God Requires Holy Living

The angels in God’s throne room sing or chant, “Holy, holy, holy,” to God (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8). “Holy” means “separate.” God is separate from anything contrary to His nature, which is the definition of righteousness or purity. In so being, God is transcendent. It also means He is majestic, because His nature is superior. Part of that holiness is also a resplendent, glorious light, as opposed to darkness. The holiness of God is also what He requires of His creature; henceforth God says, “Be ye holy for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). Because of sin, man is not holy, and yet God still requires holiness of him, for man to fulfill God’s purpose and for him to be with God in eternity after he dies. The only way to become holy is through the salvation work of Jesus Christ, His substitutionary and sacrificial death. The penalty of sin must be paid. God is just, part of His nature of holiness. He requires justice. At great cost, Jesus did everything that needed to be done. Now men must believe in Jesus Christ. They must surrender to Jesus Christ as God and Lord and Savior. If they do, they will receive the righteousness they need to appease God’s justice and wrath. When they receive His righteousness in position and are given a righteous nature, they can live holy. God demands holiness from His children. That is part of being a partaker of His divine nature. When it comes to living holy, a believer can live holy, but also must live holy. He chooses holy thoughts, motives, and deeds. This reflects on salvation, which is of a holy God and of His holy Word.