Hallowed Be Thy Name (A Sample Prayer for the Lord's Followers, 3)

When Israel was just an infant nation, God gave them a document written on two tablets of stone. This document was the foundational law of the new nation that is to be known as one belonging to God. It is best known as the Ten Commandments¹ . One of it's articles is this: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exo. 20:7)

It has long been ignored by men in the modern world. God's name is mentioned in the most disrespectful, even blasphemous was in television, movies, music and the society  in general. Not so the  ancient Jews. They took the command seriously, so serious that when they read Sciptures and come across the name YHWH, they would not say it. They would instead substitute “Adonai” (Lord God). Somehow in the progression of time, they inserted the vowels of Adonai into the consonants of YHWH. This tradition of being careful about the Lord's name has been carried over into English translations of the Bible. For instance in Psalm 110:1, YHWH was not actually used. In it's place is “LORD” in all caps.

However, the Jews missed this: honoring the name of the Lord is not simply ascribing sacredness to it's letters,  or to how it is said. It is honoring God for who he is.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT HALLOWING HIS NAME MEANS

1. Understand that God's name is holy.
”Hallow” is an archaic English word which means “to regard as holy”. When people refer to such things as “holy week”, they mean it is no ordinary week. They also refer to the bible as a “holy book” and they mean that it is a sacred book unlike the other books. Therefore, to hollow God's name is to regard him as the One and Only and that there is no one like him.

2. Understand that one's name may either refer to your honorable standing or to your shameful reputation.

In 1 Sam. 18:30, it was reported that among the nation's war heroes, it was David who behaved most wisely so “his name became highly esteemed.”. John Macarthur remarks: "The fact that his name was esteemed meant he himself was esteemed. When we say that someone has a good name, we mean there is something about his character worthy of our praise."²  This good name should be highly desired by men “ A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” (Prov. 22:1)

When applied to God's name, it makes people trust in him once they understand his excellence: "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10)

3. Understand that the opposite of hallowing God's name is to profane it.

Charles Quarles wrote: "Honoring God’s name as holy is the opposite of profaning God’s name”^{3 .}

The following verses confirm Quarles' statement:

• "Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. (Lev.18:21)
• "Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. (Lev.19:12)
• “They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.” (Amos 2:7)

And so there is a great deal of inconsistency on our part if we pray “hallowed be thy name” while at the same time we live a life of profanity.

4. The Lord's zeal for the honor of his name is precisely the reason why blesses us.

Take a look at these verses:

• For the sake of his name, he leads and guides (Psalm 31:3)
• For the sake of his name, he delivers and forgives sin (Psalm 79:9)
• For the sake of his name, he dispenses mercy to sinners (Jeremiah 14:20-21)

And so this should encourage us that as long as we seek to honor God's name, God will also see to it that we will be blessed.

FOOTNOTES:

1. R.C. Sproul, The Prayer of the Lord (Reformation Trust Publishing)

2. John Macarthur, Alone With God (Victor Books)

3. Charles Quarles, Sermon on the Mount: Restoring Christ's Message to the Modern Church (B&H Academic)

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When We Are Confronted With God's Holiness (Isaiah 6:1-8): Tinubos blog's 6th anniversary post

ISAIAH 6:1-8 (NIV 1984)

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

  "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
    the whole earth is full of his glory."

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

    "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

    Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

    Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
    And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

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Photo credit: David A Ziser at Digital ProTalk

Unlike all other elective positions, the Constitution makes no provision for the reelection of the nation's chief executive. That means as long as this Constitution is in effect, we will have a new president every six years, except in cases where a person who has succeeded as President has only served for less than four years and decides to run for the same office just like Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who served for a total of more than nine years.

We also know that whenever a new president is elected, there will be changes. For no two presidents are exactly alike; each one will have his own personality and leadership style. Each one will also have different sets of friends and preferences so the cabinet will not remain the same.

