. In other words, holiness isn’t about being flawless, but about being transformed by the One who is. The journey may be challenging, but it leads to life, purpose, and joy. Will you accept the call to holiness and discover all that God has in store?
[1] Lebens, Samuel. “The apple of God’s eye: a biblical account of holiness.” Religious Studies (2024): 1-15.
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