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Vox Sunday Sermon – Holiness VS Grace

Written by

Jay Downes

in

Sermon by –

My Notes…

God’s Holiness is Good News –

“The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake. The Lord is great in Zion; He is exalted above all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name! Holy is He! The King in His might loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool! Holy is He! Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel was among those who called upon His name. They called upon the Lord, and He answered them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept His testimonies and the statute that He gave them. You answered them, O  Lord our God; You were a forgiving God to them, though You took vengeance on their deeds. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy!” Psalms 99:1-9 MEV

The Challenge of a Holy and Loving God

There is a tension in understanding how God can be both perfectly holy and graciously loving at the same time.

  • A high view of God’s holiness can lead to a low view of His love and grace—making God seem distant, harsh, and unapproachable.
  • A high view of God’s love and grace can lead to a low view of His holiness—making God seem permissive and indifferent to sin.

Why Is the Holiness of God Good News?

God’s holiness is not a threat—it’s a source of hope and comfort.

  1. God is worthy of worship
    God’s holiness sets Him apart. He is not just powerful—He is perfect in purity, justice, and majesty. His holiness commands reverence and awe.
  2. God is serious about sin and loves justice
    A holy God does not ignore sin. He holds evil accountable and brings justice. For those who suffer, the promise of God’s justice is a source of hope.
  3. God is full of forgiveness
    God’s holiness means that He has the authority to judge sin, but His grace means that He offers forgiveness through Jesus. He is both just and merciful.

The Tension of God’s Nature

God presents Himself as a paradox—both transcendent and near, holy and loving.

  • His holiness makes Him untouchable.
  • His grace makes Him approachable.

We often try to resolve this tension by overemphasizing one aspect at the expense of the other—but the tension itself reveals the fullness of God’s character.

The Stage Set in Genesis 3

Genesis 3 introduces the core tension in the human story:

  • We are created for relationship with God.
  • We are given the dignity of choice—obey or reject God.
  • Sin enters the world, fracturing that relationship.
  • God’s holiness demands justice, but His grace promises redemption.

Even in humanity’s failure, God gives a promise—a new garden, a new creation, and a restored relationship with Him.

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