The Importance of Holiness : Discussion Questions

Topic: The Importance of Holiness
Speaker: R.C. Sproul
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-

What?

What interest do you think the modern Christian has in the topic of the holiness of God? Is this topic discussed much in the church that you attend? How important do you think it is?
What did Isaiah see?
What is the significance of the statement that “the train of his wardrobe filled the temple?”
This is the only place in Scripture that mentions the Seraphim. What are they? What do they do with their wings?
What was the message of the angels/Seraphim?
What is the significance of the repetition in the song of the angels?

So What?

What relevance does the holiness of God have to the life we live? Do you think that a sermon on the holiness of God is as relevant to today’s Christian as a sermon on marriage, finances, sex, or personal peace and happiness?

Now What?

Does your life reflect a proper understanding of God’s holiness?
Can a person live in a right relationship (righteousness) to God’s holiness? (Romans 3:9-20) How does God make it possible for someone to be in a right relationship (righteousness) to his holiness? (Romans 3:21-26)

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Isaiah 6

6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. ²Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³And one called to another:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts;
His glory fills the whole earth.

⁴The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.

⁵Then I said:

Woe is me for I am ruined
because I am a man of unclean lips
and live among a people of unclean lips,
and because my eyes have seen the King,
the Lord of Hosts.

⁶Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. ⁷He touched my mouth with it and said:

Now that this has touched your lips,
your wickedness is removed
and your sin is atoned for.

⁸Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

Who should I send?
Who will go for Us?

I said:

Here I am. Send me.

⁹And He replied:

Go! Say to these people:
Keep listening, but do not understand;
keep looking, but do not perceive.
¹⁰Dull the minds of these people;
deafen their ears and blind their eyes;
otherwise they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears,
understand with their minds,
turn back, and be healed.

¹¹Then I said, “Until when, Lord?” And He replied:

Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants,
houses are without people,
the land is ruined and desolate,
¹²and the Lord drives the people far away,
leaving great emptiness in the land.
¹³Though a tenth will remain in the land,
it will be burned again.
Like the terebinth or the oak
that leaves a stump when felled,
the holy seed is the stump. (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

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Holy, Holy, Holy
Lyrics by Reginald Hebnr
Music by John Bacchus Dykes

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, Holy, Holy! all the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and Seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see:
Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

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This is the first lecture in the Ligonier teaching series The Holiness of God.

The Ligonier website describes the series as follow,

“The Holiness of God examines the meaning of holiness and why people are both fascinated and terrified by a holy God. This series closely explores God’s character, leading to new insights on sin, justice, and grace. The result is a new awareness of our dependence upon God’s mercy and a discovery of the awesomeness of His majestic holiness. Dr. R.C. Sproul says, “The holiness of God affects every aspect of our lives — economics, politics, athletics, romance — everything with which we are involved.”

Discussion questions and video for the rest of the series can be found at the following links:

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Get “The Holiness of God” DVD Collection

Check out the Ligonier website for additional resources.

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Holiness – Select Quotes

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