Topical Bible: Glory of God: His Holiness

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The concept of the "Glory of God" is a central theme throughout the Bible, intricately connected to His holiness. God's holiness is His unique and perfect nature, setting Him apart from all creation. It is His moral purity and absolute righteousness. The glory of God, in relation to His holiness, is the manifestation and revelation of His divine nature and character.

Biblical Foundation

The holiness of God is foundational to understanding His glory. In Isaiah 6:3, the seraphim proclaim, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory." . This passage highlights the intrinsic link between God's holiness and His glory. The repetition of "holy" emphasizes the supreme and unparalleled nature of God's holiness, while the declaration that the earth is full of His glory suggests that His holiness is made manifest throughout creation.

In Exodus 15:11, Moses sings, "Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?" . Here, God's holiness is described as majestic, and His glory is evident in the wonders He performs. The holiness of God is not just an abstract attribute but is actively demonstrated through His mighty works and deeds.

Manifestation of Holiness

The glory of God as His holiness is often revealed through His interactions with humanity. In the Old Testament, the presence of God, often referred to as the Shekinah glory, was a visible manifestation of His holiness. For instance, in Exodus 24:17, "The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites." . This consuming fire symbolizes God's pure and holy presence, which is both awe-inspiring and fearsome.

The holiness of God demands reverence and purity from His people. Leviticus 19:2 commands, "Speak to the entire congregation of the Israelites and tell them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.'" . God's holiness is the standard for His people, and His glory is reflected in their obedience and sanctification.

New Testament Revelation

In the New Testament, the glory of God is supremely revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. John 1:14 states, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." . Jesus embodies the holiness of God, and His life and works reveal the glory of God to humanity.

The holiness of God is also evident in the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul writes, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." . The Spirit's work in believers is a process of sanctification, reflecting God's holiness and glory.

Eschatological Fulfillment

The ultimate revelation of God's glory and holiness will be in the eschatological fulfillment of His kingdom. Revelation 4:8 describes the heavenly worship, "Day and night they never stop saying: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!'" . The eternal proclamation of God's holiness underscores the perpetual and unchanging nature of His glory.

In the new creation, God's glory will illuminate all, as Revelation 21:23 declares, "The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb." . Here, the holiness of God is the source of eternal light and life, fully realized in the presence of His people.

The glory of God, as His holiness, is a profound and awe-inspiring truth that permeates Scripture, revealing His perfect nature and calling His people to reflect His holiness in their lives.

Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 15:11
Who is like to you, O LORD, among the gods? who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Adam not Innocent, but Holy.
... nor to his condition, but to his state; and ... man, puffed up by philosophic madness,
must become like God. A creature you will remain even in your highest glory. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/x adam not innocent but.htm

Self-Denial.
... To think that by self-sanctification God is honored ... are so holy and exalted that
His glory must be ... and for His honor indirectly, is unworthy of His holiness. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xvi self-denial.htm

God's Glory the Chief End of Man's Being
... of his power, goodness, holiness, justice, and mercy; it is not only most reasonable
that man should do all things that he doth to the glory of God, but it is ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture i gods glory the.htm

Prayer and Devotion
... ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God ... of ardour, a ministry
of unwearied and intense longing after God and after His holiness. ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/iii prayer and devotion.htm

The Boasted Merit of Works Subversive Both of the Glory of God, in ...
... of piety and holiness. He obeyed his Father even unto death; his whole life was
spent in doing the works of God; his whole soul was intent on the glory of his ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 15 the boasted merit.htm

Holiness
... another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whol=God must be
worshiped in holiness.= "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring ...
//christianbookshelf.org/byers/sanctification/chapter ix holiness.htm

Waiting on God
... content with that, and Christ wants to bring us back to rejoice as much as in the
glory of God Himself, in His righteousness, His holiness, His authority, His ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the masters indwelling/iii waiting on god.htm

Sermon xxvii.
... disclosure of both, will show to the universe the deep counsels of God, and the ... He
will then appear in the glory of his justice, his holiness, and his truth ...
/.../leland/the national preacher vol 2 no 7 dec 1827/sermon xxvii.htm

A view of God's Glory
... Now, what attribute is God about to show to Moses? His petition is, "Show me thy
glory." Will he show him his justice? Will he show him his holiness? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 54 1908/a view of gods glory.htm

"But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness," &C.
... (3.) The sinner also comes short of the glory of God, Romans 3 ... Man in his fall lost
his right to eternal life and immortality, and hath purchased a doleful ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xv but seek ye.htm