God is Holy / God is Love

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crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,779
3,681
113
#1
In the minds of many a Loving God is a permissive, 'live and let live' God. One that ignores sinful behavior so that His love shines through.
In the minds of many a Holy God is a God to be feared, a stern, harsh and ready to smack any one who steps out of line.

Unfortunately, this caricature prevails at least in America with the slogan 'God is love' vastly triumphing over the perception that God is Holy, thus even Christians lose sight of the necessity of Christ's death and the seriousness of sin (hey, after all 'God is love' and He will forgive).

A fresh look at His holiness, leads one to see the true necessity of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, as His holiness is repulsed by sin and can't bear it's presence.

Yes, both perceptions are needed but I believe unfortunately our perception of a loving God far overshadows our God that is also Holy.
 

DB7

Junior Member
Dec 29, 2014
283
138
43
#2
In the minds of many a Loving God is a permissive, 'live and let live' God. One that ignores sinful behavior so that His love shines through.
In the minds of many a Holy God is a God to be feared, a stern, harsh and ready to smack any one who steps out of line.

Unfortunately, this caricature prevails at least in America with the slogan 'God is love' vastly triumphing over the perception that God is Holy, thus even Christians lose sight of the necessity of Christ's death and the seriousness of sin (hey, after all 'God is love' and He will forgive).

A fresh look at His holiness, leads one to see the true necessity of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, as His holiness is repulsed by sin and can't bear it's presence.

Yes, both perceptions are needed but I believe unfortunately our perception of a loving God far overshadows our God that is also Holy.
Great Question!
Yes, I agree CN, both perceptions are necessary, to the point that I believe that they are inextricable of each other. And that the only reason that they have become somewhat disparate of one another, is due to one's lack of a comprehensive understanding of love.
'Be holy as I am holy', 'love each other as I have loved you', 'God is love' (paraphrasing quotes) are all attributes and principles from the same source, that is God, and in God there is no confusion or conflict. Holy & Love are symbiotic, one compliments the other.

God punishes the ones that he loves. Prov. 3:11
Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. Prov. 13:24
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. Rev. 3:19
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Heb. 12:11
Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. Job 5:17


Love therefore, as much as holiness, has a counterpart of disdain for evil. Love is wanting what's best for someone and for yourself, and if holiness is perfection, then love desire holiness.
To attain holiness, correction is involved, and depravity cannot be tolerated as it subverts all who are in its presence. The two cannot coexist. If you love what is decent, pure, edifying and righteous, then invariably, you must hate the opposite, because the opposite is death, not only by judgement but by intrinsic design. One bad action, elicits another, where there is potential evil, there is fear, where there is fear there is hate and anxiety. And then, a little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump. Sin has to be eradicated wherever holiness and rectitude are desired.
Love does not ignore sin, for sin is harmful, and if you love those around you, you must protect them from sin, other's sin, and their own, for even their own depraved desires will hurt them as it destroys their own character (ask any addict).

Love is as austere as holiness, forgiveness is always conditional upon repentance i.e. just consider the Gospel.
Therefore, to overlook an offence is detrimental to both the culprit, and to those potentially affected by it.

When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people's hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. Eccl. 8:11
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. Prov. 21:15
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,779
3,681
113
#3
Great Question!
Yes, I agree CN, both perceptions are necessary, to the point that I believe that they are inextricable of each other. And that the only reason that they have become somewhat disparate of one another, is due to one's lack of a comprehensive understanding of love.
'Be holy as I am holy', 'love each other as I have loved you', 'God is love' (paraphrasing quotes) are all attributes and principles from the same source, that is God, and in God there is no confusion or conflict. Holy & Love are symbiotic, one compliments the other.

God punishes the ones that he loves. Prov. 3:11
Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. Prov. 13:24
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. Rev. 3:19
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Heb. 12:11
Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. Job 5:17


Love therefore, as much as holiness, has a counterpart of disdain for evil. Love is wanting what's best for someone and for yourself, and if holiness is perfection, then love desire holiness.
To attain holiness, correction is involved, and depravity cannot be tolerated as it subverts all who are in its presence. The two cannot coexist. If you love what is decent, pure, edifying and righteous, then invariably, you must hate the opposite, because the opposite is death, not only by judgement but by intrinsic design. One bad action, elicits another, where there is potential evil, there is fear, where there is fear there is hate and anxiety. And then, a little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump. Sin has to be eradicated wherever holiness and rectitude are desired.
Love does not ignore sin, for sin is harmful, and if you love those around you, you must protect them from sin, other's sin, and their own, for even their own depraved desires will hurt them as it destroys their own character (ask any addict).

Love is as austere as holiness, forgiveness is always conditional upon repentance i.e. just consider the Gospel.
Therefore, to overlook an offence is detrimental to both the culprit, and to those potentially affected by it.

When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people's hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. Eccl. 8:11
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. Prov. 21:15
Thanks, how do you think the common perception of God as Holy and/or God as Love affects a society as a whole?
 

DB7

Junior Member
Dec 29, 2014
283
138
43
#4
Thanks, how do you think the common perception of God as Holy and/or God as Love affects a society as a whole?
Well, like you said, having a somewhat deluded and naive perception of either holiness or love, will evoke a rather misguided attitude and demeanor within the beholder. We end up with a lot of permissive and licentious 'christians' making a mockery of God's soteriology and wisdom, making themselves out to be inefficacious and unfruitful, and allowing the outside world to ridicule Christianity.
A real Christian employs the utmost self-discipline and self-control i.e, living by the spirit not the flesh, estranging himself from wordly desires, so that having a liberal and complacent attitude towards sin causes them to defy these principles and ultimately destroy the good character and sanctification that should define the church.
On the other hand, perceiving God as too austere may end up frustrating a great many people, and you either end up with incapacitated adherents like Luther in his early years, or a rigid and self-righteous legalism, or abandonment from the Church.
Thanks!
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,779
3,681
113
#5
Well, like you said, having a somewhat deluded and naive perception of either holiness or love, will evoke a rather misguided attitude and demeanor within the beholder. We end up with a lot of permissive and licentious 'christians' making a mockery of God's soteriology and wisdom, making themselves out to be inefficacious and unfruitful, and allowing the outside world to ridicule Christianity.
A real Christian employs the utmost self-discipline and self-control i.e, living by the spirit not the flesh, estranging himself from wordly desires, so that having a liberal and complacent attitude towards sin causes them to defy these principles and ultimately destroy the good character and sanctification that should define the church.
On the other hand, perceiving God as too austere may end up frustrating a great many people, and you either end up with incapacitated adherents like Luther in his early years, or a rigid and self-righteous legalism, or abandonment from the Church.
Thanks!
I've always found these verses helpful in that regard...

1 Corinthians 15:10 KJV
[10] But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Galatians 2:20-21 KJV
[20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
[21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
 

DB7

Junior Member
Dec 29, 2014
283
138
43
#6
I've always found these verses helpful in that regard...

1 Corinthians 15:10 KJV
[10] But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Galatians 2:20-21 KJV
[20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
[21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Agreed!