The God Who Is The God Who Is HolyHoly

Isaiah 6:1-8Isaiah 6:1-8

Holy To The Third Holy To The Third DegreeDegree

The ‘third degree’ in our language The ‘third degree’ in our language refers to something severerefers to something severe

Third degree burnsThird degree burns

Giving someone the ‘third degree’Giving someone the ‘third degree’

Holy To The Third Holy To The Third DegreeDegree

Bible uses the device of mentioning Bible uses the device of mentioning something three times to raise it to something three times to raise it to the point of the third degreethe point of the third degree

It is rare when it is done and of It is rare when it is done and of extreme importanceextreme importance

Revelation 8:13Revelation 8:13

Holy To The Third Holy To The Third DegreeDegree

Seraphs or angels say something Seraphs or angels say something about Godabout God

HOLY, HOLY, HOLYHOLY, HOLY, HOLY

Only time in the Bible where we find Only time in the Bible where we find an attribute raised to the third an attribute raised to the third degreedegree

1. Holy Is Who He Is1. Holy Is Who He Is

Often we compile a list of His Often we compile a list of His qualitiesqualities

We call these His attributesWe call these His attributes

Omnipresent, Omniscient, Love, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Love, Gracious, Kind, Just, etc.Gracious, Kind, Just, etc.

1. Holy Is Who He Is1. Holy Is Who He Is

Holiness is not one attribute among Holiness is not one attribute among othersothers

God is holy in the general senseGod is holy in the general sense

Luke 1:49; Matthew 6:9-10Luke 1:49; Matthew 6:9-10

All that He is is HolyAll that He is is Holy

2. He Is High and Lifted Up2. He Is High and Lifted Up

Isaiah 6:1Isaiah 6:1

God is in a category by HimselfGod is in a category by Himself

He is above His creationHe is above His creation

We are but creatures before HimWe are but creatures before Him

Holy comes from an ancient word Holy comes from an ancient word meaning to cutmeaning to cut

God is a cut aboveGod is a cut above

He is transcendent, higher than the He is transcendent, higher than the created order, with power over itcreated order, with power over it

2. He Is High and Lifted Up2. He Is High and Lifted Up

He is distinct from all His creationHe is distinct from all His creation

He is loftyHe is lofty

We should never be too We should never be too comfortable with Himcomfortable with Him

2. He Is High and Lifted Up2. He Is High and Lifted Up

Is. 6:4 – Created things trembleIs. 6:4 – Created things tremble

Isaiah called down curses upon Isaiah called down curses upon himselfhimself

He is never one of the boys, the man He is never one of the boys, the man upstairs, my pal, my co-pilot, etc.upstairs, my pal, my co-pilot, etc.

2. He Is High and Lifted Up2. He Is High and Lifted Up

Mark 4:35-41Mark 4:35-41

They were “terrified” of JesusThey were “terrified” of Jesus

They were more afraid of Him than They were more afraid of Him than the storm they had just been the storm they had just been throughthrough

2. He Is High and Lifted Up2. He Is High and Lifted Up

3. He Is So Pure That He3. He Is So Pure That HeExposes Our DirtinessExposes Our Dirtiness

Isaiah 6:5Isaiah 6:5

Curses on meCurses on me

I am coming apart at the seamsI am coming apart at the seams

I am disintegratingI am disintegrating

A.A. People confuse His holiness with People confuse His holiness with God’s angerGod’s anger

Luke 5:1-8Luke 5:1-8

Peter came face to face with his sinPeter came face to face with his sin

3. He Is So Pure That He3. He Is So Pure That HeExposes Our DirtinessExposes Our Dirtiness

B.B. God’s holiness will either humble God’s holiness will either humble you or anger you.you or anger you.

Jesus’ purity led people to want to kill Jesus’ purity led people to want to kill Him and rid the world of His presence.Him and rid the world of His presence.

3. He Is So Pure That He3. He Is So Pure That HeExposes Our DirtinessExposes Our Dirtiness

C.C. His mercy keeps Him from His mercy keeps Him from destroying usdestroying us

Nadab and AbihuNadab and Abihu

Uzzah (1 Chronicles 13:7-11)Uzzah (1 Chronicles 13:7-11)

Israel’s enemies (Dt. 7:1-12)Israel’s enemies (Dt. 7:1-12)

Ananias and SapphiraAnanias and Sapphira

3. He Is So Pure That He3. He Is So Pure That HeExposes Our DirtinessExposes Our Dirtiness

4. He Must Change or 4. He Must Change or CleanseCleanse

Us Or We Will PerishUs Or We Will Perish We have perhaps corrupted the We have perhaps corrupted the

gospelgospel

People want God to People want God to complete complete themselvesthemselves

God is in the business of changing God is in the business of changing people to conform to Himself (Isaiah people to conform to Himself (Isaiah 6:6-7)6:6-7)

Come Just As You Are or Just As I Come Just As You Are or Just As I Am I Come?Am I Come?

It makes all the difference in the It makes all the difference in the worldworld

4. He Must Change or 4. He Must Change or CleanseCleanse

Us Or We Will PerishUs Or We Will Perish