Lesson Three
Holiness, Righteousness and Sovereignty
The holiness, righteousness and sovereignty of God are those attributes that allow Him to be both “just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus”.
I. God is Holy
A. Defined: Otherness & Purity
1. The separateness of God from all else. Otherness
There is a “profound difference between Him and all creatures.” (Sproule) His perfections are transcendent.
2. The Purity and Rightness of all His actions.
God always is - and does - righteousness. He never does wrong.
B. Taught by Precept - Joshua 24:19; Ist Sam. 2:2; Job 36:23; Psalm 99:9, Rev. 4:8.
1. The Trinity is Holy - John 17:1; Acts 3:14; Acts 13:52.
2. The Ten Commandments and Ceremonial Law teach holiness of God. - Ex. 19:10-13;
Ex. 20:7- 11; 39:30; Lev. 11:44- 45; 19:2.
C. Taught by Types - Priesthood and Sacrifices. Heb. 8:5; 10:1; James 1:17.
D. Taught by Visions - Moses (Ex. 33:18- 23), Isaiah (Isa. 6:1- 13, this vision begins and ends with “holy”); John (Rev. 4:8- 11).
E. Taught by Example:
1. Punishment of profane men - Lev. 10:1- 13 (Nadab and Abihu), Num. 16:4- 12, 31- 33 (Korah), 2nd Sam. 6:3- 8 (Uzzah), 2nd Chron. 26:16- 21 (Uzziah).
2. Punishment of sins of believers - Num. 20:10- 13 (Moses); ____________, ___________
F. Taught by the Life and Death of Christ - Prov. 15:9, 26; Isa. 59:1- 2; Rom. 5:8- 11.
How is God’s holiness taught in the Ten Commandments? __________________________
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How do Christ’s life and death teach us about God’s holiness? ______________________
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II. God is Righteous
A. Defined: Conformity to law (that which is right). But since there is no law above God, when we speak of God’s righteousness or justice (same word in Greek) we are merely speaking of God being God.
Implication: We should never make statements such as “Justice requires that God does ___”. That implies that God is below (and obligated to) justice. However God is below nothing. Neither can God ever be unrighteous, since this would mean God denying Himself.
B. God’s Hatred of Sin - (Psa. 5:4; 11:5; Prov. 6:16; Hab. 1:13)
1. Expressed in this life. - God is “angry every day with the wicked”. Those who don’t believe abide in His wrath.
2. Punished in the next - (Psa. 7:11- 17; 11:6; Matt. 25:46)
C. God’s Provision for Sinners saved by Grace through Faith. - (Psa. 47:8; 5:4; Isa. 63:15; Rev. 4)
1. Present:
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2. Future: God has prepared heavenly mansions for us (John 14:1-ff) and also makes us fit for our eternal home by His Holy Spirit (Col. 1:12). But those who have no desire for holiness, whatever their outward profession, will have no place here (Heb 12:14) nor desire for it. Whitefield wrote:
“The unholy man would be so unhappy in heaven that he would ask God to let him run down to hell for shelter.”
III. God is Sovereign
A. Defined: The omnipotence, wisdom and freedom of God in performing His will in Creation.
B. Expressed: His will is the cause of all things, either primarily or by permission:
1. Creation and Preservation (Psa. 135:6; Jer. 18:6; Rev. 4:11)
2. Election and Reprobation (Rom. 9:15- 16; Eph. 1:11, John 5:21)
3. The Sufferings of Christ (Luke 22:42; Acts 2:23)
4. Regeneration (James 1:18)
5. Sanctification (Phil. 2:13)
6. The Sufferings of believers (1st Peter 3:17)
7. Man’s Life and Destiny (Acts 18:21; Rom. 15:32; James 4:15)
8. Even the Smallest things of Life (Matt. 10:29)
Remember from our previous lesson: God’s will for all of these will not be thwarted.
We also know that all things work together for good for those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). His sovereignty should be the source of great assurance for all believers. “Who has resisted His will?”
Due Next Week:
Read chapter 4: The Truthfulness, Faithfulness and Love of God.