In chapter 6, Isaiah tells his story on how he was called to be a prophet. He was called in a year of impending change, for it was in the year King Uzziah died. This king's reign lasted 52 years. To put that into perspective, that is one and a half years longer than the periods of Marcos, Cory, Ramos, Erap, GMA and Pnoy combined (assuming Pnoy would finish his term and step down in 2016).

We could imagine the prevailing uncertainty in the hearts and minds of the Israelites in the year he died because this king managed the nation well. The account of his reign in 2 Chronicles shows he was a good administrator. During his reign, the water supply was improved, agriculture flourished, and the national defense was fortified. He even spearheaded a research project for the innovation of their weapons. Imagine a king who would deliver an impressive State of the Nation Address(SONA) year after year for five straight decades!

In the later part of his life, he took a spiritually fatal step. Because of his accomplishments, pride was conceived in his heart. He disregarded the law by doing the work of the priests. And when confronted with his sin, he responded in anger. As a consequence, he was struck by the Lord with leprosy and lived in isolation. Yet, still nothing changed the fact that he was a good administrator, and his death is a big change in the lives of the people.

Isaiah tells his story that in the year the great earthy king died, he saw the greater King in heaven. In the year that the life of the mortal king ended, Isaiah saw the immortal King whose reign will never end. Kings and kingdoms; emperors and empires will all pass away. But as for the one enthroned in heaven, he will go on reigning forever and ever. Psalm 90:2 says "From everlasting to everlasting, you are God". There is a King in heaven-- greater than those who are currently reigning here on earth so we have a reason to hope whatever takes place here on earth.

Isaiah's experience here was similar to John in Patmos whose eyes and senses were suddenly opened to witness what the normal eyes and senses could not see and perceive (Rev. 1:10, 4:2)

“I saw the LORD!”, Isaiah claimed. But when he described what he saw, these are all he could describe:

• the position of the throne
• the hem of the robe
• the seraphims surrounding him

Suppose a friend told you that the reigning Miss Universe visited his baranggay and that there was a point when she was only a few steps away from him. Of course your curiosity was awakened so you asked your friend, “How does the reigning Miss Universe look like?” To your disappointment, all your friend describes are the following:

• her yellow skirt
• her floral headband
• her personal assistants

I myself would be frustrated with your friend. I don't care about the skirt color. I don't care about the floral headband. I don't care about her personal assistants. All I want to know is what the beauty queen looks like in person!

As for Isaiah however, we must remember that the Lord's prophet is not stupid. We could assume that he was trying to give the best description of the things he saw. But what more could he do when what he saw were beyond words? That's why we sing:

You are beautiful beyond description

Too marvelous for words

Too wonderful for comprehension

Like nothing ever seen or heard

Let us therefore get the most out of the descriptions he gave us.

The position of his throne (seated on a throne, high and exalted) and the hem of his robe (the train of his robe filled the temple) is about his unequaled majesty and authority by any other power (Rev. 19:16; Psalm 2:2-4). As for the seraphims around him who each had six pair of wings, we must remember that God wisely designs his creatures for their habitat and their survival. Fins and gills for the fish, shell for the turtle, strength for the bear, speed for the cat, etc. The seraphims were given different sets of wings to cover themselves because they are moment by moment exposed to the majesty and holiness of God. They needed that to survive!

More than their appearance, we should pay attention to what they are saying. They call out to each other:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory."

The word “Holy” is mentioned three times for emphasis and intensity. It indicates how awed they are. One aspect of holiness is morally purity-- freedom from sin and unrighteousness. But that could not be the message the angels are emphasizing here; for they themselves are holy inhabitants of heaven. They are also morally pure

I think what's being emphasized here is another aspect of holiness which is solitariness. He is separate. He is totally of a different class; he is not like us or any other thing in existence.

There is a category for angels.

There is a category for men.

There is another category for eagles; and another for worms.

Yet angels, men, eagles and worms are all mere creatures. Only one is separate as the Creator. He is matchless. He is without peer. He is holy, holy, holy.

