God Is Holy

by R.C. Sproul

If you encountered God, how would you respond? Would you be overcome with joy? Fall down in worship? Or perhaps tremble in fear?

In "God Is Holy," Dr. R.C. Sproul explains who God is and why His unveiled presence is so terrifying. Against God's pure and perfect righteousness, we see the depth of our sin and our inability to stand before His judgement. Yet the holy God is also a God of grace. He has provided a way for us to find peace with Him and boldly approach His throne. But there is only one way. Will you take it?

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, God

41 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.

Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.

Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.

He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.

Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Reviews

[Sarah]

Well I finished reading Leviticus in my personal Bible-reading and we got this little book in the mail called God is Holy, which had been my major take-away from Leviticus so I thought I'd read it as a final note on Holiness. Let's just say this is far more than a final note!

It's the abridged version of The Holiness of God and therefore just the beginning of a much longer book in which R.C. Sproul delves even more deeply into the subject of God's Holiness and what Holiness truly means, now I definitely need to read The Holiness of God!

It was a great, short read describing what God's holiness truly is and what that truly means to us.

[J. Amill Santiago]

If you've been looking to read Sproul's classic, The Holiness of God, you should skip this book altogether. I wonder if it was ever worth the time and the effort to abridge a book that is not that long anyway. This abridged version is extremely short, just over 40 pages long. The Holiness of Godis such a great book it deserves to be read carefully. The chapter in which Sproul touches on the psychology behind Luther's behavior is pure gold. In this book that chapter is heavily edited. Still good, but not nearly as good as the original. That chapter alone is worth the price of the book.

[C.J. Moore]

I mean... it's a helpful snapshot of Sproul's "The Holiness of God," but you should just read the full book to get his full work on the topic of God's holiness.

This little thing is no more than an appetizer; be sure to eat the entree.

[Jimmy]

How do you know you really are a Christian? Or how do you know you really are thirsting after God? Sometimes people can seek God for ulterior motives. Sometimes people view God like a genie in the bottle. Biblically speaking a Christian is someone who understand the holiness of God and sees himself or herself as a sinner against God and yet God shows His love, grace and mercy through Jesus Christ dying on the cross for his or her sins, and they have to be made right with God through faith alone.
This booklet is an abridgment of the classic book The Holiness of God. The Holiness of God is by the late RC Sproul. It’s a classic because it goes against the grain of shallow pop Christianity. It is a classic because it is biblical and will always be relevant because God remains Holy as man continues to sin and is unholy. Like the bigger book this book also gives us hope through what God has done to save sinners in what is called the Gospel.
This book has four chapters. Chapter one is on the centrality of holiness. This chapter stresses the importance of this attribute in God. I also enjoyed this first chapter for Sproul’s testimony of how he came to faith when he faced the dilemma of a holy God. Chapter two is on the awe of holiness while chapter three is on the need for holiness. Finally chapter four is on the peace of holiness and I really like this last chapter’s discussion about how elusive peace is though people continually try to seek it and biblically how we can have peace through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross to save us from our sins.
Excellent book. Compelling. Even if you have read the Holiness of God before this abridgement is still worth reading for one can never outgrow the Gospel and God’s truth. I found it refreshing actually to read this. My wife and I enjoyed this booklet as a couple’s spiritual devotional reading.

[Cliff Dailey]

An easy and quick read, this is an abridged version of Sproul's the "Holiness of God." Briefly put, this book unpacks Sproul's engaging with God's holiness, defines "holy" God is revealed in the Bible, an example in church history, and then concludes with the grace of God in access to His holiness through Jesus Christ, the Son.

With a few things I walked away pondering, Sproul clearly illustrates the holiness of God in His separateness. I'll continue today reflecting on God as "a cut above" and separate in His purity and transcendence. This short book/booklet helps reveal the biblical truth that the transcendent God who is unlike anything else in all His creation grants peace and access to His holiness through Jesus the Christ. Many could read this in one day.

[Jc Herring]

super short read over the holiness of God…
Through Jesus, the Just who was willingly punished for the unjust, we are not only at peace with God externally, but have a deep peace internally. Not only do we have peace but we have access to enter into his presence. Once a no trespassing zone after the fall, and then only available to some due to the Law, ALL under the blood of Jesus have access cause of his righteousness, and our call?? to enter in boldly. THANK U LORD

[Rodrigo Santos]

Dr. Sproul aborda nesse livro a importância de conhecermos o real significado da palavra Santo atribuída a Deus. Esse atributo que é inerente a Deus e que a medida que compreendemos essa verdade nossa forma de relacionamento e viver cristão serão modificados/melhorados. Muito bom o livro, recomendo a leitura.

