Bible Studies

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Revelation 4:8 - “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty…”

Set apart, totally other, uniquely unique is the Lord God almighty. To be holy is to be set apart. From what? From the world. Most especially, from the fallen state of the world and all evil that exists. However, in this instance, as it applies to God, it means to be set apart, totally other, and entirely different from everything else in all creation. This means that before the beginning God was not called holy since there was nothing for Him to be set apart from, to be other than, or (strictly speaking) unique since there was nothing but Him.

We see then that while the holiness of God is now an essential element of God’s nature, it cannot be the ultimate essence of His being. Perhaps that is why Scripture says, “God is holy” rather than “God is holiness”. Likewise, Scripture declares that God is “merciful” rather than “mercy” itself or “all-powerful” rather than “power” itself. He is “good” and “kind” and “just” rather than “goodness” or “kindness” or “justice” itself. Again, these are all essential to the quality of God’s character but not the essence of His being. For before creation, He had not exercised His power nor shown Himself to be “good” or “kind” nor before the fall did He show Himself “merciful” or “just”. All of these qualities and many others were revealed in the unfolding of history.

But there is one thing that He has always been, that is the ultimate essence of His being before He ever created anything, and it is this essence that manifests itself in all the character qualities already stated. Scripture says it this simply, “God is…Love (1 John 4:16)”. Not “loving” but “love” itself. There is nothing that He has ever done that has not been motivated by love – from creation to the cross to the recreation of the universe. For Scripture also says, “even before He made the world God loved us and chose us in Christ… (Ephesians 1:4)”. More than that, God has been love apart from us within the God-head itself, for “the Father loves the Son (John 3:35)” and the Son has always been with the Father (John 1:1-3) in perfect relationship, both of them bound together by the Spirit. Love is the motivating principle of creation and it is that same love that also sustains all things. Is there anything more wonderful?

Imagine for a moment some of God’s attributes if they were unmoved by love – His justice, holiness, and power – the very idea is dangerous at best and downright terrifying. But because God is love, He shows us mercy, grace, and kindness. His love redeems the guilty, restores the fallen, resurrects the dead heart and soul. The very love that spoke creation into existence also poured itself out on the cross. The creator entered creation to take our sin so that we might become “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21)”. He is “…love as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as hell; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD. (Song of Songs 8:6)”.

So…how much does His love mean to you?

See these songs: Your Story of Love, Everlasting Love*

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