As someone who earnestly longs for all men to know and worship God, and whose natural bent is evangelistic, the concept of God's holiness can feel uncomfortable. Wouldn't the Gospel be more accessible if God was more like us? Didn't such a high view of God's holiness lead the Jews of Jesus' day, and the church of yesterday to cut off those they were sent to reach?
No
Rather, our view of God's holiness should instantly cause us to reflect on our unholiness compared to him. We can never exaggerate how pure and entirely set apart from us God is. Indeed looking at him in his magnificence was the exact right thing for the Jews and those deemed "fundamentalists" to do. Those of old went wrong by not allowing God's love to shock them. Rather than seeing God's immense glory, yet shocking love, make them realize surely anyone could come, they began adjusting their coats to make sure they fit in with how important God seemed to be. They didn't let his loving invitation to "come to him"(Matt 11:28) launch them into realizing this shocking holy, approachable, set-apart God is worthy of more praise than they alone can give him.
I have often gone to the opposite camp, where we know we can worship God just as well in a suit as in sweats, and take much pride in it. While true, this mindset at its worst can result in stumbling into the throne room of our creator as if we were walking into a home we owned. It can lead to no regard for the blood-bought path we tread upon as we come before the one who holds the stars in place. This lack of regard for God's holiness entirely diminishes the joy of his approachability.
In 1 Peter, the apostle who denied Jesus, rebuked him, and generally acted more foolish than saintly gives a third way to look at God's holiness.
Joy
It is a wonder to see this former fisherman declare to a people in suffering the wonders of their being brought into a new family, the Family of God.
A family in which their inheritance dwarfs that of the largest dynasty. What the one who speaks galaxies into existence gives his children is
imperishable
undefiled
unfading
It is being kept safe by the one who commands armies so powerful and otherworldly that when men see them they mistake them for gods. This inheritance needs no insurance because it was paid for once, through the blood of God himself. Peter goes on to talk of this father allowing their grief for their good and his glory, showing he governs his family in ways no earthly father could be.
How does Peter think this HUGE view of God's power should impact us? It should lead to both love, and holy conduct.
Firstly we see him working to bring us into his family and are filled with love, and joy inexpressible. Oh what foolishness it is to not emphasize God's holiness to "help him be approachable and loveable". It is the very nature of his holiness that makes him AMAZING. Nothing in this world comes close to such astounding love as the one who keeps every heart beating allowing his son's heart to stop. Dear God let me ponder your holiness with wonder all the days of my life.
Our response does not stop there however, for Peter the common fisherman(Acts 4:13) says we must conduct ourselves with holiness in response(1 Peter 1:15). As we see our Father's greatness, we must rejoice in his love and seek to live in a way that is worthy of being his children. Not like those of old, who flaunted nice clothes with pride, or thanked God for counting them worthy of his love. But as an adopted son or daughter, fully aware that our very eternity was changed when a loving parent said "I want that one in my family."
No
Rather, our view of God's holiness should instantly cause us to reflect on our unholiness compared to him. We can never exaggerate how pure and entirely set apart from us God is. Indeed looking at him in his magnificence was the exact right thing for the Jews and those deemed "fundamentalists" to do. Those of old went wrong by not allowing God's love to shock them. Rather than seeing God's immense glory, yet shocking love, make them realize surely anyone could come, they began adjusting their coats to make sure they fit in with how important God seemed to be. They didn't let his loving invitation to "come to him"(Matt 11:28) launch them into realizing this shocking holy, approachable, set-apart God is worthy of more praise than they alone can give him.
I have often gone to the opposite camp, where we know we can worship God just as well in a suit as in sweats, and take much pride in it. While true, this mindset at its worst can result in stumbling into the throne room of our creator as if we were walking into a home we owned. It can lead to no regard for the blood-bought path we tread upon as we come before the one who holds the stars in place. This lack of regard for God's holiness entirely diminishes the joy of his approachability.
In 1 Peter, the apostle who denied Jesus, rebuked him, and generally acted more foolish than saintly gives a third way to look at God's holiness.
Joy
It is a wonder to see this former fisherman declare to a people in suffering the wonders of their being brought into a new family, the Family of God.
A family in which their inheritance dwarfs that of the largest dynasty. What the one who speaks galaxies into existence gives his children is
imperishable
undefiled
unfading
It is being kept safe by the one who commands armies so powerful and otherworldly that when men see them they mistake them for gods. This inheritance needs no insurance because it was paid for once, through the blood of God himself. Peter goes on to talk of this father allowing their grief for their good and his glory, showing he governs his family in ways no earthly father could be.
How does Peter think this HUGE view of God's power should impact us? It should lead to both love, and holy conduct.
Firstly we see him working to bring us into his family and are filled with love, and joy inexpressible. Oh what foolishness it is to not emphasize God's holiness to "help him be approachable and loveable". It is the very nature of his holiness that makes him AMAZING. Nothing in this world comes close to such astounding love as the one who keeps every heart beating allowing his son's heart to stop. Dear God let me ponder your holiness with wonder all the days of my life.
Our response does not stop there however, for Peter the common fisherman(Acts 4:13) says we must conduct ourselves with holiness in response(1 Peter 1:15). As we see our Father's greatness, we must rejoice in his love and seek to live in a way that is worthy of being his children. Not like those of old, who flaunted nice clothes with pride, or thanked God for counting them worthy of his love. But as an adopted son or daughter, fully aware that our very eternity was changed when a loving parent said "I want that one in my family."