[Jonathan Song]

Broad Overview of the Holiness of God. Too broad. In essence (and to be fair, it is presented as such) a primer for the Holiness of God. I would probably go to that book instead for a fuller treatment

[Claudia Roberts-Leach]

Leviticus 20:7 reads: ” Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.” To interpret would mean that we should live a life that is reflective of God.

And in that respect; this week I read a book by R.C. Sproul that shed some light on this topic. And also gave me a closer personage of God. The book is entitled, GOD IS HOLY. It is composed of merely forty pages. But I must admit upon reading I could not put it down. This is a quick read and power packed with a lot of information.

In the Chapter entitled The Awe of Holiness Sprouls states, “God’s holiness is more than just separateness. His holiness is also transcendent. The word transcend means literally, “to climb across.” To transcend is to rise above something; to go above and beyond a certain limit…Transcendence describes His supreme and absolute greatness. The word is used to describe God’s relationship to the world. He is higher than the world. He has absolute power over the world. The world has no power over Him.”

Perhaps that is what Jesus meant when He said, ” Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”(John 10:17-18 KJV)

In GOD IS HOLY, Dr. Sproul explains who God is and why His unveiled presence is so terrifying. Against God’s pure and perfect righteousness our sin nature is revealed which gives us no ability to stand before His judgment. Yet this same Holy God is also a God of grace. This grace allows us to find a peace with Him and gives us confidence to approach His throne. But there is only one way. Will you take it?

This is a must have for your library.

[Aleah Larson]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars. A lovely explanation of who God is and real human reaction when we encounter Him.

Face quotes:

The kingdom of God is not our only inheritance. In His last will and testament, Jesus left His heirs something else: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27).

For the Christian the holy war is over; the peace has been established. Access to the Father is ours. But we still must tremble before our God. He is still holy. Our trembling is the tremor of awe and veneration, not the trembling of the coward. Luther explained it this way: We are to fear God not with a servile fear like that of a prisoner before his tormentor, but as children who do not wish to displease their beloved Father. We come to Him in confi-dence; we come to Him in boldness. We have access. We have a holy peace.

[Michael Philliber]

This is an abridged version of Sproul larger classic work. Because it's abridged some of the punch is missing. But if you've never read the larger 1985 or 1998 work, this little booklet will be just the thing to stimulate your heart and mind, and rouse you to either watch the old video class on "The a Holiness of God," or pick up and read the bigger volume. Also, this tiny thing might be ideal for church pamphlet racks, or book tables. It's worth reading.

[Elisha Bronner]

Short but incredibly deep book that begins to answer the question of what God’s holiness is. Can be read in one sitting, but also deep enough to take it chapter by chapter leaving room for processing and reflection. This book is just an introduction to the topic of God’s holiness and makes me excited to dig deeper with Sproul’s The Holiness of God.

[Camille Lopez]

“For the Christian, the holy war is over; the peace has been established. Access to the Father is ours. But we still must tremble before our God. He is still holy. Our trembling is the tremor of awe and veneration, not the trembling of the coward.” 👏🏽 great easy read that now has me thinking that I need to go read The Holiness of God in it’s entirety! Lol

[Seth S.]

Great summary of The Holiness of God. Covers much of the most important topics that the full book covers. Highly recommend for anyone who hasn’t read the full book, or for anyone that HAS read the book for a good refresh.

[James]

An abridgement of R C Sproul's 'The Holiness of God'.

The book is 40 pages long but is a soul stirring read. The reader will be left with greater appreciation of God's holiness and grace.

All Christians should read it. It will drive them to worship.

[Reginald Detabali]

God's holiness is transcendent beyond the reach. Good read!

[Bobby Bonser]

Short, sweet, concise, clear gospel.

[Rob Whitaker]

Left me hungry for more :-)

[Faye]

I love reading Sproul's books with his mannerisms and "voice" in my mind.
Like all of Sproul's books, this one is great!

[Ben Merillat]

The abridged version of The Holiness of God by RC Sproul. Very short read..

[Alaina Leann]

So much wisdom and force in this short book! Highly recommend for a short read/ introduction into the Holiness of God.

[Asher Burns]

Four stars because I have no doubt The Holiness of God is better.

EDIT: I was underwhelmed by THoG when I finally got to it. I suspect this one would underwhelm me were I to re-read it.

[Angelo Reis]

Um livro incrível, totalmente simples e didático. Recomendo!!!

[Alexandre Amin]

Uma breve exposição do Evangelho no estilo Sproul, fácil de ler e cativante. Um livreto excelente para utilizar na evangelização.

[Annie]

Reading Sproul is always encouraging, but will also challenge you to think.

[Michael T Moos]

Abridged version of the “Holiness of God”.
Good, quick read.