By Pastor Rick Williams
Sterling Baptist Church, Burnswick, GA

Text:  Galatians 4:1-7

Introduction:  The HOLINESS OF A LOVING GOD WHO Hates sin ­ is why JESUS had to come.
 

I.  GOD IS HOLY
 

    A.  There is none like unto GOD.

Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like
thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

    B.  GOD says of HIMSELF in Leviticus 11:44... "I AM HOLY"

    C.  JESUS was conceived in HOLINESS.

Matthew 1:20  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of
the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David,
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost.

    D.  JESUS IS HOLY.

Luke 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God.

    E.  The early church referred to Jesus as God's "HOLY CHILD".

Acts 4:30  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and
wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

II.  God's Holiness demands that He have a Holy hatred for sin.

Proverbs 3:32  For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret
is with the righteous.

Proverbs 15:26  The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD:
but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

    A.  GOD hates sin.

Proverbs 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an
abomination unto him: (#1) A proud look, (#2) a lying tongue, (#3) and hands
that shed innocent blood, (#4) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
(#5) feet that be swift in running to mischief, (#6) A false witness that
speaketh lies, (#7) and he that soweth discord among brethren.

    B.  GOD in HIS HOLINESS demands that we hate sin too.

Proverbs 8:13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy,
and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

            1.  The "froward mouth"... the mouth that speaks perverse things ­ that
                    leads away from The Truth of GOD'S Word.

III.  It is in The Light Of GOD'S HOLINESS that the sin of man is seen in
its real state.

Habakkuk 1:13  Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not
look on iniquity:

    A.  It is The HOLINESS OF GOD that caused Isaiah to cry out.

Isaiah 6:5  ...Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean
lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes
have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

    B.  It is The HOLINESS OF GOD that caused Apostle Paul in great frustration
           to exclaim.

Romans 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body
of this death?

    C.  It is the lack of the knowledge of GOD'S HOLINESS that causes man today
           to think so little of his sin before GOD.

Proverbs 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the
knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Proverbs 29:18  Where there is no vision, the people perish:

IV.  GOD'S HOLINESS demands that our sin be paid for.

Romans 6:23a  For the wages of sin is death;

    A.  Because of GOD'S LOVE for man ­ HE SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to die in
           our place.

Galatians 4:4-5  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth
his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under
the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

1 Peter 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the
unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit:

    B.  Think how dreadful GOD'S HOLY HATRED for man's sin must be if HE was
            willing to punish it to the Fullest Extent when our sin was imputed to HIS
            SON!!!

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Note:  A.W. Pink says:  'Not all the vials of judgment that have or shall be
poured out upon the wicked world, nor the flaming furnace of a sinner's
conscience, nor the irreversible sentence pronounced against the rebellious
demons, nor the groans of the damned creatures, give such demonstration of
GOD'S Hatred of sin, as the wrath Of GOD let loose upon HIS SON. Never did
DIVINE HOLINESS appear more Beautiful and Lovely than at the time our
SAVIOR'S Countenance was marred in the midst of HIS Dying Groans.'

Isaiah 52:14  As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more
than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

Isaiah 50:5-6  The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious,
neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to
them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

A.W. Tozer said: 'Man thought he was murdering JESUS ... But GOD was
making A Sacrifice...'

Acts 2:22  Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did
by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:  Him, being
delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have
taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 4:27-28  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast
anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people
of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy
counsel determined before to be done.

    C.  Have you ever wondered why JESUS cried with a loud voice on The Cross
            saying:

Matthew 27:46  … Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my
God, why hast thou forsaken me?

            1.  It was Not that HE questioned HIS FATHER'S Actions ­ But rather that HE
                    might draw attention to The Answer.

            2.  The Answer is found in The Crucifixion Psalm.

  Psalm 22:1-3  My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so
far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in
the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not
silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

    D.  On The Cross as HE suffered The Full Wrath Of HIS HOLY GOD ­ The HOLY
            SON OF GOD was giving unto HIS HOLY FATHER ­ The Glory due unto HIS HOLY
            NAME!!!

1 Chronicles 16:28-29  Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give
unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his
name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty
of holiness.

Psalms 29:1-2  Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory
and strength. 2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the
LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalms 96:8-9  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an
offering, and come into his courts. 9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of
holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

V. Why was BABY JESUS born?!

    A.  Because A HOLY GOD ­ WHO has a HOLY HATRED for man's sin ... demanded A
HOLY SACRIFICE ...

    B.  What GOD'S HOLINESS Demanded ­ HIS GRACE Provided In CHRIST JESUS our
LORD!!!

Ephesians 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath
made us accepted in the beloved.

    C.  Why did JESUS have to come?!

Luke 2:10-14  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring
you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is
born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And
this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

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