HOLINESS

The doctrine of God’s Holiness is a much neglected and misunderstood doctrine. The Bible tells us in Genesis that God made man in His image, but what man has now done is he has made God in his image, that is man has created a God to suit his own sinful lifestyle. This is idolatry and in direct violation of the second commandment.

Man does not want to have to bow to a Holy and Just God who must and will punish sin so man has taken the attributes of God that he likes e.g. his love and mercy and has created a god who winks at sin and brushes it under the carpet. Such a god would never cast a sinner into Hell and of course he couldn’t because he does not exist he is merely an idolatrous invention of wicked human minds.

Sadly this unscriptural notion of God has even permeated the church and has distorted the gospel message from the true message of ‘repent or ye shall all likewise perish’ to ‘trust God because he loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.’

The preaching of God’s law and the consequences of breaking it are the true means to see men saved, the Bible teaches that the law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Man’s motivation for repentance should be a full understanding of how he has violated God’s Holy Law and not some ‘lifestyle enhancement’ reason. If we get converts because they want to improve their life then what are they going to do when they get the tribulation and trials outlined in scripture for those who truly live for God.

I have been struck over the past few mornings by the Holiness of God as I have been reading the book of Numbers. In chapter 15 we see a man who is stoned to death at God’s command for Sabbath breaking and then in chapter 16 we see a group of people lead by Korah swallowed alive into the pit (Hell) for violation of God’s priestly order. I know we are now living in the day of God’s grace but God has not changed. He is still Holy and there will be a day of reckoning for lawbreakers. Let us reach them with the good news of the gospel while it is still day ‘for the night cometh when no man can work,’ and let us live lives that bring glory to His name.

‘Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.’ 1ST Peter 1 v16