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The Holiness of God

11/11/2009

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I wanted to share some thoughts about a message we just added to our video archive at NCMI, called The Holiness of God.

We have a growing archive of sermons at our website. They are all wonderful messages that Ward has given communicating the beauty of the kingdom and grace of God. This one in particular, though, is probably one of the two or three most significant, and impactful to me personally. It is foundational to what our ministry is all about, because it so clearly defines God's radical mercy which He has lavished upon us. Indeed, it took an act of infinite mercy to bring us into the presence of an infinitely holy God.


Since I started seeing Christ in the Old Testament, this has become one of my favorite passages:

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.


It seems to come up a lot in our podcast studies in the prophets, and it's often my "go to" passage when I am writing about the kindgom of heaven--its character and substance, how it was fulfilled, and how we experience it. In this sermon, Ward talks about this passage in conjunction with one of his bullet points:
"The Holiness of God does not allow Him to dwell with evil." That statement should cause us all to pause and consider just what it took to make us the "many mansions--or dwelling places--in our Father's house." No less than this was required: that we be made holy as He is holy. Nothing less would ever do.

Ward also makes a rather provocative, yet entirely Biblical statement:

If you are saying in your heart, "God will never save that guy, he's too wicked," then God probably hasn't saved you.


When you consider it, in light of Isaiah 57:15, you will understand my heart's passion toward the ministry of NCMI. It's only in humbling ourselves before God's holiness, and seeing who we really are apart from Him, that we can know the incalculable riches of His mercy, and share it with others. So that we can truly experience the joy of forgiveness and presence with God. And rest in His completed work. For me, it's all right there in that passage.


There are so many Christians who have trusted Christ as their Savior, and yet are still burdened with feelings of guilt and shame. And that guilt and shame tends to come out toward others as self-righteousness and condemnation. And I think it's what mainly keeps people away from "churches." That is why this message is so needed.


I am personally so thankful for the technology of video and the internet, which allows us to share these messages with a wide audience. And I know there are all kinds of things competing for your time and attention. But I just wanted to encourage you all to listen to this one message even if you typically don't get a chance to listen regularly. I can't tell you how many times I had to pause it  while editing through tears (as I need a clear view to insert text at the appropriate places). And also, I was thinking of so many applications of this message to current preterist "in-house" debates on the forums, including the unbiblical concept known as "progressive sanctification" which is being argued for and against. It occurred to me as I was listening to this message and as I considered the cross, the most awesome display of God's power there ever was, and what it accomplished: my holiness in His sight--that this "progressive sanctification" notion is a particularly blatant offense to God. And it must grieve Him to know that His children still see themselves as lacking something, when He's already given them Himself.


Blessings,
Tami


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    Tami's Blog Home
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    About Me:

    I have been married to my loving husband Keith for 26 years. We have three beautiful and brilliant children, ages 24, 22 and 20. Nothing cheers my heart more than having them all at home, yet nothing is more satisfying to my mind than watching them grow from afar. My personal passion is theology: the knowledge and experience of the Truth and Mercy found only in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and displayed in the lives and communion of His people. My husband and I love to travel, and because our children are often out and about in the world, we get lots of opportunities to see it! And we also love to fill our home with friends who love us, and love our wine collection.

    Tami Ramsthel Jelinek

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  • Home
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  • About
    • We Believe: in the Sovereignty of God
    • We Believe: in the Deity of Christ
  • Mission
  • Articles
    • The Kingdom the Prophets Saw >
      • The Nature of Christ's Kingdom and New Creation >
        • The Heavens and the Earth
        • The Afterlife
        • Communion with God
        • The Conscience of Guilt, the Conscience of Innocence
        • Heaven Love Light
        • Heaven and Sinlessness
        • The Kingdom and Communion of God
        • The Kingdom of God and Heaven
      • Abraham's Bosom and Sheol
      • In the Days of these Kings
      • The Kingdom of Christ in the Old Testament
      • Exodus 33
    • The Kingdom of Christ in Creation >
      • Collins/Dawkins Debate
      • Creation and Its Eternal Purpose
      • Genesis
      • God and Time
      • Metaphors of Health
      • Music, Worship and Creation
      • The Purpose of Night
    • The Kingdom of Christ in the Psalms >
      • Psalm 46
      • Psalm 47
      • Psalm 69
    • The Kingdom of Christ in Isaiah >
      • Isaiah 33
      • Isaiah 40 part 1
      • Isaiah 40 part 2
      • Isaiah 40 part 3
      • Isaiah 57
    • Living in the New Creation >
      • Blogs of Division
      • Christian Zionism
      • Dancing in Fields of Grace
      • The Deceiver and the Deceived
      • Evil vs. Evil
      • Fellowship
      • A Grieving Father's Thoughts on Tragedy
      • He That Is Spiritual
      • I Have Called You Friends
      • Let's Not Forget Mercy
      • Seeing Good in Evil
      • Self-Righteousness vs. Being Overtaken in a Fault
      • Times of Refreshing
      • What Then? Are We Better Than They?
      • The Law and Its Scope and Purpose for Israel and Beyond
      • Justice and Judgment: Curious Contrasts of the Merciful and Merciless
    • Academic Papers >
      • Church Fathers vs. Calvin on the Eucharist
    • Theology and the Kingdom of God >
      • Logos, Antichrist, and Creation--No Greek Origin
  • Audio
    • Christ in the Psalms
    • Conference Messages
    • 1 Corinthians 15
    • NCMI on the Radio
    • Podcasts >
      • B.A.T.
      • Exploring the Garden Scene
      • Guest Interviews
      • Heavenly Visions of the Prophets >
        • Isaiah 52
        • Isaiah 55
        • Isaiah 60
        • Isaiah 65
    • Subscribe: iTunes
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  • Video
    • Eschatology
    • Sermons by Ward Fenley >
      • Galatians
      • Mercy? Me?
      • Total Depravity and the Gift of Faith
      • Sermon Archive 2008
      • Sermon Archive 2009
      • Sermon Archive 2010
    • The Sovereignty of God
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