Holiness in the Old TestamentHoliness in the Old Testament

Isaiah 6:1-10Isaiah 6:1-10

November 14, 2010November 14, 2010

I. IntroductionA. A confessionB. How important is holiness?

1. R. C. Sproul (The Holiness of God, pp. 24-25)

2. J. I. Packer (Knowing God, p. 183)3. Other reasons for the importance of this

subject:a. We are commanded to be holy (1 Peter

1:14-16).b. Christians are destined to be holyc. It is the basis and motivation for our

worship (Psalms; Revelation 4:8-11).d. We cannot see God without it (Hebrews

12:10, 14).

I. IntroductionC. Why authors deal with holiness as they do

1. J. I. Packer: no chapter on the holiness of God in Knowing God

2. R. C. Sproul (The Holiness of God, p. 53)3. How would you define “holy” and its

opposite?D. My approach

1. An attempt at a definition of holiness2. Holiness as revealed in the Old Testament3. The problem with holiness4. O. T. indications of the solution5. Practical implications and applications

II. A definition of the holiness of GodA. The incomparable (unrivaled) excellence of

God (Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy, p. 104)

II. A definition of the holiness of GodB. The unfathomable excellence of God (Tozer,

p. 104).C. The collective excellence of God (Kenneth

Prior, The Way of Holiness, p. 17; Sproul, p. 57).

D. The awe inspiring (fear/reverence producing) excellence of God (Packer, p. 183).

E. The holiness of God and the glory of God (Exodus 33 and 34).

III. The holiness of God is revealed at the exodus.

A. Exodus 3:5 (“Take off your shoes. . .”)B. Exodus 5:2 (“Who is the LORD . . .?”)C. Exodus 12:12 (judgment on the gods of

Egypt)D. Exodus 15:1-18 (Israel’s song)E. Exodus 18:11 (Jethro)F. Exodus 19:4-6 (a “holy nation”)G. Exodus 20:3 (“No other gods . . .”)H. Exodus 32ff.

IV. The problem of a holy God and sinful menA. Isaiah 6:1-5 (see Exodus 33:1-3; Habakkuk

1:13)B. Moses strikes the rock (Numbers 20:12;

27:12-14; Deuteronomy 32:48-52)C. Uzzah touches the ark (2 Samuel 6:1-11)D. Nadab and Abihu – “strange fire” (Leviticus

10:1-10)E. Joshua 24:19

V. God’s provision for a sinful peopleA. The Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 34:9ff.)B. The promise of divine cleansing (Isaiah 6:6f.;

52-53; Ezekiel 36C. Deuteronomy 30:1-6f.; Jeremiah 31; Ezekiel

36:16

VI. Conclusion: Implications and applicationsA. God’s holiness is the standard which reveals

man’s sin and need of salvation.B. God’s holiness is a death blow to pluralism.C. God’s holiness is the motivation and content

of our worship. (If His holiness is infinite, then worship should never be dull or repetitive – we’ll be doing it for eternity.)

D. God’s holiness is the basis for our faith and confidence.

E. Grasping God’s holiness sustains us in suffering and silences our objections (Psalm 73; Job; Habakkuk 3; Hebrews 12:10, 14).