Theological Proposition/Focus: God is Holy.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: God's holiness should drive us to seek to be set apart for his purposes.

Introduction:

Fundamental to our faith is the doctrine of God. We are going to spend several weeks on the doctrine of God. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 Article 2 states

There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all-powerful and all-knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

Today we will focus on the phrase God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections.

Setting the Stage:

Image: The best way to get to know someone is to visit them in their home and learn about them on their turf.

If we want to understand what God's holiness then it makes sense to start by looking at God in his throne room in heaven.

Revelation 4 begins with a glimpse of the throne room in heaven.

Body

The picture of God's throne room conveys transcendence (Revelation 4:1-7)

God invited John to witness his holiness (1-3)

The inhabitants of God's throne room transcend imagination (4-7)

Isaiah's experience in God's throne room stretches our imagination (Isa. 6:1-2)

MTR: Ask yourself, how does the picture of God's throne room help me to better understand God's transcendence?

The activities in God's throne room convey complete holiness (Revelation 4:8-11)

The three-fold declaration of God's holiness reminds us that God is eternally God (8).

The Greek word ἅγιος means something separated for God.

Isaiah's account reminds us that us that God is unlike anything else we know (Isa. 6:3).

The Hebrew word קָדֹ֧ושׁ means separate.

The 24 elders remind us that God's holiness should lead us to action (9-11).

MTR: Take a minute and recite Revelation 4:11 with me.

God's holiness should be both terrifying and motivating (Isa. 6:4-8)

When we begin to realize God's holiness we are driven to cry "woe is me!" (4-6).

Image: The value of a measuring stick.

Have you ever tried to build something just eyeballing it? Most of you probably say, no that sounds like a dumb idea. Well, I need to admit to you that I have and I will tell you, it is a bad idea. We need a measuring stick. ====Paul Tripp states The holiness of God provides the only reliable means of knowing ourselves.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag</p></blockquote>

When we begin to realize the significance of our salvation we are driven to cry "Here I am, use me!" (7-8).

God's holiness gives us a personal quest in life.

God's holiness gives us a reason to go out on missions.

Image: Mission briefings give motivation.

1 Peter 1:16 commands us Be holy, because I am holy.

Ultimately, God invites us to be part of a restoration that can only be the work of a truly holy God (Isa. 55:6-13).

MTR: Join me in recognizing your sin and then boldly stepping out to declare "Here I am, use me!"

Conclusion: God's holiness should drive us to seek to be set-apart for God

Revelation 4 Holy

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