The Holiness of God # 2

 The Holiness of God # 2

God's holiness is manifested in His law. That law forbids sin in all of its modifications: in its most refined as well as its grossest forms, the intent of the mind as well as the pollution of the body, the secret desire as well as the overt act. Therefore do we read, "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good" (Romans 7:12). Yes, "the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether" (Psalm 19:8-9).

God's holiness is best manifested at the Cross. Wondrously and yet most solemnly does the atonement display God's infinite holiness and abhorrence of sin. How hateful sin must be to God, for Him to punish it to its utmost deserts when it was imputed to His Son!

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from saving Me, so far from the words of My groaning?" (Psalm 22:1).

"Not all the vials of judgment that have or shall be poured out upon the wicked world, nor the flaming furnace of a sinner's conscience, nor the irreversible sentence pronounced against the rebellious demons, nor the groans of the damned creatures - give such a demonstration of God's hatred of sin, as the wrath of God let loose upon His Son!

Never did divine holiness appear more beautiful and lovely than at the time our Saviour's countenance was most marred in the midst of His dying groans. When God had turned His smiling face away from Him, and thrust His sharp knife into His heart, which forced that terrible cry from Him, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He adores this perfection, "You are enthroned as the holy one!" (Psalm 22:3).

Because God is holy He hates all sin. He love everything which is in conformity to His laws, and loathes everything which is contrary to it. His Word plainly declares, "wicked people are an abomination to the Lord" (Proverbs 3:32). And again, "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord" (Proverbs 15:26). It follows, therefore, that He must necessarily punish sin. Sin can no more exist without demanding His punishment, than without requiring His hatred of it. God has often forgiven sinners, but He never forgives sin; and the sinner is only forgiven on the ground of Another having born his punishment; for "without shedding of blood is no remission of sin" (Hebrews 9:22). Therefore we are told "The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies" (Nahum 1:2).

For one sin God banished our first parents from Eden. 

For one sin all the posterity of Canaan fell under a curse which remains over them to this day. (Genesis 9:21). 

For one sin Moses was excluded from Canaan.

For one sin Elisha's servant smitten with leprosy. 

For one sin Ananias and Sapphira were cut off out of the land of the living.

Herein we find proof for the divine inspiration of the Scriptures. The unregenerate do not really believe in the holiness of God. Their conception of His character is altogether one-sided. They fondly hope that His mercy will override everything else. "You thought that I was just like you" (Psalm 50:21) is God's charge against them. They think only of a "God patterned after their own evil hearts. Hence their continuance in a course of mad folly.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 3)