God is Holy, Holy, Holy and God is Love.
Some think there is too much preaching on the love and grace of God. They want more mature teachings on God’s holiness, law and even the wrath of God to convict us of our sin. So what message is for the mature, God’s holiness or God’s love?
The Holiness of God
In Luke 5 we see Peter’s reaction when his new acquaintance Jesus provides a net breaking fish catch. Peter realizes Jesus is at the least sent by God and says, “Depart from me for I am a sinful man.” We see this throughout scripture; man is instinctively aware of God's holiness and conscious of their sin and unrighteousness at the appearance of even an angel.
Peter's Denies Jesus
After the resurrection and Peters three denials, Jesus first meets privately with Peter/Simon “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” (Luke 24:34)
Also, in Mark 16:7 the angel mentions Peter specifically - But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. Pulpit commentary states: "If the angel had not named Peter, he would not have dared to come amongst the disciples. Therefore he is specially named, lest he should despair on account of his denial."
Later in John 21, Peter catches a second boatload of fish on the direction of a man on shore. John realizes it is the resurrected Jesus and tells Peter who immediately dives in and swims to Jesus.
What do you think Peter was more aware of now – God’s holiness or God’s love?
If Peter were more aware of God’s holiness, he would have rowed the boat out to sea. He certainly would not have gone eagerly to Jesus after denying him three times. It is obvious that through relationship, Peter matured and had come to know our Holy God’s heart for man, to know that he was right with God through Jesus despite his failures. He learned that not even the holiness of God could separate him from the love of God.
The Pharisees we're very aware of the holiness of God. They allowed it to separate them from the love of God. They were also very aware of the names of God with the exception of the names Jesus came to reveal. Jesus revealed the name Father and Abba. Both of these names convey the message that maturity comes by knowing the love of our Father. According to the Bible, the only thing that will last is love. So let's dive deep into our Father's Love for us.
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