His perfections in all his character and attributes convey his matchless beauty and splendor, so we are told by the psalmist:

“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” (Psalm 29:2)

The seraphims also declare that “The whole earth is filled with his glory.”

Earthly kings extend their glory by conquering other territories. The bigger the area, the greater glory for the king. The angels declare that there is no portion of the earth where the glory of the Lord is not present. He does whatever pleases him in Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa and the whole universe (Psalm 135:6).

The purpose by which he created this world is for his glory. And there is no part of this world which is not for this purpose even the place you call your home or your personal and private room. Are you glorifying him in these places? Or are you in rebellion? Submit now or pay the consequence later! Are you in submission to the King?

What Isaiah saw was a frightening scene. The place was shaking as if there is an earthquake. Smoke filled the place as if a volcano erupted. By this time Isaiah can't take it anymore. He cried “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5)

Let us enumerate three things that happened when we are confronted with God's holiness.

1. When we are confronted with God's Holiness, we see the depths of our sin.

Isaiah saw the filthiness of his lips. Filthy lips indicate a filthy heart.

Luke 6:43 -45 ”No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

It's not just the mouth, but all our body parts are dirty because we all use them in our enjoyment of sin. When confronted with God's holiness, you will be grieved by all the unholy things you did by which you involved your eyes, your hands, your feet, your brain and the rest of your body parts.

Notice also that it breaks spiritual pride in Isaiah for he put himself on equal footing as the rest – to the people he lives among with.

Isaiah's account also gives us an idea of what it fells to be truly blessed. Without being confronted with God's holiness, one may think he is blessed when in reality he is not.

Social Media give you an idea of what people are doing daily: the restaurant they recently visited, the wedding ceremony they attended, what they sketched on paper when bored at work, etc. On a particular Sunday, one professing Christian posted a status at 12 noon. He informed everyone that he was present at this particular church, and that he was "feeling blessed". If that is true, then well and good! Praise the Lord!

Yet at 1pm, he posted another status. He's watching a Sunday noontime show and proudly told the whole world that he was enjoying a sensual dance number by a well-known sexy actress. I doubt the truthfulness of his claim 60 minutes earlier that he was blessed.

I would tell you what a blessed man looks like upon attending a worship service. (see 1 Corinthians 14:24-25). He comes in with sins he secretly nourishes. But in the community of saints, by the ministry of the word, the secret issues of his heart are addressed. He will fall down in humility and worship God. He then concludes that God is present in the assembly. That's what a blessed man looks like.

If secret sins are not dealt with; if after attending a worship service, you did not feel the holiness of God confronting your sin, I doubt if you were really blessed. Perhaps you enjoyed the music in the same way you enjoy the FM radio. Perhaps you enjoyed the pretty faces and friendly smiles of those in attendance. Perhaps you enjoyed the preacher's punchlines. Well the best way to describe what you have just experienced is that you have been entertained. It is one thing to be blessed and another thing to be entertained. They are not the same.

2. When we are confronted with God's Holiness, we realize that we are deserving of punishment and in need of salvation.

“Woe is me” is the opposite of blessing. It was used by Isaiah in this book at least 20 times to indicate that the Lord is about to repay evil deeds. It is fair to say that it's a well-used part of Isaiah's prophetic vocabulary. But before he ever uttered a woe upon others, he first issued the woe upon himself. Recognizing God as holy, holy, holy means acknowledging he has every right and authority to inflict punishment upon us.

One of the principles I use when sharing the good news is this: Bad news before the good news.

One must first be confronted with who God is and what he demands. Then show the prospect how he failed, and that he cannot save himself. It must be clear before him that he is in trouble before the holy God, unless God himself provides the remedy. Only after hearing the bad news will he be ready for the good news of forgiveness and cleansing.

Such is the case of Isaiah. God did not immediately cleanse his dirty lips. He first showed him his holiness so that Isaiah might see his sinfulness and realize the bad news. When Isaiah understood the bad news, then he was ready for the good news: God's provision of cleansing and forgiveness.

