HOLINESS: SET APART FOR GOD’S GLORY (Isaiah 6:1-8)
When Isaiah went to the temple on this particular day, something happened that
changed his life forever. That is exactly what we can expect when we get a glimpse
of God’s glory and begin to understand the concept of His holiness. The Biblical word
holiness (Hagios) always speaks of character. In the case of God, it refers to absolute
perfection and purity. He is in every way holy. He is perfect and pure in His character
and conduct. He is unstained, unblemished, and untainted by sin.
In the case of the followers of Jesus, the concept of being holy refers to our position
and the process of becoming like Him. Holiness is not so much about what we do,
but rather, who we are. Once a believer understands their status and standing
before God, it gives renewed energy and freedom to live one’s life and give one’s life
totally unhindered for God’s glory.
Using I Peter 2:9-12 and Isaiah 6:1-8 as the primary biblical focus, this study
introduces the twin concepts of our identityinChrist and our responsibilitytoChrist.
Each session connects key concepts together and should be approached as
integrated lessons that build upon one another. Therefore, a brief general review is
necessary each night to ensure that the students are connecting the dots.
A healthy concept of God is mandatory if we are ever going to respond to Him
appropriately. The Bible says that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge…” (Proverbs 1:7). This study presents the Lord as the “high and lifted up”
King of the universe in all His splendor. At the same time, it presents the servants of
the King as ordinary sinful people who are cleansed,
called, and commissioned for His work in this world. This process of being setapart
is the heartbeat of our study. We are the recipients of God’s extravagant and
extraordinary grace. He provides us with a position of honor and invites us into a
partnership with Him.
This theme is designed to give a clear, biblical perspective to every student and
leader concerning their place in God’s eternal plan. The purpose of God is for every
believer to experience the joy of being fully engaged in a lifetime pursuit of His glory.
Living our lives according to His purpose is the single greatest investment we can
make, and it is the primary reason we are on this planet. Our challenge is to faithfully
comprehend and communicate these foundational truths of the Christian life.