Knowing God (VIII)

The Character of God

God is Holy

1 Sam 6:20“The men of Beth-shemesh said, ‘Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall He go up from us?’”

God is Holy

Psalms 99:5“Exalt the LORD our GodAnd worship at His footstool;And worship at His footstool;Holy is He.”

God is Holy

• “Set apart, different, special”

Ex 3:5“Then He said, ‘Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’”

God is Holy

• What does it mean that God is holy?– It means that we are not:

Josh 24:19“Then Joshua said to the people, ‘You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins.’”

God is Holy

• What does it mean that God is holy?– It means that we are not:

1 Sam 2:2“There is no one holy like the LORD,Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.”

God is Holy

• What does it mean that God is holy?– It means that we are not. – And it means that we can be:

Ex 19:6“and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

God is Holy

• What does it mean that God is holy?– It means that we are not. – And it means that we can be:

Lev 11:45“For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.”

God is Holy

• What does it mean that God is holy?– It means that we are not.– And it means that we can be:

1 Pet 1:14-16“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.’”

God is Holy

• What does it mean that God is holy?– It means that we are not.– And it means that we can be:

1 Pet 2:9“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION,A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

God is Righteous

Deut 32:4“The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice,Righteous and upright is He.”

God is Righteous

Ps 33:5“He loves righteousness and justice;The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.”

God is Righteous

Ps 119:142“Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,And Your law is truth.”

God is Righteous

Isa 45:21“Declare and set forth your case;Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old?Who has long since declared it?Is it not I, the LORD?And there is no other God besides Me,A righteous God and a Savior;There is none except Me.”

God is Righteous

• What does it mean to be righteous?– The state of being right, just, equitable.– Doing that which is right, just, equitable:

Judges 5:11“At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places,There they shall recount the righteous deeds of the LORD,The righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel.Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates.”

God is Righteous

• What does it mean to be righteous?– The state of being right, just, equitable.– Doing that which is right, just, equitable:

Ps 71:19“For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens,You who have done great things;O God, who is like You?”

God is Righteous

• What does it mean to be righteous?– The state of being right, just, equitable.– Doing that which is right, just, equitable:

Ps 103:6“The LORD performs righteous deedsAnd judgments for all who are oppressed.”

God is Righteous

• What does it mean to be righteous?– The state of being right, just, equitable.– Doing that which is right, just, equitable:

• Including his salvific acts:

1 Sam 12:7“So now, take your stand, that I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did for you and your fathers.”

God is Righteous

• What does it mean to be righteous?– The state of being right, just, equitable.– Doing that which is right, just, equitable:

• Cf. Eph 4:17-32

God is Righteous

• What does it mean to be righteous?– The state of being right, just, equitable.– Doing that which is right, just, equitable:

• Do justice:

Jer 9:24“but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.”

God is Righteous

• What does it mean to be righteous?– The state of being right, just, equitable.– Doing that which is right, just, equitable:

• Do justice:

Deut 10:17-18“For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.”

God is Righteous

• What does it mean to be righteous?– The state of being right, just, equitable.– Doing that which is right, just, equitable:

• Do justice:

Micah 6:6-8“Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams,In ten thousand rivers of oil?Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts,The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good;And what does the LORD require of youBut to do justice, to love kindness,And to walk humbly with your God?”

God is Righteous

• What does it mean to be righteous?– The state of being right, just, equitable.– Doing that which is right, just, equitable:

• Do justice:Mt 12:18-20

“BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM IHAVE CHOSEN;MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED;I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM,AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT;NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF,AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT,UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.”

God is Righteous

• What does it mean to be righteous?– The state of being right, just, equitable.– Doing that which is right, just, equitable:

• Do justice:– Weightier matters of the law – Mt 23:23

God is Righteous

• The “negative” side of justice:– God is a jealous and avenging God:

Exodus 20:5“You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me”

God is Righteous

• The “negative” side of justice:– God is a jealous and avenging God:

Nahum 1:2“A jealous and avenging God is the LORD;The LORD is avenging and wrathful.The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries,And He reserves wrath for His enemies.”

God is Righteous

• The “negative” side of justice:– God is a jealous and avenging God:

• “A consuming fire” -- Heb 12:29

God is Righteous

• The “negative” side of justice:– God is a jealous and avenging God:– But a comfort to the righteous – Rom

12:17-21; 1 Pet 2.23

1 Pet 2:23“and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously”

God is Love

1 John 4:8“The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

God is Love

Ex 34:6-7“Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.’”

God is Love

• The basis of our love for one another:

Eph 5:1-2“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

God is Love• The basis of our love for one another.• As well as the source:

Rom 5:5“and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

God is Love

• The basis of our love for one another • As well as the source:

1 Jn 4:7-8“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

The Character of God

• God is Holy• God is Righteous• God is Love

The Character of God

• And we can be too:

2 Pet 1:3“Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”