In verse 6, one of the seraphims flew toward Isaiah with a burning coal with him. As he came nearer and nearer, Isaiah might have had thought this is punishment for him. The seraphim would harm him with the burning coal. The seraphim finally came close enough to Isaiah and with the coal, he touched Isaiah's lips, one of the most sensitive of our external parts. To Isaiah's surprise, the coal did not harm him. On the contrary, it did him good. His iniquity was taken away and impurity cleansed.

To whoever is broken by God's holiness, he is ready for the next step. The forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of God's son (Ephesians 1:7)

3. When we are confronted with God's holiness, we are convicted that the majestic King must be served

So far the one who sits on the throne hasn't spoken yet. Now he does. He announces a job vacancy in his Kingdom. He was looking for a prophet. God announced this vacancy to a sinner named Isaiah. That's grace. In fact all the workers the Lord has ever hired were all sinners.

Having been cleansed, Isaiah did not hesitate to join the King's work force. He replied, "Here am I. Send me."

Up to this day, there are vacancies in the Lord's field:

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Luke 10:2)

In whatever capacity the Lord has gifted and equipped us, let us serve him. The writer of Hebrews tells us that the blood of Christ cleansed us that we may serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10) and that for the praise of God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:11).

Serving God would not be easy. Isaiah's task was hard for he was sent to a people who would not receive the word. There rarely was a “prayed to receive Christ” (PRC) check mark on his evangelism blitz report sheets. Yet Isaiah persevered. It was in the year of Uzziah's death when he was called, and he lived and served in the times of three more kings: Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah-- 53 years of faithfulness in a ministry full of heartbreak. Yet it is all worth it when you think about the privilege of serving the holy, holy, holy God.

My final word for all of us--- for us who have unclean mouths, hands, feet, hearts and minds. Let us continue exposing ourselves to the word of God. For in it the holiness of God is revealed. It is the only hope for morally corrupt men and women.

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Works consulted:

• Raymond Ortlund, Jr.; Isaiah: God Saves Sinners (Preaching the Word Series; Crossway Books 2005
• R. C. Sproul; The Holiness of God (Tyndale House Publishers 1985, 1998)

Dalawang Magkasalungat na Buhay sa Unang Salmo

AWIT 1, Bagong Magandang Balita Biblia

v.1 Mapalad ang taong hindi nakikinig sa payo ng masama,
at hindi sumusunod sa masama nilang halimbawa.
Hindi siya nakikisama sa mga kumukutya
at hindi nakikisangkot sa gawaing masama.

v.2 Sa halip, kasiyahan niyang sumunod sa kautusan ni Yahweh.
Binubulay-bulay niya ito sa araw at gabi.

v.3 Katulad niya'y punongkahoy sa tabi ng isang batisan,
laging sariwa ang dahon at namumunga sa takdang panahon.
Ano man ang kanyang gawin, siya'y nagtatagumpay.

v.4 Hindi gayon ang sinumang gumagawa ng masama,
ito ay tulad ng ipa, hangin ang siyang nagtatangay.

v.5 Sa araw ng paghuhukom, parusa niya'y nakalaan
siya'y ihihiwalay sa grupo ng mga banal.

v.6 Sa taong matuwid, si Yahweh ang pumapatnubay,
ngunit ang taong masama, kapahamakan ang hantungan.

1. Magkasalungat na mga Prinsipyo
Kung meron mang hindi ipinagdaramot ang mga taong walang takot sa Diyos, 'yan ay ang pagbabahagi nila ng kanilang mga prinsipyo sa buhay. Feeling talaga nila mga wais sila; papayo-payo pa. Ang kanilang mga paninindigan ay kanilang ibinabahagi sa mga personal na pag-uusap, sa kanilang mga awitin, sa kanilang mga isinusulat, sa kanilang mga ipinapaskil sa kanilang timeline at sa kanilang mga itini-tweet. Natutuwa sila kapag may sumasang-ayon sa kanilang likong pamumuhay.

