During the month of April, I’ve chosen to blog through the alphabet. Each day I will use a letter to share a Name of the Lord that begins with that letter based on Proverbs 18:10 and the fact that there is strength in the Lord’s Name. I pray you’ll be blessed and that you’ll stop by often.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Proverbs 18:10 – NIV

Holy One

Through my study of the Names of the Lord, I haven’t found many that can cross over between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Today’s Name is one of the few. So let’s look at this Name of the Lord in relation to each.

First, we must define holy. What does it mean? Holy “signifies to be set apart for God, to sanctify, to make a person or thing the opposite of ‘common.’”[i] Holy can be applied to a person, place or thing because it’s been made different, sacred, or special. So now let’s look at God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in relation to the word holy.

Holy One – God

In Genesis 2:3, God called the seventh day holy. We find holy ground in Exodus 3:5. God’s dwelling was holy in Exodus 15:13. Mount Sinai was made holy in Exodus 19:23. The nation of Israel, its people were called to be holy in Exodus 22:31 and Exodus 31:13.

But here’s the difference. In all of these cases God made these people, places or things holy. God, by His very nature is holy. If we use the definition above, set apart, we can understand that God is set apart. Set apart from what? Set apart from sin. Holiness is what God is.

I love R. C. Sproul’s take on God’s holiness. “The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love, or mercy, mercy, mercy, or wrath, wrath, wrath, or justice, justice, justice. It says that He is holy, holy, holy, the whole earth is full of His glory.”[ii]

Holiness is not one attribute of God but the totality of God. Isaiah 43:15 (NIV) says, “I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.” Our Lord is holy and we can find our holiness in His Name.

Holy One – Jesus

It’s interesting that Jesus is called by this name by an evil spirit in Mark 1. Jesus traveled to Capernaum and on the Sabbath went to the synagogue. While teaching, a man stood up and the demon within him said, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24 – NIV) Evil cannot compete with holiness. This demon knew it.

We also find this Name given to Jesus in Acts 3:14 (NIV). In this verse, Peter is speaking to a crowd after a beggar was healed. Peter calls Jesus by this name to contrast His holiness and the utter unholiness of Barabbas. “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.”

The Holy One of heaven was given over to authorities to be killed…and a murderer was given freedom. That’s exactly what Jesus does for each one of us. He offers His holiness (separation from sin) to cover our unholiness. Yes, there is great power in the Name of the Lord.

Peter goes on to write more about Jesus’ holiness and how it affects our lives. In the first chapter of first Peter, these words are penned. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:13-16 – NIV)

As believers, we are called to reflect the holiness of Jesus.

Holy One – The Holy Spirit

Holiness is woven throughout the Name of the God’s Spirit. We refer to God’s Spirit as the Holy Spirit and this is the exciting part. God’s Holy Spirit dwells within me, which means, I am holy. Now I’m not perfect, but I am set apart from sin. I understand the difference between holiness and sin and how sin in my life will cause that separation from God.

1 John 2:20 (NIV) says, “You have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.” One duty of the Holy One is to offer wisdom to determine truth. The Holy Spirit assists us when we are faced with a falsehood. The Holy Spirit keeps us from having false thinking about Jesus. The Holy Spirit also convicts us when there is unchecked sin in our lives.

The Holy Spirit enables us to imitate Jesus through God’s grace.

The Holy One. There is so much more to this Name than can be discussed in this blog post. Please know that when you pray to the Holy One, it’s all inclusive. Also know that it’s only through God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit that we are able to be holy and live holy lives. I pray that you will find strength when you call upon this Name of the Lord.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna