Holiness is a fundamental attribute of God. To say that God is holy means that he is completely and perfectly pure. God is righteous. He is without sin or imperfection (Leviticus 19:2; Psalm 99:9). The Βible’s definition of holiness encompasses two key concepts: moral purity and separation from the world. The first of these communicates God’s moral uprightness and perfection. The second refers to his transcendence. While being separate from one another, these two are closely related. Together, they describe God’s holiness.
God’s holiness highlights the profound distinction between the Creator and creation.
When the Bible speaks of God as holy, it typically means that he is radically distinct from both people and other gods. The God of Israel, Yahweh, is a unique being. He cannot be compared to anything or anyone. Why? Because he created everything and everyone. He created the universe and all within it. However, to say God is transcendent does not suggest that God is cut off from humanity. Nor does it mean he’s disengaged or distant, unconcerned with human issues. Rather. God’s holiness highlights the profound distinction between the Creator and creation.
We Agree on Many Aspects of God’s Holiness
God is beyond or above the limits of the physical world. He isn’t bound by space or time. Nothing God made impinges on his power or freedom. Nothing constrains God. He is perfect in nature. For God is above and beyond the imperfections and limitations of our physical world. Because of this, God is the apex of moral perfection, morally upright. He is without sin and despises sin. God is holy. We must look to him if we desire to live a morally upright life.
God is the apex of moral perfection, morally upright. He is without sin and despises sin.
For most African cultures and traditions, holiness is a concept that is deeply rooted in the DNA of most societies and cultures. The idea of a holy God is not new to African societies, as most traditional religions acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfectly holy. From an African perspective, God’s holiness is characterised by a sense of awe and reverence. Because God is understood as separate, incomparable to humanity and morally upright, no one can really draw closer to God due to humanity’s moral imperfection. God is revered the same way sacred traditional shrines are revered. Therefore, people are encouraged to pursue strict moral codes and religious practices to experience God’s love and favour in their lives.
Only a Holy People Can Truly Pursue Holiness
Moral uprightness isn’t a method of assuring our identity but rather serves as a reflection of it.
However, this is not the biblical way of understanding God’s holiness and its implications for believers. The pursuit of moral purity as a method of achieving personal holiness is not central to the biblical view of God’s holiness. Instead, it draws attention to God’s transcendence and challenges redeemed humans to imitate this fundamental aspect of the divine nature. We are made holy by faith in the accomplished work of Jesus on the cross. Moral uprightness no longer serves as a method of assuring our identity but rather serves as a reflection of it.
Christians are therefore obligated to demonstrate our holiness through our moral behaviour while cognisant of the fact that our virtue results from our status as God’s offspring. Hence the invitation, “Be holy for I am holy” (Leviticus 19:2; 20:7, 26; 21:8; Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:7).
