BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION

DOCTRINE OF GOD
(third in a series)

Holiness and righteousness are God’s very nature

During the past several weeks, we have been examining the doctrine of God. We have defined God as creator and looked at his character as omnipotent and omnipresent. This week we will explore the holiness and righteousness of God.

Understanding the term holiness is important because it applies to God, to worship, and to the people in the Bible. Holiness is the goal for human nature. Holy has four distinct meanings—to be set apart; to be perfect or spiritually pure; to be in awe; and to be filled with superhuman or potential fatal power.

Righteousness can be defined as acting in accord with divine or moral law; morally right or justifiable. In modern English, the term righteousness means to be upright, adhere to or to conform to an established norm. But biblically the word is defined in terms of covenants and relationships.

THE HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

• The holiness and righteousness of God are His very inner nature. (Leviticus 11:44) “For I am the Lord your God, consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am holy.”

• Whatever holiness or righteousness there may exist in man, places or things, must be a derived holiness which comes from association with God himself.

• In the holiness and righteousness of God is an awesomeness and fearsomeness that both attracts and repels. The holiness of God is of tremendous fascination to man. In Isaiah 6, the prophet was fascinated by the mysterious holiness of God. He was drawn to Him but said, (paraphrased) “Woe is me, I’m unraveled.” When we come to God we realize we are unworthy. Then in John 21, Peter says when Jesus comes to his side, “Depart from me, I’m a sinful man.”

• The holiness and righteousness of God must be interpreted in the light of Jesus Christ. Jesus declared, “Be you therefore perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” A good reading of that: “be designed in action and pattern of your life as God intended you to be.”

• The holiness and righteousness of God are both demand and gift of God. (Romans 1:17) These are revealed in the gospel of Jesus. This is a faith to faith experience. When the righteousness of God is revealed by Jesus and we accept by faith, we are made righteous. We are justified. We are then aligned with Him. We sit up straight.

The righteousness of God becomes our justification. His holiness becomes our sanctification.

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