Pero ayon sa unang salmo, ang tugon ng taong matuwid ay pagtanggi sa mga payo ng masasamang tao at sa kanilang mga baluktot na pangangatuwiran. Sa halip, ang mga prinsipyo sa buhay ng mga taong matuwid ay kanilang hinuhugot sa Salita ng Diyos. Ito ang kanilang patnubay sa pamumuhay.

2. Magkasalungat na Kagalakan
Ang kagalakan ng taong masama ay ang kutyain ang mga bagay-bagay na may kinalaman sa kabanalan. Wala silang interes sa mga matuwid na aral. Kapag tuturuan mo ng tama, magagalit pa sa iyo at iinsultuhin ka pa. Bakit? Kasi naman, tinatanggal mo ang kanyang happiness. Ang gusto niya happy siya, at ang happiness niya ay kalikuan.

Salungat yan sa kagalakan ng taong matuwid. Kasiyahan niya ang ipamuhay ang mga prinsipyong nahuhugot niya sa Bibliya. Marami mang pinagkakaabalahan sa buhay, hindi niya kinaliligtaang pagbulayan ang mga banal na aral araw at gabi.

3. Magkasalungat na paglalarawan
Ang taong masama ay inihalintulad sa ipang tinatangay ng hangin. Ang bagong aning trigo ay tinatahipan ng mga Hudyo gamit ang winnowing fork. Bago nila imbakin ang trigo sa kamalig, pinapatangay muna nila sa hangin ang mga ipa sapagkat wala naman itong pakinabang.

Sa kabilang banda, ang taong matuwid ay inihalintulad sa punong itinanim sa tabi ng batis. Laging luntian ang kulay nito at namumunga sa tamang panahon. Salungat sa ipang walang pakinabang, ang punong matatag, luntian at namumunga ay maraming pakinabang.

4. Magkasalungat na kinabukasan
Sa oras na hahatol ang Diyos, hindi makakatakas ang masama. Ihihiwalay siya ng Diyos sa kapulungan ng mga mututuwid tulad ng paghihiwalay sa mga tupa at kambing. Habang sila ay walang hanggang mawawalay sa presensya ng Diyos, ang mga matutuwid ay sasamahan ng Panginoon magpakailanman.

 "Tingnan ninyo, ang tahanan ng Diyos ay nasa piling na ng mga tao!
Maninirahan siyang kasama nila,
at sila'y magiging bayan niya.
Makakapiling nilang palagi ang Diyos
at siya ang magiging Diyos nila" (Pahayag 21:3)

Subalit huwag iisipin ninuman na ang mga matutuwid na tinutukoy sa Awit ay nangaligtas dahil sa kanilang sariling kabanalan. Kung babasahin ang mensahe ng buong bibliya, walang matuwid, wala kahit isa. Maliligtas lamang ang tao dahil sa sakripisyong ginawa ni Kristo sa krus. Ito ay biyayang kaloob ng Diyos at tinatanggap sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya lamang. Ang kontribusyon ng Awit na ito sa kabuuan ng teolohiya ng Bibliya ay ang katotohanan na ang mga nananampalataya sa Diyos ay kakikitaan ng buhay na banal, salungat sa buhay ng mga hindi kabilang sa kanyang kawan.

The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that Evil and Corruption Will Be Eradicated Soon

There may be others but I could only think of three reasons why political leaders fail to eradicate graft and corruption:

1. Lack of political Will
 
2. Limitation in power-- corruption is deeply embeded in the system that it takes absolute power to eradicate it.
 
3. The political leaders themselves are wicked-- Ironically, if you fill what is lacking in #2-- that is if you grant absolute power to a political leader to enable him to fight corruption, he might turn out to be the problem himself. Remember the maxim, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

In God's kingdom, the three things mentioned above doesn't exist.

1st, God rules with perfect political will. He says "Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; As I have puposed, it will stand" (Isa. 14:24)

2nd, God is unlimited in power. It is written, "For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, who can turn it back?"

