Are you “holier than thou”? Holiness has a bad reputation. Many people see it as the trait of a killjoy or a self-righteous hypocrite. However, the Bible repeatedly says God is holy. The holiness of God is unique in the Bible as the only attribute of God praised with the threefold repetition, “Holy, holy, holy.” In ancient Hebrew repeating something was the way to express it as higher or greater. The praise, “Holy, holy, holy,” declares God is the Most Holy and the Holiest One. God is never said to be, “Love, love, love” or “Good, good, good.” Only His holiness is exalted in this superlative fashion. Holiness must be understood as the chief attribute of God and the greatest reason to praise Him.

What does it mean that God is holy? God’s holiness is not only something He does, thinks or feels, but something He is. A vital part of holiness is uniqueness. The word means “separate.” God is unlike His creation. This does not mean He is completely foreign and incomprehensible to His creatures. God created man in His image, therefore man can understand some things about God. However, God is not His creation. He is not the universe or anything in it. He is not a man, nor even a grand man. He is God and He is the only God. “No one is holy like the LORD, for there is none besides You.” (1 Samuel 2:2)

The separateness of God is especially evident in His relationship to sin. God is untouched by all that is morally evil. His nature contains nothing sinful. He is not tempted to do evil and He does not tempt men to sin. (James 1:13) His entire being is righteous. (Psalm 92:15) His every action is right and pure. (Psalm 18:30) God cannot lie. (Titus 1:2) God always keeps His promises. (2 Timothy 2:13) “His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4) All God does is morally right. This does not mean something is right because God does it, though that is true. This means all God does is in perfect harmony with His holy nature. He cannot and will not do that which is contrary to Himself, therefore, He cannot and will not do anything which is sinful.

The holiness of God also means He cannot and will not overlook any sin. (Habakkuk 1:13) He will punish every sin. At the end of history God will judge humanity and will examine every deed. He will then measure out the judgment due to each person. The condemned will suffer the full extent of God’s wrath on their sin. (Revelation 20:11-13) The only way a person can escape the holy judgment of God on their sin is to place their faith in Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. Those who believe Jesus is God, who died for their sin and rose again as the only means of full salvation will be forgiven their guilt. The punishment of their sin is paid by Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21) and they receive eternal life instead of eternal wrath. (John 3:18) In His holiness God provided a means of salvation that does not excuse any sin, but does not leave sinners in hopeless condemnation.