3rd, the maxim stated above doesn't apply to God. His absolute power will not corrupt him because God is light and in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). There will never be an iota of dirt in the character of God. He alone can combine absolute power with absolute holiness.

Since the three problems in human governments are absent in God's rule, evil and corruption will not exist in the King's abode.

1 Cor. 6:9-10 "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
 

"Woe is me! Will I be outside the gate?"

When I was a university student, there was a sign I see daily. It was posted at the gate: No ID, No Entry. What is required for us to enter God's abode is perfect righteousness. The heavenly policy is: No Perfect righteousness, No Entry

Revelation 21:27 "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful..."

We also know that none among us possesses this requirement. Romans 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one"

Will we be then outside the gate?

The complete Revelation 21:27 reads "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Though many will not be able to enter in, the Lamb keeps a book of names-- names of those who will be richly welcomed in God's dwelling place. I list here three aspects of what the Lamb has secured when he was sacrificed at the cross:

1. By the Lamb's sacrifice, believers were made POSITIONALLY holy. That is they are not actually holy, but "God justifies the wicked" (Romans 4:5) as they receive by faith what Christ did for them at the cross. In theological jargon, this is JUSTIFICATION.

2. By the Lamb's sacrifice, believers are PROGRESSIVELY being made holy. Here we are "being transformed into his likeness" (2 Cor. 3:18). In theological jargon, this is SANCTIFICATION. Believers will be excited to enter heaven because they have experienced the joys of holy living here on earth.

3. By the Lamb's sacrifice, we will be made INSTANTLY holy. 1 John 3:2 says that when Christ appears the second time, we will be like him. Because God is holy, he will not leave those whom he loved in their sinful state. When time ends and eternity begins, there will not even be a hint of sin on the present bad boy Manny. In theological jargon, this is GLORIFICATION.

So we should be glad that this dreaded holiness of God is our assurance that our future dwelling place will be free from all evil and corruption-- including the evil and corruption presently in us.
 

The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that He Will Fulfill His Promises

A neighbor preparing for his birthday banquet comes to you and says: "May I borrow your large cooking pot? I will return it tomorrow after the banquet." After a dozen tomorrows, he still keeps your large cooking pot.

Men are unholy. They don't honor their word. They place little value on integrity. But God is not like unholy men. He is absolutely holy. Thus, when God promises something, he will surely fulfill it. In Psalm 89:35, he says: 

 "Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness--

and I will not lie to David--"

Such is the character of God. You cannot find any hint of falsehood in him.

You know that he promised that he will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). Because he is holy, we have the assurance that in the most difficult circumstances, he is with those whom he has redeemed. "Is he a million miles away?" No! He is a God so near.

You know that he has promised that whoever hears his word and believes will no longer face judgment (John 5:24). Because he is holy, he will fulfill it. You don't have to worry about paying for your own sins. No condemnation awaits you for you are in him.

He promised that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Because he is holy, he will fulfill it. You don't have to be anxious about that present trouble ruining you. It will only be for your welfare to bring you closer to God.

Numbers 23:19---"God is not a man, that he should lie,
    nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
  Does he speak and then not act?    Does he promise and not fulfill?" (NIV)

The Holiness of God as a Source of Comfort

The holiness of God is one of the less popular topics for a sinful generation. It certainly doesn't tickle their itching ears. They don't want to be told that the shows they watch, the music they listen to, the sites they visit and the magazines they browse are abominable before the pure eyes of God. They will really be offended when you tell them that the thoughts that cross their minds, the words they speak and the life they live are repugnant before the holy God. They find no comfort in the fact that God is holy.

For the next two posts, I will discuss two things about the holiness of God that brings comfort to believers:

1st, The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that He Will Fulfill His Promises

2nd, The Holiness of God as Our Assurance that Evil and Corruption Will Be Eradicated Soon

Tomorrow, I will touch on the first one and on Saturday, the second one.

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Suggested Reading:

 The Holiness of God (R.C. Sproul)